UPDATE: I took my NCLEX-RN just this Wednesday, October 16, 2013, 9:00 am Philippine Standard Time, at Pearson Professional Center, Trident Tower Makati, Metro Manila. I tried the Pearson Vue Trick about 3 hours later, got a good pop up, and last night, October 18, I found out through my unofficial quick results posted on my Pearson Vue account that I passed! I will create a separate post to share my NCLEX-RN experience soon! :)
For the first post regarding the how-to apply:
http://hernameisninanicole.blogspot.com/2012/09/applying-and-taking-nclex-new-york.html?showComment=1380925124411#c7972998261034786132
Hello everyone who stumbled into this blog! I believe you are here for the obvious reason. You are maybe trying to apply for NCLEX-RN in New York, already applied but experiencing some problems or difficulties, most likely a Filipino Nurse with the same case like me, or maybe you are just as confused as I am when I was trying to figure it all out when I started.
For the first post regarding the how-to apply:
http://hernameisninanicole.blogspot.com/2012/09/applying-and-taking-nclex-new-york.html?showComment=1380925124411#c7972998261034786132
Hello everyone who stumbled into this blog! I believe you are here for the obvious reason. You are maybe trying to apply for NCLEX-RN in New York, already applied but experiencing some problems or difficulties, most likely a Filipino Nurse with the same case like me, or maybe you are just as confused as I am when I was trying to figure it all out when I started.
Lucky for me, I have friends who helped me figure it out. I
thought that paying an agency (name withheld) to process the application for me
is just futile and a big waste of money I should be using to pay for review
materials instead. Because, truth be told, you can do it on your own without
aid whatsoever from a company. I did it and so can you. And because I am
grateful for the help that I got, I am happy to be a be of help to anyone. So to
give you a little background as to how to apply, here’s the steps I took when I
was applying with some connotations and commentaries. I warn you though that
since I did it my way and on my own, this may not be the best or most correct
way to do it. But it worked for me and it is valid.
Step 1: Where do I want to be licensed at?
I originally planned taking the NCLEX-RN exam and get
licensed at the State of California where my family is relocating this year.
However, I am in the Philippines, not an immigrant, thus, I have no valid Social
Security Number that is required. Also, they have become too strict in applying
alone that I know many people having problems there. So there was New York,
among other states that do not require SSN, and my dilemma is solved. However,
if the time frame is your utmost concern and you would like to take the exam the
soonest possible time, New York may not be for you. Vermont used to have the no
SSN requirement but they amended that last year and I was late in applying so
not luck there, it would have been nice applying there because it just takes 4
months to have everything at hand to sit the exam.
Step 2: Download the application form or application packet
in the website of your Board of Nursing of choice.
In my case, it’s http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/nurseforms.htm
where I had it printed and I handwritten almost all the answer to then I had it
notarized, sealed, and signed, and mailed to Mail the duly accomplished Application Forms with the
application fee to:
New York State Education
Department,
Office of the Professions,
PO Box 22063, Albany, NY 12201
-I am probably not the best
person to ask regarding the mode of payment because my parents processed it for
me because it is their account that I used. If my memory serves me right, you
can pay using a bank draft or a check that is paid in US dollars, so a dollar
account is needed for that. When I had the check addressed to NYSED and paid
for in $143, I mailed the check along with my application. I used PNB and I
heard BDO and Metrobank processes the payment too.
-Go to a valid, good Notary
Public. It will cost roughly Php 150-200. The seal must be placed where it is
supposed to be as indicated in the form. Your signature must be in your full
name and not the traditional signature you can’t make the characters off. Save
time and money and do it properly. I send my application twice because of that.
- I used DHL as courier and it
cost me Php 1400 each mail I sent. That’s the fastest service for 3-4 days.
-NYSED did not inform me nor they
answered my query when I asked if they received my application already. I based
it on the tracking of the package on my courier’s website.
-NYSED will not process your
papers too until your other requirements such as the CVS has been issued or
submitted.
