TX BON can't process exam application because of compact state

U.S.A. Texas

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Hi everyone! I am a foreign nurse and graduated in 2010. I have been applying for my ATT for almost 3 years now. I started in CA but because of the concurrency issue they rejected my application. I applied next to Nebraska (my home state), passed the CGFNS but failed the TOEFL. My CGFNS CP is expiring soon and we are planning to move in Texas on May because my husband got an offer to work in Houston. Instead of renewing my CGFNS CP for Nebraska I started a new CGFNS CES application for Texas to avoid the endorsement fees and waiting time. Last friday, Texas BON wrote me and told me that they can't process my application, because either my home address is Nebraska, have declared Nebraska as my primary state of residence, or both. Anybody have the same experience that I have? Please, please share your experience... Do I have to hold a Texas address before they could process my application even I sworn and declare that I intend to practice in Texas? I feel like there's no hope for me and it's so frustrating and stressful...:cry::cry::cry: Your input and information will help me a lot... thanks!

I live in Nebraska but want to move to Texas once I graduate in May. My original plan was to take NCLEX and get licensed in NE then apply for a compact license to work in Texas. But now I'm hearing that it may be more difficult to do it that way??

Should I....

1) Apply for NE license then apply for compact license in TX. But does my Home Address and/or Primary Residence need to be listed as in Texas for it to work? I have family in Texas and could use their address.

2) Apply for TX license and take the NCLEX in TX since I want to work there anyway?

Thank you for your help.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

If you live in a NCLEX state you must apply for a license in that state. If your permanent ID doesn't match (I.e. you have a NE drivers license you cannot declare TX as your permanent residence and thus cannot apply for a TX license. Using your relative's TX address can be considered fraud as it is not your legal permanent residence. This can open up a whole bunch of different problems for you.

If you are a permanent resident of NE you need to get a NE license but you can work in TX with your NE license due to NCL. That is unless you change your legal permanent residence to TX then you have 30 days to get a TX nursing license, your NE license would convert to single state while valid, just like you'd have 30 days to get a TX drivers license.

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If you live in a NCLEX state you must apply for a license in that state. If your permanent ID doesn't match (I.e. you have a NE drivers license you cannot declare TX as your permanent residence and thus cannot apply for a TX license. Using your relative's TX address can be considered fraud as it is not your legal permanent residence. This can open up a whole bunch of different problems for you.

If you are a permanent resident of NE you need to get a NE license but you can work in TX with your NE license due to NCL. That is unless you change your legal permanent residence to TX then you have 30 days to get a TX nursing license, your NE license would convert to single state while valid, just like you'd have 30 days to get a TX drivers license.

It's somewhat confusing, so even if I move there and work there, my permanent residence isn't TX until I get a TX drivers license? If I apply for my NE license and then get a job in TX and move there (either live with family or get my own place), do I apply for TX license by endorsement? I just wish I could apply for a TX license directly.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

It's somewhat confusing, so even if I move there and work there, my permanent residence isn't TX until I get a TX drivers license? If I apply for my NE license and then get a job in TX and move there (either live with family or get my own place), do I apply for TX license by endorsement? I just wish I could apply for a TX license directly.

Per NCL rules if you live in a NCL state you must apply in your state of residence. You cannot apply for licensure in another NCL (like TX) state while you are still a resident of a NCL state (NE). You may apply in a non- NCL state like NY NJ or CA. If you are moving after graduation , wait until you move to apply. TX will reject your application.

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Per NCL rules if you live in a NCL state you must apply in your state of residence. You cannot apply for licensure in another NCL (like TX) state while you are still a resident of a NCL state (NE). You may apply in a non- NCL state like NY NJ or CA. If you are moving after graduation , wait until you move to apply. TX will reject your application.

That clarifies it more now, thanks for your help! :)

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Yes, I finally got my license...but not after they said they had everything......and I looked up my permanent license number.....only to find out later that they never did change from the temporary to permanent. It was such a mess.

I have worked a few days a month with Home Health. Love it.

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It's somewhat confusing, so even if I move there and work there, my permanent residence isn't TX until I get a TX drivers license? If I apply for my NE license and then get a job in TX and move there (either live with family or get my own place), do I apply for TX license by endorsement? I just wish I could apply for a TX license directly.

I am a NH resident graduating in May and moving immediately to TX to live with my boyfriend (who has a permanent address there). I also found it really frustrating to discover I couldn't start my application to the TBON for initial TX licensure until I became a TX resident (I spoke with a rep at the TBON to confirm this). BUT- if you have relatives that you would be living with in TX who will sign an affidavit that you live with them and you give up your current ID to the DPS, you don't have to wait to become a resident (at least this is what I am understanding from the TxDPS website: TxDPS - Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards see the resident affidavit form) My plan is to do this as soon as I am back in Texas permanently, in May, and immediately submit my app to the TBON (and hopefully get my ATT in a reasonable amount of time..)

One of the reasons I decided to wait rather then become licensed in NH and endorsing to TX- you end up paying twice. Once for your original license, then once for your endorsement.

