California's new memo on NCLEX expiration

As of April 26, 2010, the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) no longer accepts applications that do not contain a valid U.S. Social Security Number (SSN). The California Nursing Practice Act provides for a unified examination and licensing application. Once an applicant passes the examination, a license is automatically issued. Under these circumstances, the BRN cannot accept applications for the examination and licensure, without a valid U.S. Social Security Number.

Prior to April 26, 2010, once an applicant passed the NCLEX-RN examination, the applicant was allowed a three-year time period to submit a valid SSN. After that time period had elapsed, the file was considered abandoned and the file was destroyed. Additionally, an applicant was also allowed to request an extension on the file Abandonment Date. This was done as a courtesy to the applicant. As of April 26, 2010, the BRN will no longer grant an extension on the file abandonment date.

An applicant, who has passed the NCLEX-RN exam and is affected by file abandonment and file destruction, still has the following options:

· Once the valid U.S. Social Security Number is obtained, the applicant may re-apply to the BRN. The applicant will not have to retest, because even though the file is abandoned and destroyed, the NCLEX-RN test result is still valid. Applicants do need to submit a new Application Fee Schedule for Examination; a transcript and the fingerprint card. When the Board receives all the requirements (a new application; transcript from school; the fingerprint clearance and a valid U.S. SSN) we needed; the CA RN license will be issued.

· An applicant may request that the California NCLEX-RN test result (NCLEX-RN CANDIDATE REPORT with your picture) be provided to any U.S. jurisdiction; if the applicant wishes to apply to a jurisdiction that does not require the SSN for licensure (There is a $10 fee that must be included with a test result (NCLEX-RN CANDIDATE REPORT with your picture) request). The applicant must contact other U.S. jurisdictions to inquire as to each jurisdiction’s licensure requirements. For a list of U.S. jurisdictions, please visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) official Web site.

· To assist an applicant who is requesting a VisaScreen® certificate from the International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP), the BRN will certify the applicant’s California NCLEX-RN test results (there is a $60 fee that must be included with the certification request). Information related to the VisaScreen® certificate requirements may be found on the International Commission on Healthcare Professions official Web site

NCLEX Application Process

NCSBN does not have established guidelines for graduating students as to when to register. However, registering for the NCLEX examination and licensure during the month of the student's graduation is common. Note that registering to take the examination and applying for licensure to a state board of nursing are two different processes.

Please keep in mind all NCLEX examination registrations will remain effective for a 365-day time period during which a board of nursing may determine the candidate's eligibility. The time limit begins when the board of nursing receives the candidate's registration from the test service. Candidates who are not made eligible by their board of nursing within the 365-day time period will forfeit their registrations, including the candidate registration fee. Candidates who wish to take an NCLEX examination will need to re-register, including repaying the examination fee, in order to receive an examination.

Students can register for the NCLEX examination and pay the $200 by credit card by calling Pearson VUE at 866.496.2539 or register via the Internet at http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex.

1. Apply for licensure to the board of nursing in the state or territory where you wish to be licensed. Contact the state board for the requirements. Visit www.ncsbn.org for complete US state lists.
   
   
2. Register for the NCLEX examination with Pearson VUE by mail, telephone or via the internet.
   
   • The name with which you register must match exactly with the printed name on the identification you present at the test center.
   • If you provide an e-mail address when registering for the NCLEX examination, all subsequent correspondences from Pearson VUE will arrive ONLY BY E-MAIL. If you do not provide an e-mail address, all correspondences from will arrive only through U.S. mail.
   • All NCLEX examination registrations will remain open for a 365-day time period during which a board of nursing may determine your eligibility to take the NCLEX examination.
   • There is no refund of the $200 NCLEX registration fee for any reason.
3. Receive Confirmation of Registration from Pearson VUE.
   
   
4. Receive eligibility from the state board of nursing you applied for licensure with.
   
   
5. Receive Authorization to Test (ATT) from Pearson VUE.
   If more than two weeks have passed after you have submitted a registration for the NCLEX examination and received a confirmation from Pearson VUE, and you have not received an ATT, please call Pearson VUE.
   
   • You must test within the validity dates of your ATT. These validity dates cannot be extended for any reason.
   • The printed name on your identification must match exactly the printed name on your ATT. If the name with which you have registered is different from the name on your identification, you must bring legal name change documentation with you to the test center on the day of your test. The only acceptable forms for legal documentation are: marriage licenses, divorce degrees and/or court action legal name change documents. All documents must be in English and must be the original documents.
6. Schedule an appointment to test by visiting www.pearsonvue.com/nclex or by calling Pearson VUE.
   
   • To change your appointment date:
     • For exams scheduled on: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, call Pearson VUE at least 24 hours in advance of the day and time of your appointment.
     • For exams scheduled on: Saturday, Sunday and Monday, call Pearson VUE no later than Friday at least 1 full business day in advance of the time of your appointment.
7. Present one form of acceptable identification and your ATT on the day of the examination.
   • The only acceptable forms of identification in test centers in the U.S., American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Virgin Islands are:
     
     • U.S. drivers license (not a temporary or learners permit)
     • U.S. state identification
     • Passport
   • For all other test (international) centers, only a passport is acceptable. All identification must be written in English, have a signature in English, be valid (not expired) and include a photograph. Candidates with identification from a country on the U.S. embargoed countries list will not be admitted to test.
   • You will not be admitted to the examination without acceptable identification and your ATT. If you arrive without these materials, you forfeit your test session and must re-register; this includes re-payment of the $200 registration fee.
8. Receive your NCLEX examination results from the board of nursing you applied for licensure with within one month from your examination date.