How to Become a Nurse in California

If you’re a nurse, it’s no secret that your salary will vary depending on what state you practice in. California is consistently ranked as one of the best states to work as a nurse due to patient to nurse ratio laws, higher rates of pay, and quality of life. I might be a little biased, but as someone who has seen the best (and the worst) of the nursing worlds, I can confirm that California is a dream for us nurses.

So how do you become a nurse in California? The California Board of Nursing (BRN) lists out a (simplified) version of the steps you need to take to become a California RN, but honestly it breaks down to two main options: Licensure by Examination or Licensure by Endorsement.

Here’s a look at the different routes you can take if your end goal is to become a nurse in California.

Attend a nursing school in California: Licensure by Examination

I will say that it’s a great idea to be in California from the get-go if you think you might want to stay in California after nursing school (like yours truly). Why? Because though not impossible, I have heard from others who are licensed in other states that it can be tricky to find a permanent position in some areas of California that are highly competitive (ESPECIALLY for new graduate nurses).

As noted in the next section, you are still allowed to go through this process (aka take the NCLEX) instead of completing licensure by endorsement if you are an out-of-state or international applicant, but I wouldn’t recommend putting yourself through that because it’s really not necessary. 

Searching for California nursing programs

A great place to start is to search through this list of nursing schools that the California BRN approves. I would highly recommend going to one of these board-approved, accredited schools. If you don’t, you may not be eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam in the state of California, which is absolutely not what you want.

If you’re not really sure where to start and aren’t sure if you want to get your Associates, Bachelors, or Masters, you might find it helpful to take a look at how to choose a nursing school as well as what type of education you need to become a nurse. Just as in other states, there are tons of different options when deciding which nursing school in California is your cup of tea.

Once you’re all done with school (good job), you’ll need to apply for licensure by examination.

The application process: Licensure by Examination

To apply, you’ll need:

• Completed Application for Licensure by Examination
• Fingerprints through Live Scan or by obtaining an Applicant Fingerprint Card
  • Information on how to complete either of these is available on the Application for Licensure by Examination above
• Official transcripts sent directly from your school of nursing
  • One of the perks of attending any of these programs is that your school will automatically send your transcripts to the CA BRN when you’re applying for licensure. One other thing you don’t have to worry about! We’ll take it.
• Payment: A $300.00 application fee
• *A completed Request for Accommodation of Disabilities form if you need it.

The process of obtaining a California license (like most other states) can be a very long, drawn-out one. I have heard that California is one of the slowest states to review the paperwork needed in order for you to become a licensed provider. What does this mean? Apply as early as possible, however please note that new California nursing graduates are NOT allowed to submit their  application any sooner than 2 weeks prior to their graduation date.

Go to school elsewhere and apply for licensure in California: Licensure by Endorsement

If you went to nursing school in another state (or country) and want to get a California license instead, this is known as licensure by endorsement. Going this route requires a little more reading between the lines. According to the California BRN, going this route means you must:

• Hold a current and active RN license in another state, U.S. territory, or Canada
• Have completed an educational program meeting all California requirements
• Have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®) or the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE). The Canadian Comprehensive Examination is not acceptable.

Though I’ve never done this process myself, I have heard from others that it can be a bit tricky and a bit time-consuming, taking up to 10 weeks or longer.

The application process: Licensure by Endorsement

To apply with an out-of-state (or international license), you’ll need:

• A completed Application for Licensure by Endorsement
• Fingerprints (either through Live Scan or with a fingerprint card)
• A completed “Verification of License” Form OR a completed Nursys Verification Application. What’s the difference between these two?
  • The Verification of License Form is a form is submitted by the state board of nursing that you are currently licensed by (aka the state you’re coming from). It must be requested from them, so if you are licensed in Alabama, the Alabama BRN needs to fill this out for you. You are also responsible for paying any processing fees that the state requires in order to complete this form.
  • The Nursys Verification system is only used by some states. Not sure if your state participates? You can find the full list here. If you’re still not clear, you can go to your state board of nursing’s website. Unfortunately, this means that if your state is not on this list, you cannot go this route. This is usually faster as once you pay a $30.00 fee, your verification is posted electronically immediately (which means no waiting like with the Verification of Licensure Form).
• Official transcripts sent directly from your out-of-state school to the California BRN at brn.etranscripts@dca.ca.gov
• Payment: A $350.00 application fee

It’s important to note that if you already have a job lined up in California and are awaiting your permanent California license, you can also apply for a temporary license in the meantime. However, you have to apply for BOTH licensure by endorsement AND a temporary license, which is kind of a pain in the booty. Temporary licenses cost $100.00 to apply for.

Caveat #1: New graduate nurses

If you are planning on going to school in a different state and then working in California as a new grad nurse, keep in mind that (depending on where in California you want to work), you MIGHT have a harder time finding new grad positions willing to hire you. The competition in these positions is generally fierce, and many who get them already have connections with the hospitals they are applying to (because they did clinicals or worked there already). This is not to discourage you from going this route, but just something to consider.

If this happens, please know that getting a few years of experience in your current state and then coming out to California is always an option. You’ll have more opportunities to either apply for permanent positions or to become a travel nurse after you have some experience under your belt. If that’s not an option for you, you can also look for positions that are not part of an official new graduate nurse residency program.

Caveat #2: Travel nursing

Travel nursing is a great way to get your foot in the door at any California hospitals if you already have a few years of experience. Your experience getting licensed in California might vary a little bit because oftentimes recruiters will walk you through the licensing process for the state you are traveling to. However, you will likely have to go through the same steps as these are set by the California BRN.

Caveat #3: International applicants

The licensure by endorsement process is also a little bit different for those who graduated from an international nursing school. I would highly encourage you to read up on that process before getting your materials together. The endorsement application (which you’ll have to fill out anyway) has a great checklist of everything you will need. Note that the application fee is unfortunately much higher if you are an international applicant at a whopping $750.00. If you completed your nursing program (or took the certification exam) in a language other than English, you will also be required to take and pass the English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. Per the California BRN,

It is suggested that if you decide to take the TOEFL, you should apply as soon as possible as it takes several months from the time of filing until your TOEFL results are received.

Some final words on your application (no matter which way you choose to apply)

You are actually also allowed to apply for licensure by examination if you graduated from an out-of-state nursing school or if you are an international applicant. However, I literally never want to take the NCLEX exam myself and can’t imagine wanting to go this route. The process looks a little bit different and you’ll have to follow the licensure by examination application process.

It’s also important to note that no matter which way you apply (by examination or by endorsement), you are also always REQUIRED to disclose any disciplinary action / rehabilitation efforts that you may be involved in. Providing the CA BRN with a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) is also required.

I hope this information helps you in your quest to become a nurse in California! I hope you make it out west and love being a nurse here as much as I do. Good luck!