Thinking about getting school nurse certification...PA or NJ?

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Hi Everyone,

I am hoping that there are some nurses out there that can help me and can point me in the right direction. I finished up my BSN in September. I have been interested in becoming a school nurse for quite some time now. I have recently moved to Bucks County, PA this past year. Before that, I have lived in New Jersey my whole life. Where I am living now is in PA, but it is basically on the border of NJ.

Now, I have emailed some CSN programs in NJ to find out more information. Apparently, if I get certified in NJ by attending a program in NJ, I can only work in NJ? And I guess the same with PA. I am just not sure where I will end up finding a job one day, in PA or in NJ - so I am not sure which state to become certified in. If I end up going to a program in NJ is it difficult to become certified for PA or vice versa?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

just so you know they passed a law in NJ a few years ago stating that if you work in NJ in a public school you must live in NJ (people living out of state prior to passage or this law were grandfathered in). signed into law in 2011:

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/PL11/70_.HTM

Ok. I wasn't aware of that. Thank you for your response! Helps a lot.

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