what is reciprocity in nursing?

[cloudstrife1ph]

i'm had an online chat with a former classmate in the philippines (i'm in the us already) and she somehow told me that if i pass my nclex w/c i'm planning to take next month and if i passed it, i don't need to take the board anymore. she said an instructor of a review center told that it is because of reciprocity. is this true? it would be cool if it is....

i'm planning to go back to the philippines in for nov. board (they said it's not dec. anymore)

i know many will think what am i doing since i'm already in the u.s. attempting to take the local board too. i know i don't need it anymore but here are my reasons:

1. for attainment. i want to be licensed on my own country too. no one can tell when might i need it (possible medical mission, learning things on philippine setting, etc).

2. additional license on my wallet XD

3. hitting 5 birds in one stone if i go on the "ber months". take the exam, have a vacation, celebrate todos los santos, christmas and new year XD

[elkpark]

In the US, once you've taken the NCLEX for licensure in one state, you can apply for licensure in other states at later times without having to retake the NCLEX -- the "new" state will accept your previous NCLEX score -- this is what people in nursing (in the US) are talking about when they talk about "reciprocity."

There's no connection (that I've ever heard of) between the NCLEX and the licensure exam in any other country. As far as I know, if one wishes licensure in another country, one has to take that country's licensure exam.

[suzanne4, RN]

The local board in your country has nothing to do with licensure in the US, it has no application to be used in the US. Except for the fact that some states here are requiring the local license before they will let you test. If you have been given permission to test here, then there is no reason for you to take the NLE.

Even to go to medical missions in the Philippines, from a group in the US, you do not need to have a license from there; the US license is accepted for that as you will be going as part of a group from the US.

If you pass the NCLEX exam for one state, then the passing result is valid for you in all of the other states as well as the US territories. You will have to use the License by Endorsement process to get a license in any other state that you wish and meet the requirements for that state.

Best of luck on your exam.