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!

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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

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

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