Transferring RN License from OR or CO to CA

[TheSurfingNurse, BSN, CNA, RN]

I was accepted to fully accredited nursing programs in Colorado and Oregon, but am a resident of California and would eventually like to practice Nursing back in California. Is it really difficult to transfer a RN license between these states?

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Once you graduate and take NCLEX, you will need to apply for a separate license in each state where you want to work. Where you go to school, provided it's accredited by NLN or CCNE, doesn't matter. You'll need to submit an application for licensure to whatever state you want to work in. If you want to work in California, you submit an application for California licensure. Then you get approval to take the NCLEX. You can take the NCLEX exam in any state, but the results will be sent to whatever board of nursing you've applied. Then, once you've submitted all the necessary paperwork and fees, you'll be granted licensure. Some states allow you the option of applying for a temporary Graduate Nurse license between graduating and taking NCLEX.

Once you have a valid license, you can practice in that state. If you wish to work in another state, you'll need to submit a separate application for each state, but you only need to pass the NCLEX once.

[chare]

As long as you meet the education requirements in the state in which you are applying for licensure in, no.

Also, even though you attend school in OR or CO, you have the option of applying for initial licensure in CA.

[chare]

Oregon and California are not compact states, so you cannot transfer a license between those states. You will need to apply for a separate license in each state when you want to work there. You only need to pass NCLEX once, but you will need to submit an application, fees, and any other necessary requirements for each state.

Technically you don't transfer your license, you apply for licensure by endorsement. As far as a compact license, when you move from one compact state to another, you still have to apply for license in the new state.

[TheSurfingNurse, BSN, CNA, RN]

Thanks! Your answer was really helpful! Would you by any chance know if the NCLEX is very different by state?