Taking boards in different state than you live in?

CougRN · Aug 7, 2004

I did this when I graduated. It is not a problem. You just need to ask your school to mail your graduation information to the new states BON instead of the one you live in now. That's it. Then just register to take the NCLEX in the state you want to practice in. No problem.

NiteShiftNut · Aug 7, 2004

thanks so much for the information! that helps a lot! :) :)

itsme · Aug 7, 2004

I took boards in Minnesota, and live and work in Wisconsin. That was quite a few years ago, i only applied for a WI license at that time, but it was closer for me to go to Minneapolis than anywhere in WI to sit for the boards. Good luck on the test!!

James Huffman · Aug 7, 2004

A note on BON websites: I have found them notoriously difficult to find answers to questions like this.

Bottom line? Don't use them for complicated questions. Make a phone call. Just call and ask. In most situations, you'll have the answer in a minute or so, or -- for more complicated questions, they will call you back.

Jim Huffman, RN

Burnt Out, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2004

I lived in Mississippi when I took my boards-I took them for MS, but was probably going to work in AL. So when I got my MS license, I asked for a license by endorsement for AL.

HTH!

Di0202 · Aug 7, 2004

i have a question that i hope someone can answer. a person lives in state #1, graduates nursing school in state#1, but plans to move to state#2 immediately following graduation, can they sit for boards in state #2, or would they actually have to reside in state#2 before they could make their application to sit for boards? or would it be easier to just take boards in the state in which they lived in, and then apply for a license in the new state? also, has anyone else had any experience with this? i have looked on several states bon websites, and can't find any information specific to my question. thanks in advance if anyone has any ideas.

it depends on what state you are moving to. if the state has the same requirements for application than it is no problem. i moved from alabama to texas, but chose to sit in alabama and then transfer when i moved to texas. from what i had heard, texas bon was a pain and some of their requirements were different. two girls i graduated with moved to kentucky and virginia and had no problem sitting for boards there.

Headhurt, ADN · Aug 8, 2004

I live and graduated in Missouri. I knew I would be working in Kansas, so I just had my school send my information to the Kansas BON. Funny thing, I will sit for boards at a center on the Missouri side.

It wasn't a problem at all. In fact, I saved a couple dollars as the license fees are different from state to state.

CherieLeighRN · Aug 8, 2004

i have a question that i hope someone can answer. a person lives in state #1, graduates nursing school in state#1, but plans to move to state#2 immediately following graduation, can they sit for boards in state #2, or would they actually have to reside in state#2 before they could make their application to sit for boards? or would it be easier to just take boards in the state in which they lived in, and then apply for a license in the new state? also, has anyone else had any experience with this? i have looked on several states bon websites, and can't find any information specific to my question. thanks in advance if anyone has any ideas.

i live in state #1 and attended nursing school there. i applied for a job and a license in state #2. i was hired in state #2; i took boards in state#1. six days later i received my license for state #2. i work in state #2, and i, now, live part time in both states. really, you can take boards in alaska for a license to work in florida if you are of a mind to. :chuckle just be sure to apply to the right state.

little note: there may be more requirements (i.e. photo on your application, etc.) for out of state applicants, but it's no big deal.