Also, when I asked the rep at TBON is I could just use my boyfriend's address at my address prior to moving/getting an ID, all this she said "Well, it's not like we come knocking on your door or anything to check.. but I can't make official recommendations on that.".

Good luck- don't give up. =)

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Hi everyone! After 2 1/2 years of agonizing wait I finally received my ATT!!! I got the email last May 15 I was so stoked.. I didn't believe it! I scheduled my exam on July 25th. I need more time to prepare for the exam because it's been 3 years after I graduated and I forgot everything! I'm hoping to pass on my first take. Thanks for all the information that you've given me. You helped me a lot :)

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Hi everyone! After 2 1/2 years of agonizing wait I finally received my ATT!!! I got the email last May 15 I was so stoked.. I didn't believe it! I scheduled my exam on July 25th. I need more time to prepare for the exam because it's been 3 years after I graduated and I forgot everything! I'm hoping to pass on my first take. Thanks for all the information that you've given me. You helped me a lot :)

Hello! I'm just curious why it took 2.5 years for you to receive the ATT?

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Hello! I'm just curious why it took 2.5 years for you to receive the ATT?

Hi! It's a long story :roflmao: I came in Nebraska couple months after I passed my NLE in the Philippines. I didn't take my oath which is the primay requirement for the Philippine RN license. I took my oath in the Philippine embassy in Chicago, that took about 6 months alone because of money and processing time. I applied first in CA BON and unfortunately they started the concurrecy issues for foreign nurses. I fought for it for 6 months because most of my friends who graduated with me got their ATT without those requirements that are totally absurd! :banghead: And I found out here in allnurses.com that I was not alone and CA BON changed their policies for foreign nurse graduates. There's no way I can afford to enroll on those classes and clinicals that CA BON requires. So I gave up and started all over again in Nebraska which was my primary state of residence. I had to submit CGFNS certification in NE BON which requires to take CGFNS exam and TOEFL exam. I was working full time as a Nurse Tech at that time so I failed first time I took the CGFNS exam :whistling: It was holiday season and planned to reapply for it the following year. I kept procrastrinating, I didn't want to deal with it for a while and I hate the frustrations! :o After a year I got the courage to retake CGFNS exam and I passed the second time! :) But before I scheduled my TOEFL exam my husband was in jeopardy to lose his job so he requested to be relocated here in TX before their company will shut down. I withdrew my application in NE and started all over again in TX. It was the best decision I've made on this journey... after a month we moved here I got my ATT!!!!! On July 9th, 2013 I took the NCLEX exam and PASSED!

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Hi! It's a long story :roflmao: I came in Nebraska couple months after I passed my NLE in the Philippines. I didn't take my oath which is the primay requirement for the Philippine RN license. I took my oath in the Philippine embassy in Chicago, that took about 6 months alone because of money and processing time. I applied first in CA BON and unfortunately they started the concurrecy issues for foreign nurses. I fought for it for 6 months because most of my friends who graduated with me got their ATT without those requirements that are totally absurd! :banghead: And I found out here in allnurses.com that I was not alone and CA BON changed their policies for foreign nurse graduates. There's no way I can afford to enroll on those classes and clinicals that CA BON requires. So I gave up and started all over again in Nebraska which was my primary state of residence. I had to submit CGFNS certification in NE BON which requires to take CGFNS exam and TOEFL exam. I was working full time as a Nurse Tech at that time so I failed first time I took the CGFNS exam :whistling: It was holiday season and planned to reapply for it the following year. I kept procrastrinating, I didn't want to deal with it for a while and I hate the frustrations! :o After a year I got the courage to retake CGFNS exam and I passed the second time! :) But before I scheduled my TOEFL exam my husband was in jeopardy to lose his job so he requested to be relocated here in TX before their company will shut down. I withdrew my application in NE and started all over again in TX. It was the best decision I've made on this journey... after a month we moved here I got my ATT!!!!! On July 9th, 2013 I took the NCLEX exam and PASSED!

Wow! What an amazing story....congratulations!

I am just starting my application...just graduated in April in PH and moved back again here in TX after that....reading posts here makes me nervous and agitated

I hope my papers get processed before TX gets really hard on us foreign graduate....although I stopped reading posts here because my anxiety level is just too much, I've to admit that this very same site helped me figure out which first step i need to make....so grateful those helpful individuals....anyway praying for a good outcome...cheers

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Wow! What an amazing story....congratulations!

I am just starting my application...just graduated in April in PH and moved back again here in TX after that....reading posts here makes me nervous and agitated

I hope my papers get processed before TX gets really hard on us foreign graduate....although I stopped reading posts here because my anxiety level is just too much, I've to admit that this very same site helped me figure out which first step i need to make....so grateful those helpful individuals....anyway praying for a good outcome...cheers

Don't be nervous! I know it's a bit frustrating but it will come :yes: Just relax and focus on your studying. It's my fault too that's why it took that long. I made bad choices and a lot of procrastrinations lol I didn't have any problems with TX BON... they we're really helpful to me. As I said I only waited for a month to receive my ATT. Keep praying and just hang in there! If you have any questions I'll be gladly to help you :) Goodluck!

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