Question about when to take the NCLEX

breezy7, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2012

There's pros and cons of doing each. Ideally, you should travel to TN to take the NCLEX as soon as possible after you graduate. It's important to take it while testing questions are still fresh. If you do decide to take it in NV, you'll have to apply for licensure in TN, which could add weeks-months on to your wait time.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2012

You can take the test in Nevada for licensure in Tennessee. You don't have to physically test IN the state you're planning to be licensed in. NCLEX is a national exam. MANY people test in states different than the state they're planning to work in. When you send in your application for the NCLEX, you just need to say what state you are applying for licensure in. When you get your ATT, you can go to ANY test center to test. Your results will be sent to the state that you applied for licensure in. Do NOT waste your time and money getting a Nevada license if you don't plan to use it. I recommend taking NCLEX as soon as possible. I took mine about 2 or 3 weeks after I graduated.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2012

There's pros and cons of doing each. Ideally, you should travel to TN to take the NCLEX as soon as possible after you graduate. It's important to take it while testing questions are still fresh. If you do decide to take it in NV, you'll have to apply for licensure in TN, which could add weeks-months on to your wait time.

There is absolutely NO need to travel to Tennessee to take the test. The physical location where you take the test matters not. The only thing that matters is the state that you apply for licensure in- that's the state where your results will be sent. You can go to school in Mississippi, live in Alabama and take NCLEX in Georgia for a license in Florida.

https://www.ncsbn.org/2321.htm#Locations

breezy7, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2012

Really?? That's fantastic to know! My nursing professor told me the opposite in class.

SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN · Sep 13, 2012

Thank you!! I will do as you said and take it in NV a few weeks after I graduate! I only asked because my professor said the same thing, will have to apply for a license in TN if I take it in NV!

alyiana · Sep 13, 2012

I graduated school in AL and moved to TX right away. I talked to my teachers and they said it didn't matter where I took it, but I would get an AL license and would have to transfer it to TX because I went to an AL school. So now I have an AL license (expires 6 months later that I will not renew or ever use), and a TX license. But hey, I'm working in the state I want to work in and in the end it didn't matter.

Sammigayle · Sep 13, 2012

Alyiana,

I am about to move to Texas from Maryland and need to transfer my license as well. I graduated from an MD school a few weeks ago and plan to take the NCLEX in 2 weeks. The TX board of Nursing told me that in order to obtain a TX license I have to be living in the state to start the process and apply for licensure by endorsement and take an endorsement exam. Did you take that exam? Wondering how it is...

Thanks!

ORNursetobe33 · Sep 13, 2012

Take it where you want. I am in NV, too and at least 5 people in my class took the test in California to get an earlier date.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2012

Thank you!! I will do as you said and take it in NV a few weeks after I graduate! I only asked because my professor said the same thing, will have to apply for a license in TN if I take it in NV!

You WILL have to apply for a TN license but that doesn't mean you have to take the test in TN. When you submit your application to Pearson Vue, you submit your application for licensure in TN. They send you an ATT and then you schedule the test. You schedule it wherever you please, the results will still be sent to TN.