Question about getting my RN in Illinois and going to Colorado after

Updated:   Published

I am planning on moving to Colorado after I am done with the RN program here. I am workig on the associate's only and plan to take the NCLEX here and then move to Colorado and advance my education there. (Eventually nurse practitioner). Will I face difficulty in doing it this way or should I take the NCLEX in Colorado?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

You can take the NCLEX for Colorado in any of the 50 states. You specify what state when you sign up. If you have no plans of working in IL, don't bother with an IL license.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

^What she said. Take NCLEX in Illinois or Indiana or Missouri or Wisconsin or wherever you please where you can get the appointment that works best for you for initial licensure by examination in Colorado. There is no point in paying for a license that you don't intend to use.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Ooh, you should do a road trip and take the NCLEX in like Vegas or something!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vascular Access.

Well, personally, I'd take the NCLEX in Colorado, and declare it then as my home state. Then, since Colorado is part of the nrsg compact, you can work in any state without relicensing as long as it is still your home state and is part of the nursing compact. Illinois is NOT a part of the nrsg compact.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Well, personally, I'd take the NCLEX in Colorado, and declare it then as my home state. Then, since Colorado is part of the nrsg compact, you can work in any state without relicensing as long as it is still your home state and is part of the nursing compact. Illinois is NOT a part of the nrsg compact.

You do not need to TAKE the exam in Colorado in order to declare it as your home state. You can physically take the exam in any state you want. That is what we were trying to convey to the OP.

But yes, if she's asking where she should declare as her home state - if she's not planning on working in IL, then she should not declare IL as her home state.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just to clarify having a license with multi-state privileges. It's not where you "declare" your home state, it's where you establish residency; two very different items.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vascular Access.
Just to clarify having a license with multi-state privileges. It's not where you "declare" your home state, it's where you establish residency; two very different items.

What I was trying to tell the OP was that Illinois is NOT part of the compact. So, where she puts roots, should be a state that is part of the compact if she is planning on traveling to other states. The regs say that if she has declared her home, in this case Colorado, then she can legally work in other compact states, but if she moves, from Colorado to say, Texas, then she must get a Texas license. So where she declares her home, is important.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion