Turned down by Florida-which state will accept 30 hours of psychiatric health credits?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

I understand your situation regarding pursuing an RN license in the United States, especially with the specific issue of credit hours for the Psychiatric Mental Health section.

Each state regulatory board sets its educational standards and minimum requirements, including clinical hours. Like many other state boards, it's important to note that the Florida Board of Nursing has specific requirements for psychiatric-mental health nursing education.

Unfortunately, no single source I'm aware of breaks down required credits per nursing subject area across all states. 

If you have completed a nursing program with fewer than the required clinical hours in psychiatric-mental health, you might consider exploring other states with potentially different requirements.

However, remember that meeting the minimum requirements for licensure is just one aspect of the process. You must still satisfy other state-specific requirements, including passing the NCLEX-RN examination.

Here are some general steps to consider:

• Research Other State Boards. Explore the nursing board requirements of other states to find out if they have different minimum clinical hour requirements for psychiatric-mental health nursing education.
• Contact State Boards Directly. Contact the nursing boards of the states you are interested in to inquire about their specific requirements. They can provide the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding their licensure criteria.
• Consider State Compact Agreements. Look into states that are part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows nurses to practice in multiple states with one license. This could provide flexibility and potentially increase your options.

If the minimum clinical hours are a barrier, you might consider additional education to meet the requirements. Some states may allow applicants to complete additional coursework to compensate for deficiencies.

• Consult with Credential Evaluation Services. Consider contacting credential evaluation services that specialize in assessing international education credentials, such as CGFNS.org. They can help you understand how your education and clinical hours align with U.S. requirements.

Remember that the information is subject to change, and it's crucial to communicate directly with the nursing boards of the states you are interested in. They can guide you through the specific requirements and processes for licensure in their jurisdiction. Each state has its policies, and some states may be more flexible regarding specific educational criteria.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

I've held licenses in DE, NJ and PA.

Just reviewed their regulations, they do not list specific numbers of hours in each subject content.  All require "that the curriculum shall provide concurrent theory and clinical experience"  unlike some Internationally Educated Nursing (IEN) programs.  Review their application for IEN requirements.

Delaware BON license law 2.4.1.7 Curriculum  states minimum of 400 hours of clinical experience is required for RN students,

NJ C H A P T E R 3 7 N E W J E R S E Y B O A R D O F N U R S I N G

PA: CURRICULUM FOR BACCALAUREATE, ASSOCIATE DEGREE,AND DIPLOMA PROGRAMS 

Hope you can obtain approval to take NCLEX then obtain a US nursing license. Allnurses Immigration Advice forum may provide more info.

Best wishes in your transition to the U.S.