How to Transfer My Excelsior RN to California

Excelsior College in Albany, New York, has been offering online and long-distance courses for four decades. Its School of Nursing offers many programs, including registered nursing (RN). To become a licensed registered nurse in California, an Excelsior graduate, like graduates of any nursing school, must pass a licensing exam and other tests including fingerprinting. To begin the process, Excelsior College must send your academic records to the state Bureau of Registered Nurses. For alumni who hold a nursing license in another state, transcripts are required to apply for a temporary or endorsement license.

Things You'll Need

• Certified nursing school transcripts
• Fees
• Completed application for licensure by endorsement
• Fingerprint card
• Recent 2-inch-by-2-inch photograph (passport style)
• Completed verification of license form or Nursys verification request application
• Temporary license form (if required)

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Instructions

• 1

  Download a new RN application (see Resource) for becoming a new registered nurse in California from the state's Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) six to eight weeks before your graduation from Excelsior College. Arrange for Excelsior to have a sealed copy of your transcripts sent to the BRN. You will also need to present a clear criminal record, so arrange for a series of fingerprinting tests that can be done at walk-in centers across the state (see Resources). Contact the BRN if you do not live in California to arrange other fingerprint options. You must also pass the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX), which can be taken at testing centers all over the country (see Resources).

• 2

  Apply for an endorsement of licensure if you are a registered nurse in another state or Canada (see Resources). You must have already passed the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) or the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). The Canadian Comprehensive Examination is not acceptable; however, the five-part Canadian examination, given before 1980, is.

• 3

  Apply for a temporary license (see Resources). It is good for six months. Prior to issuance, the California Board of Nursing requires positive fingerprint test results, indicating a clean criminal record, from both the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.