Meet The Us Education Requirements For Nurses
First and foremost, international educated nurses must meet basic education requirements. These include:
- Licensing as a Registered Nurse
- Experience practicing as an RN for at least two years
Licensed practical nurses , licensed vocational nurses , and patient care assistants are not eligible to transfer their licenses to the United States.
If I Have A Multistate License From Another Compact State When Should I Apply For Licensure By Endorsement In Florida
When moving to a new NLC state, it is the nurses responsibility to apply for licensure by endorsement. This should be completed upon moving and the nurse should not delay. There is no grace period. The nurse may not wait until the former license expires to apply in the nurses new state of legal residency. The nurse may practice on the former home state license only UNTIL the multistate license in the new NLC home state is issued. Proof of residency such as a drivers license may be required. Upon issuance of a new multistate license, the former license is inactivated.
Are Nursing Licenses Valid For Other States If I Move
Are Registered Nurse RN nursing licenses valid for every state? Or are they only valid for the state you live in? This is a great question that I was recently asked. Here is the full question:
I will be moving to California after I graduate nursing school in December 09, I currently live in Illinois. Do I have to take my NCLEX there in California to work as an RN in California or can I take my boards here in Illinois before I move there, and still work as an RN.
That is such a great question that many nurses will be asking themselves. I too once considered moving, and looked into this matter. So what is the answer: Can you work as a nurse in any state, or will you have to get licensed for each individual state in which you want to work?
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Can You Transfer Into Nursing School After 2 Years Undergrad
< p> I would love to go to Hunter College but I heard that one is not accepted into the nursing school until 2 years of undergrad, THEN you apply for the nursing school. So I guess its not direct entry. And I also heard that its super competitive and there is only 100 spots. This is super risky because what if I dont make it ya know? Then I have to wait a whole year to re-apply. :(< /p>
< p> So I was wondering if one could start transfering into say, NYUs nursing program at the beginning of the 2nd year at CUNY as long as youve taken the required classes in the pre-nursing route ?< /p>
< p> Probably the smart thing to do is to apply for some transfers to other colleges in addition to applying to the nursing major at your own college. There are some colleges that only offer nursing the last 2 years, particularly below the Mason-Dixon Line. < /p>
< p> There is at least one school that is a 2 year long program that only accepts transfers from other colleges Thomas Jefferson University in Phila.< /p>
< p> If a student doesnt get into the nursing program at their own college and doesnt want to transfer, the next option is to put yourself in a good position to quickly complete a nursing program for people with non-nursing bachelors degrees. The more required classes you can complete at your first college, the quicker you can complete the second program. Many of those programs are accelerated.< /p>
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She Found A Great Nursing Program

Another great reason to consider going to nursing school out of state? Your options increase significantly, so you can find the nursing program that perfectly fits your needs. A set number of colleges and universities may exist in your home state, but they may not have nursing programs or offer accelerated nursing degree options.
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Nursing Licensure By State
Nursing is a profession that requires licensure by state as a safeguard for public health. Every state, district and territory in the United States employs a Board of Nursing , which establishes standards for safe nursing care and issues nursing licenses in accordance with the regulations defined in that regions Nursing Practice Act legislation. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing , What You Need to Know About Nursing Licensure and Boards of Nursing, California, Georgia, Louisiana, and West Virginia each have two BONs: one for RNs and one for LPN/VNs. Nebraska also has a separate board for APRNs.
All of the BONs in the United States and its four territories comprise the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc., known as the NCSBN®. An independent, not-for-profit organization, the NCSBN allows these state nursing regulatory bodies to act and confer on matters of common interest. NCSBN also regulates the Nurse Licensure Compact , an interstate agreement that allows a nursing license by one NLC state to be legal for practice in other NLC states . Thirty-four states have enacted NLC.
Information And Fees To Prepare
Each state asks for different information. In all cases you will have to complete an application and send in a fee.
All states will require at least one, if not all, official verifications of any other state licenses held. Other items typically asked for may be school transcripts and fingerprint background checks.
Some states will offer temp permits to allow you to practice while some of the requirements that take longer are pending. Some states even allow walk-through, in which you can go directly to the state board and walk out with a temp permit.
