Grad Shares Tips on Getting Licensed Post Graduation

Christopher Battelli graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado College of Nursing in December 2021. Before graduation, Battelli’s girlfriend was applying for admittance into fellowship programs and was accepted by Stanford Hospital in California. Their plan was to move from Colorado to California immediately after Battelli earned his BSN. He would apply for jobs as a nurse, and she would begin her fellowship. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Should be simple especially if you graduate at the top of your class. And with the shortage of nurses, you’d think states would process licenses quickly.

Christopher Battelli, (BSN ’21)

Battelli had heard horror stories about getting one’s license, especially in a different state. According to National Public Radio and a recent examination of license applications, “nurses fresh out of school and those moving to new states often get tangled in bureaucratic red tape for months, waiting for state approval to treat patients.” NPR analyzed licensing records from 32 states and found that almost 1 in 10 nurses who were issued new licenses last year waited six months or longer. More than a third of these 226,000 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses waited at least three months.

Battelli was no exception. He started the process in November with the California State Board of Nursing – a month before his graduation. For months he called; actually logging 70 calls/contacts with the California State Board of Nursing. In the meantime, he interviewed with Stanford and was offered a position, which would start on March 21, 2022. The position was on condition he pass his NCLEX (a national nursing exam) and be licensed in California. To obtain a license, you must graduate from a nursing program, obtain your transcripts, and apply with a state board of nursing program for an authorization to test. This authorization is dependent on confirmation of BSN and background check clearance. Once granted, you must pass the NCLEX. You register for this exam on your own once authorized to test by your state board of nursing.

For Battelli, December, January, February all came and went without authorization to test, completion of his background check, or even confirmation of his BSN. He started getting worried. So, he pulled his application in California (losing $400 application fee) and began the process in Colorado to obtain a Colorado RN license that could then be transferred to California, giving him access to a temporary California License.  Within 24 hours of applying in Colorado, he had his background check cleared and had a test date scheduled. Within hours of receiving his test results, the Colorado Board of Nursing granted him his RN license. The Colorado process took a total of 11 days. He then went back to the California State Board and paid another $200 to submit documentation for his temporary license in the state and an additional $400 to apply for his full California RN License.

Battelli’s Advice:

• Start early. Way early. Especially if you are trying to get licensed in one of the states that seem to be having issues.
• Be persistent. Call and email. Don’t be afraid to ask to speak to/email a supervisor
• Consider sending paper transcripts versus electronic. Electronic transcripts, while convenient, will often expire if not downloaded by the receiver in a timely manner. This is especially important if you are sending transcripts from multiple institutions.
• Document everything.
• If you are moving to a state where licensing seems to be taking months, obtain a license in Colorado, then submit a license by endorsement application in the state you are moving. This moves faster and often gives you access to a temporary license.

“I wish I had just gotten my license in Colorado to begin with. I wouldn’t have wasted money or time on my application in California,” says Battelli.