License Transfer between States

Inori, BSN, RN · May 7, 2012

Hello there .. I'd suggest taking your boards in your home state the have your license endorsed in GA. That's what friend of mine did she moved out of state within 1 month of graduating and tested at home state first exactly for that risk that exam is tailored to that states rules.

chare · May 7, 2012

The NCLEX RN is a standardized examination, regardless of where you take it. You can attend nursing school in one state, apply for licensure in another state, and take the actual examination at any aproved site, to include sites overseas if you were vacationing in that area. The exam is not "tailored" to the state in which it is taken. However, each state will have its own educational requirements that applicants awill be required to meet. Regardless of whether you are applying for licensure by examination or endorsement.

If you apply for licensure in Pennsylvania, you will have to wait until you have been issued that license before you can apply for licensure in Georgia. This is going to lengthen the time that it takes to obtain Georgia licensure. Then, there is the cost of applying for licensure in two states. Another consideration would be if or when you apply for licensure in another state, as most states are going to obtain records from every state in which you have ever been licensed; again adding time, and possibly additional cost to future licensing. Regardless of which decision you make, good luck in your future career.

elkpark · May 7, 2012

The NCLEX RN is a standardized examination, regardless of where you take it. You can attend nursing school in one state, apply for licensure in another state, and take the actual examination at any aproved site, to include sites overseas if you were vacationing in that area. The exam is not "tailored" to the state in which it is taken. However, each state will have its own educational requirements that applicants awill be required to meet. Regardless of whether you are applying for licensure by examination or endorsement.
If you apply for licensure in Pennsylvania, you will have to wait until you have been issued that license before you can apply for licensure in Georgia. This is going to lengthen the time that it takes to obtain Georgia licensure. Then, there is the cost of applying for licensure in two states. Another consideration would be if or when you apply for licensure in another state, as most states are going to obtain records from every state in which you have ever been licensed; again adding time, and possibly additional cost to future licensing. Regardless of which decision you make, good luck in your future career.

I agree -- the "easiest/quickest" path is to apply for initial licensure in GA. Why put the time and $$$ into applying for a license you don't want and aren't going to use?

c.kelly20 · May 9, 2012

Thanks everyone!!! You've been very helpful : )

KelRN215, BSN, RN · May 10, 2012

It doesn't matter where you take NCLEX, as chare already explained. You can take it in California, if you so choose, while living in Pennsylvania for licensure in Georgia. There is no need to become licensed in Pennsylvania if you don't intend to use that license and there's no need to pay 2 states' fees.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · May 10, 2012

Hello there .. I'd suggest taking your boards in your home state the have your license endorsed in GA. That's what friend of mine did she moved out of state within 1 month of graduating and tested at home state first exactly for that risk that exam is tailored to that states rules.

NCLEX is a national exam. There's nothing in it about states' rules.