Be careful though, there are restrictions to temp permits and walkthroughs for anyone who has any criminal convictions or past disciplinary action on his or her license.
Requirements can vary greatly from state to state, so its best to check with each board of nursing, or work with a staffing agencys in house Licensing Coordinators who can walk you through the process.
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A Streamlined Moving Process
We try to make the process as seamless as possible. Once youre accepted and have a program start date in mind, we can provide you with a list of available housing options and put you in touch with resources to help you map out your move.
With the help of local real estate company, Vintage Management, weve developed a special relocation program for students enrolled in our Accelerated B.S. in Nursing program in New York to help get them moving on their nursing education.
Through the program, students have access to a wide variety of apartment styles in the Liverpool-Syracuse area. Just visit the Vintage Management website, and youll find everything the company has to offer. As an ABSN student at Utica University, you also have access to the following perks:
Will My Ability To Take The Nclex Exam Be Affected
Some questions that students often ask are:
- Can I take the NCLEX if I graduated from a school that was not accredited?
- If I am able to take the NCLEX and pass, will the fact that I graduated from a school that was not accredited affect me in any way during the job-hunting process?
For starters, taking the NCLEX is solely up to your state’s Boardof Nursing . There are very strict requirements that you have to meet totake the NCLEX exam. These requirements vary from state to state. For moredetailed information on what your state requires, visit your state’s BONwebsite, give them a call, email them, or set up a time that you can go andspeak with someone.
So, can you take the NCLEX if you graduated from a schoolthat was not accredited? The answer is yes and no. Some state boards say aslong as you attended a nursing school, got your hours of clinicals in, andreceived the minimum passing grade, then yes you can take the state board’sNCLEX. For those of you who do not know what the NCLEX is, it stands forNational Council Licensure Examination. The NCLEX is exactly that, a nationalexam that every nursing graduate must take to be able to receive theirlicensure if they pass.
However, you could have graduated from a school that was notaccredited, but your state board may choose not to let you take the NCLEXbecause they feel you have not fulfilled all the necessary requirements duringyour schooling. Not being able to take the exam is not very likely, but it doeshappen.
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Things To Expect When Relocating For Nursing School
If you are on the fence about relocating for nursing school, here are six things you can expect if you relocate, including having more quality options, avoiding a waitlist and at Utica, having help with the moving process.
Youve just made a big decision: You want to be a nurse. Wise choice! Youre pursuing a path toward a rewarding profession thats in high demand. Your next step? Begin researching nursing schools to find the best place to turn that plan into action.
You might think the most logical place to search for nursing schools would be where you currently live. Thats a great place to start, but in not looking outside your general vicinity, you could be unnecessarily delaying your nursing career and missing out on a top-quality nursing education.
We understand the actual process of branching out to a new area to begin a new career path can seem overwhelming. At Utica University, we are here to help with the transition to our 16-month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Below we outline what you can expect when relocating for nursing school to one of our site locations in Syracuse or Albany, New York and ultimately why it could make the most sense if you want to be a nurse quickly.
How To Be Successful On The Nclex Regardless Of Where You Take It
Now that Ive covered it doesnt matter where you take your NCLEX in lets talk about how you can be successful on the NCLEX regardless of where you take it.
Theres a series of steps you can take so you pass the NCLEX the first time but one of the most important steps is to get a good NCLEX prep course.
The NCLEX prep course I recommend boasts an almost 100% pass rate and is one of the very best on the market. You can check it out here.
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My School Is Not Accreditednow What
Let’s say you graduated from a school that was not accredited but your state board has granted you permission to take the NCLEX despite this. You’ll then have the chance to take the exam and pass to get your license. But, on the stressful side, let’s say you graduated from a school that was not accredited but your state board has chosen to deny you from taking the exam. Sadly, you cannot travel from state to state trying to find a state board that will allow you to take the NCLEX despite this setback. For more precise directions, it is best to contact your state’s BON, but ultimately you will probably have to attend a school that is accredited with the degree you have chosen.