Step 3: CGFNS Credential
Verification Service
You can log on to http://cgfns.org/sections/programs/cvs
for the application. As for myself, I used the online application which cost
$390 then, and that is a big cheaper than the application form that gets sent
to you. Do not be confused though, the only difference is you fill out your
information on your online account compared to writing it in the forms where
you need to mail it back t them again. When you use the online service for CVS,
you will be printing a few pages too including your mode of payment, a proof
that you paid via credit card. Have this notarized and signed and mailed it to Mail the duly accomplished Application Forms to:
PO Box
8628, Philadelphia, PA 19101- 8628.
-The
courier guy from DHL sent this to another address that is not a PO box. He said
they never deliver to PO boxes where no one is going to receive and sign for
it. I relied on his discretion because he said he’s been doing this for years
and not a single package got lost.
-This
is an office to office transaction. No need to pass anything to anywhere. CGFNS
will contact PRC to authenticate your license and your school for your
Transcript of Records. Check the status of your service in your CGFNS account
and rely on that so you can call PRC or your school for follow up. All has been
paid for the $390. You will not be paying a cent to PRC or to your school for
mailing fee.
-This
service takes 4-12 months, I’ve been told. I sent mine alongside the New York
application form around first week of August 2012 and with the delays I
experience due to the wrong signature and such, I got my Report Issued around
December 2012 and NYSED made me eligible early March 2013. That makes 7 months
processing of NY Application for me.
Step
4: By this time I am confused! I already have my eligibility but I have not
completed my requirements yet!
I
have yet to take the NY Mandated
Courses Online (since I answered ‘Yes’ in the application) at http://www.elearnonline.net/statemandate.aspx?x=44
for the Identification and
Reporting of Child Abuse in NYS 3.25 hrs
($20) and New York State Mandated
Infection Control Training 4 hrs
($25). I might take it sooner or later though regardless if I already got my
license of not and even if I will not be working there in NY anytime soon.
-I was told the eligibility in NY
is for 5 years. They have our files for that long.
-The mandated courses may not be
taken if you are not going to work in NY (Verification needed, I am not sure,
help!)
Step 5: Eligibility
Step 7: Register at Pearson Vue
Once you received the
correspondence that you are already eligible (completed the requirements) to sit the exam, you may now
register at Pearson Vue at http://www.pearsonvue.com
and wait for your ATT or Authorization to Take the Test and that’s the time you
can schedule your exam at your preferred site and date.
-I haven’t registered at Pearson
Vue yet as I am still assessing myself if I am already ready to take the exam.
Last April 2013, they raised the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN and that
makes the exam even for difficult so you cannot just take it when you feel like
you want to.
Step 6: Wait for your ATT and Schedule the exam
-I have not made up my mind yet
as to when I will be taking the exam because I need time to….
Step 7: Review and Prepare for
the exam (whichever comes first for you.).
This is pretty much what I’ve
been doing seriously since June 6. I enrolled myself in a review class which is
pretty much elf review too only you get to use their resources and you get a
structure and you condition yourself to study and read and review and answer
questions almost 9 hours a day. My style is I read every chapter first then
take the post test per chapter then when I finished max 3 chapters a day, I
answer questions using the QBank or the Q&A CDs I’ve acquired since
college. 250 Q&As max in a day. Minimum 50. Minimum 1 chapter a day.
I do not force myself to study
when I don’t want to. Heck, I even skip class when I feel like I’m just going
to sleep there. I watch TV and I go out. I do not limit. I study when I am
happy and I study happily and that seems to be working. I cannot share yet my
study guides or my study tips and whatsnot until I have proven it to be
effective and that’s not until I pass the test.
In summary:
NY Application + CGFNS CVS Application + Issued CVS Report + NY Eligibility + Register at Pearson Vue + Get ATT + Schedule the Exam + Take the Exam + Pass The Exam = NY License
*Insert Study and Preparation and Mandated Courses in between
If you have questions, feel free
to comment. I would love to hear from
you. I might write about review when I am in a void. Thank you!
-N
