I will be getting a bachelor's degree in Arizona, but I want to work in California. Is it able to be used there? Will employers ignore it, since it is not from California?I have heard of people with their RN in Arizona going to California to work, but I have not heard specifically about a bachelors degree.What have you guys experienced? Please let me know your thoughts!
Altra, BSN, RN 6,255 Posts Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU. Jul 4, 2015 A degree is a degree, provided it is from an accredited institution.Each state BON individually licenses nurses, and licensure depends on completion of an accredited educational program approved by that BON and successful writing of the NCLEX-RN exam, which is the same no matter which of the 50 US states it is taken in. Some useful links for you:Board of Registered Nursinghttps://www.azbn.gov/https://www.ncsbn.org/index.htm
Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN 1,547 Posts Has 6 years experience. Jul 4, 2015 It won't be ignored, but California can be tough for new grads to break into.
MunoRN, RN 8,058 Posts Specializes in Critical Care. Has 10 years experience. Jul 4, 2015 For the most part your BSN is just as good in California as it is in Arizona, but that isn't always true. The California BON doesn't actually recognize BSN's from certain schools, even accredited ones, as being sufficient to receive a license in California, Excelsior grads, for instance are required to complete additional requirements due to the lack of clinical experience they offer.
CaliRN284 33 Posts Jul 5, 2015 So in that case, it's best if I call the Board of Registered Nursing in California and ask if they'll accept it from my school?
TheCommuter, BSN, RN 226 Articles; 27,608 Posts Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych. Has 17 years experience. Jul 5, 2015 So in that case, it's best if I call the Board of Registered Nursing in California and ask if they'll accept it from my school?1. The California Board of Registered Nursing will not answer the phone. If you do not believe me, telephone them during business hours and see what happens. The California BRN is the most backlogged board of nursing in the entire country. They ain't picking up their phones.2. Your BSN will be accepted by the California BRN. Don't worry. I completed an unaccredited ASN program in Oklahoma and easily obtained licensure from the California BRN. Generally, the California BRN no longer licenses IENs due to lack of concurrency with clinical practicum. Also, they will no longer license Excelsior grads due to lack of clinical hours.
chare 3,949 Posts Jul 5, 2015 So in that case, it's best if I call the Board of Registered Nursing in California and ask if they'll accept it from my school?If it were me, I would always use email when contacting the BON. Although the response might not be as timely as you would like, at least it gets you beyound an unanswered telephone.Second, and most important, it provides you an accurate record of your previous conversations.