Will Nurses Have To Get A New License For Each State If They Move

There is an organization called the Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators that seek to make it easier for nurses to work in other states. What this organization does is works together with nursing organizations, health leaders, and more from state to state to try and encourage unity.
There is something called a Nurse Licensure Compact Implementation, which includes a list of states in which you can use your nursing license in any of them. In general, if you have a nursing license in any of these states, you could theoretically work in any of the others listed as a nurse without having to get re-licensed.
Here is a list of the States in the Nurse Licensure Compact Implementation as of 2010:
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Compact Nursing License States
You may live in one of many compact nursing license states making the process easier. These states are often referred to as nurse licensure compact or NLC states, and they require that you hold a single compact license for nursing and it transfers between states.
The NLC streamlines the process significantly. This means you can work in a number of states without having to go through the process of obtaining a new license each time.
The following states are compact nursing license states as of 2018:
If you plan to work in one of these states, you will certainly want to get a compact nursing license. If you were wondering how to get a compact nursing license, we have great news doing that is as easy as getting a single-state license!
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, If you are eligible and a resident of a compact state, use the state board of nursing application for licensure by exam or endorsement, as found on your BONs website.
In short, that means all you need to do is obtain a license in any compact state, at any time, and you will have a nursing compact license that is valid in every state listed above.
Keep in mind that if you are permanently moving from one compact state to another, you will still need to transfer your license. This is required as you must show your new home as your primary residence. If you are simply traveling to the state for an assignment, this is not necessary.
No Nursing School Waitlists
Because a widespread nursing shortage exists across the country, many nursing school programs have waitlists. That may mean your best option for nursing school is not where you currently live if you want to start your nursing degree soon.
It may make more sense to relocate to New York to get your nursing license through the Utica University Accelerated B.S. in Nursing program. Even though so many schools have waitlists, Utica University currently doesnt because it offers three start dates a year. That means that not only are you able to earn your degree in as little as 16 months, but you can also start working toward it on a timeline that fits your personal goals.
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Faculty: Another Consideration When Choosing A Nursing School
One of the most crucial things nursing students require is appropriate mentoring. Thus, the facultys quality is a vital consideration to take into account.
Dont be afraid to look into the faculty qualifications at the schools youre considering. Their level of training, knowledge, and expertise will be reflected in the abilities and information you can learn from them. More than just the fundamentals of nursing are frequently taught to students by nurse educators. Because of this, the role of the faculty in nursing education is crucial.
Succeeding In Nursing School
Now a graduate of the Accelerated BSN, Kevin has some valuable advice for current and future nursing students, and that begins with taking care of yourself.
I think anyone coming into nursing school should really prioritize self-care and getting good food, good sleep, exercise, he says. Its really not going to make nursing school easier studying until 2:00 in the morning because you feel like that needs to be the case, and I think I was like that my first term and was overzealous.
Also a critical success factor? Time management, which Kevin stresses because you have to manage studying, and school, and labs, and clinicals.
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Multiple Start Dates A Year
Our 16-month ABSN program in Charlotte enrolls students three times a year. If you meet the admissions requirements, which include having a non-nursing bachelors degree, you can apply for a start date in January, May, or September. Most nursing programs offer just one start date a year, so if you arent quite ready by the application deadline, there can be a long wait until the next opportunity.
One Students Experience Attending Nursing School Out Of State
For many seeking a college degree, relocating for school is just a part of the process whether out of a yearning for new surroundings or out of necessity. The latter tends to be especially true when it comes to nursing school.
Despite the high demand for nurses nationwide, qualified applicants often find themselves stuck waiting to get into nursing programs, sometimes for many years, or even turned away outright.
The good news is that if you already have college experience, you may be able to earn a nursing degree sooner with an accelerated BSN. You just may need to go to a nursing school out of state, as Kevin did.
Long before Kevin graduated from Concordia University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing , he earned a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from a private university in Idaho. However, as he says, I always knew I wanted to be in medicine. He just wasnt sure what area of medicine. In the meantime, he worked odd jobs for a while, eventually realizing that nursing was the area of medicine that most interested him.
In nursing, you get to have a really close relationship with your patients, and you get to be their advocate and their educator and a counselor, Kevin says.
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