3 States Won't License Excelsior's ADN Grads

Nursing Students Excelsior

Updated:   Published

I'm an LPN with 1.5 years experience. I've researched Excelsior and know the pros and cons, and for me the pros outweigh the cons (over a year to wait for CPNE, oh well). I don't plan on going any further than ADN, I'm turning 49 y.o. this year. It's interesting to note that when I move with the wife within the next 2 to 3 years, I won't be moving to Alabama, California, or Maryland. Those states flat out will not extend an Excelsior ADN RN licensure by endorsement or examination (https://www.excelsior.edu/state-board-requirements). Has this had a negative impact on any Excelsior ADN RN grad?

1 Votes
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

It's definitely a consideration for anyone who might not stay planted for the rest of their lives. EC is usually best for those who have no other options.

4 Votes

I think it's only for ADN RN. I'm stopping at ADN RN because I'll be 50 or 51 years old when I pass CPNE (notice the confidence), and I'm tired of taking classess. But, ir you continue on to earn BSN RN from a different school, you should be able to practice nursing in those 3 states.

1 Votes
8 hours ago, moretonel said:

I think it's only for ADN RN. I'm stopping at ADN RN because I'll be 50 or 51 years old when I pass CPNE (notice the confidence), and I'm tired of taking classess. But, ir you continue on to earn BSN RN from a different school, you should be able to practice nursing in those 3 states.

I don't think that this is true. California, at least, looks at what school you went to in order to sit for the NCLEX. You can't launder your degree (for lack of a better term) by getting your BSN elsewhere.

3 Votes
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
9 hours ago, moretonel said:

I think it's only for ADN RN. I'm stopping at ADN RN because I'll be 50 or 51 years old when I pass CPNE (notice the confidence), and I'm tired of taking classess. But, ir you continue on to earn BSN RN from a different school, you should be able to practice nursing in those 3 states.

Nope, not true. I have a BSN and two MSNs and I still can't get licensed in states that don't recognize Excelsior. That degree will always be the source of my RN, and that is what the states consider when evaluating an RN for licensure. My 11 years of nursing don't mean anything to them.

5 Votes

That's the only thing that sucks about EC and some BON's not granting licensure to EC graduates. I don't plan to move to any of those states but I was told an EC nursing grad can work in a federal facility in any state. I'm finishing up with EC this year and plan to stay where I currently am working which is in a rehab hospital.

Good Luck!

1 Votes
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
8 hours ago, Dy-no-mite Nurse1 said:

That's the only thing that sucks about EC and some BON's not granting licensure to EC graduates. I don't plan to move to any of those states but I was told an EC nursing grad can work in a federal facility in any state. I'm finishing up with EC this year and plan to stay where I currently am working which is in a rehab hospital.

Good Luck!

You are correct - working for the VA or the military allows you to work under a license from any state in another state. When I was active duty in the Army, I worked in a Georgia military hospital for several years under my Virginia license. When I decided I wanted to obtain a PRN position at a local trauma center, I had to endorse my license into Georgia.

3 Votes

Wow, I don't understand the AL, CA, MD BONs for not granting licensures. Yeah EC has no clinicals, but EC is for working LPNs, LPNs who took clinicals in LPN school, and LPNs working doing nursing skills everyday, some with several years experience. I'm sure EC argued these and other point before the DONs, unsuccessfully unfortunately. The only state that may have had a possible "ah, c'mon man!" reaction from me is MD. I have family in DC-MD-VA area. When the wife and I move, obviously MD is not an option, but DC and VA would allow us to be close to family.

3 Votes
On 1/31/2019 at 10:16 PM, Pixie.RN said:

Nope, not true. I have a BSN and two MSNs and I still can't get licensed in states that don't recognize Excelsior. That degree will always be the source of my RN, and that is what the states consider when evaluating an RN for licensure. My 11 years of nursing don't mean anything to them.

Is this just sitting boards for California? Or can you not get a California endorsement if you are licensed previously in another state and went to EC?

1 Votes
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
On 2/9/2019 at 8:02 PM, DVB said:

Is this just sitting boards for California? Or can you not get a California endorsement if you are licensed previously in another state and went to EC?

You cannot obtain a license by exam or by endorsement in California if your original RN was obtained through EC's ADN program.

2 Votes
Specializes in Hospice,LTC,Pacu,Regulatory,Operating room.
On 1/31/2019 at 9:10 PM, shiftingtides said:

I don't think that this is true. California, at least, looks at what school you went to in order to sit for the NCLEX. You can't launder your degree (for lack of a better term) by getting your BSN elsewhere.

California board of nursing advised me to obtain your BSN through a school approved by california and you can still obtain your license there(it must have a clinical component).

2 Votes
Specializes in Hospice,LTC,Pacu,Regulatory,Operating room.
On 2/4/2019 at 4:48 PM, moretonel said:

Wow, I don't understand the AL, CA, MD BONs for not granting licensures. Yeah EC has no clinicals, but EC is for working LPNs, LPNs who took clinicals in LPN school, and LPNs working doing nursing skills everyday, some with several years experience. I'm sure EC argued these and other point before the DONs, unsuccessfully unfortunately. The only state that may have had a possible "ah, c'mon man!" reaction from me is MD. I have family in DC-MD-VA area. When the wife and I move, obviously MD is not an option, but DC and VA would allow us to be close to family.

Remember MD is a compact state as well so if you have license in a compact state you can work there

3 Votes
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