Really California? A CA BON vent

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Specializes in Psych.

Ok, just had to vent a bit with peeps who know how frustrating the CA BON can be. Here's the timeline:

APRIL - application submitted

JUNE - bon finally cashes check

JULY - fingerprints redone first time

AUGUST - 2nd fingerprints still no good, name check only completed

So a couple of weeks ago I call the BON. I am told all is good with my app, just waiting for the name check to come back as my fingerprints are always unreadable by FBI. Then I get a letter yesterday that they require ALL of my college transcripts. I completed my BSN as a second degree so on the transcript it shows that requirements like micro, organic chem, English were all done somewhere else satisfactorily.

I mean sure it's a bit irritating that I have to now request transcripts from 5 more schools (my first degree was a BA so I took the sciences at multiple schools). But what irks me the most is that no one told me this two weeks ago when I called. It was marked as completed in my file. Thank goodness I don't need that license until next year.

Just venting. The CA BON is so disorganized and silly. I didn't have any of this trouble with my other licenses.

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Specializes in hospice.

The whole state is a complete mess. Why do you think people and businesses are moving out in droves?

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Specializes in NP. Former flight, CCU, ED RN and paramedic..
The whole state is a complete mess. Why do you think people and businesses are moving out in droves?

This pretty much sums it up. I went through the same to get licensed there.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I also experienced a very long wait for my CA license. I never received a hard copy - my license was posted on the CA BON website and I was even notified that it was issued.

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If you were to visit California and do the live scan in state, your fingerprints will be readable for sure. If you must use cards out of state , here is a tip for a much improved chance of success: go to any live scan provider anywhere and have your fingerprints scanned. Now digitized, they can optimize the contrast and other variables for perfect printing to a standard card. Send that one!

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Specializes in Psych.
If you were to visit California and do the live scan in state, your fingerprints will be readable for sure. If you must use cards out of state , here is a tip for a much improved chance of success: go to any live scan provider anywhere and have your fingerprints scanned. Now digitized, they can optimize the contrast and other variables for perfect printing to a standard card. Send that one!

Thanks Ned, but I've done the livescan, print to card many times. Always state police have no problem. But kicked back by the FBI every time. I probably could have made a road trip to cali, but I didn't desperately need the license so just went with local livescan fingerprints.

Thanks to all the sage advice here (a lot of it yours) I was able to secure my first contract in the Pacific northwest for a decent pay package and guaranteed hours.

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Specializes in Psych.
The whole state is a complete mess. Why do you think people and businesses are moving out in droves?

I so agree. Completely disorganized.

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Interesting that even scan to print fails. Perhaps you are destined for a different profession such as spy or master thief. Give it some thought!

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Specializes in ICU, IR, PACU, CCRN, NE-BC.

I understand your pain. I'm still waiting for my CA license. They say they are just waiting for the background since I sent the hard card. I haven't received anything from CA DOJ if my fingerprints would not work. I talked to the BON twice and all they say is give it more time. It's out of my hand since I can't even check with CA DOJ hence no ATI number and the BON doesn't have it. It's frustrating but what can ya do? Looks like I'm heading to AZ instead for my next assignment.

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Imagine being a permanent resident of Cali and always having to put up with this!

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Specializes in L&D, Mother/Baby.

ILUVFL:

I never got my hard copy either and I've heard the same from others recently. I see no need for physical licenses, but if they're discontinuing their issue, they need to let people know (my assignment in Kaiser is requesting a copy!).

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The whole state is a complete mess. Why do you think people and businesses are moving out in droves?

That is not a real question, but one that states an opinion. California job growth is the strongest in the country. Businesses are starting up madly in Silicon Valley, which is part of the reason why property values in the Bay area are among the highest in the country.

On top of that, the finances of the state of California have done a complete reversal. It is by far the most desirable state for nurses to work in professionally with strong unions and a state staffing ratio law.

The California BON issue has several facets. A few years ago, ProPublica did a hatchet job on the BON about a few nurses with licensure problems from other states (not travelers interestingly) who were able to get a license to practice in California. Their issues with safe practice, diversion, and even euthanasia continued in California. The resulting PR storm resulted in ending walkthrough licensure, Schwarzenegger cleaning house at the BON, and stronger information sharing between the states, and stronger background checks. At the same time, California finances were grim, leading to less money available to all California agencies, and a big slowdown in approving licenses.

Over several years, the new leadership dramatically improved licensure approval, to the point where if you did the Livescan in state and followed up per PanTravelers board resource, it was possible to get a temp in less than 48 hours if the stars aligned.

Around the beginning of this year, the California BON undertook a major computer software change. This, as often seems to be the case with governments and technology, did not go well. In fact, the change required manual inputting of applications into the new system. This is not only travelers, but all the new grads in California that need licenses. This appears to be taking quite some time to resolve.

These issues are unfortunate, but I hardly see them as a reason to bash California in general. In fact, the problems are raising pay for travelers in California as it is harder to fill positions quickly. Travelers who can delay gratification without losing it can easily do an assignment in another state while their application is being processed.

The real question is why do you appear to hate California so blindly?

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