The role of a Registered Nurse is central to the healthcare system, providing direct patient care, coordinating treatment plans, and educating individuals and communities on health maintenance. California, with its large and diverse population, has a consistent and high demand for qualified nursing professionals across all clinical settings. The path to practice is strictly governed by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), which sets the regulatory standards for education, examination, and licensure. Successfully navigating the BRN requirements is the definitive step toward beginning an RN career in the state.
Understanding the Educational Paths to Becoming an RN
California law recognizes three primary educational pathways that qualify an applicant for Registered Nurse licensure by examination.
The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is typically offered at community colleges and takes two to three years to complete. This program provides the necessary clinical and theoretical knowledge for entry-level practice and is a direct route to licensure eligibility.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is generally a four-year degree and is the most common path for new RNs entering the California workforce. The BSN integrates a broader liberal arts education with nursing science, often preparing graduates for a wider range of roles, including leadership and management positions. While frequently preferred or required by major hospital systems for employment, the BSN is not currently a requirement for initial licensure in California.
The Entry-Level Master’s Program (EL-MSN) is designed for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. These accelerated programs typically take one to two years and result in a master’s degree, positioning the graduate for advanced roles or further specialization. California also recognizes alternative paths, such as the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) 30-unit option and certain military corpsmen training.
Prerequisite Coursework and Program Entry
Before enrolling in a pre-licensure nursing program, students must complete specific prerequisite courses to establish a foundational understanding of the sciences. The California Code of Regulations Section 1426 mandates that applicants complete coursework in Related Natural Sciences totaling 16 semester or 24 quarter units. This requirement must include courses with a laboratory component in anatomy, physiology, and microbiology.
Applicants must also complete six semester or nine quarter units of coursework in Communication Skills, covering the principles of oral, written, and group communication. Many programs require specific courses in behavioral sciences, such as psychology, and social sciences. Admission into California nursing programs is highly competitive, and applicants are often required to pass an entrance exam, such as the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), as part of the overall application process.
Passing the National Council Licensure Examination
All candidates for licensure must successfully pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). This standardized, computerized, adaptive exam is used by all state boards of nursing across the United States. It evaluates a candidate’s ability to apply the knowledge and skills required to safely begin practice as an entry-level nurse. The exam is administered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers.
After a California Board-approved nursing program confirms a candidate’s successful completion to the BRN, the candidate becomes eligible to register for the exam. The BRN notifies Pearson VUE, which issues an Authorization to Test (ATT). The examination is a variable-length test that continues until the computer is 95% confident that the candidate’s ability is either above or below the passing standard. Failing to pass the NCLEX-RN prevents the issuance of a California RN license, regardless of educational attainment.
Submitting Your Application to the California BRN
After completing the required education, candidates apply for licensure with the California BRN by submitting the Application for Licensure form. The BRN highly recommends completing this online via the state’s centralized licensing system, BreEZe.
Transcripts and Education Verification
Official transcripts must be sent directly from the nursing program to the BRN. For California-based programs, this is often done electronically upon graduation. Applicants from out-of-state programs must ensure transcripts are sent directly from the school or a certified third-party vendor to the BRN. The BRN reviews these documents to confirm the applicant’s education meets all California-specific curriculum requirements.
Background Check Requirements
A mandatory component of the application is a criminal history background check, which is authorized by the Nursing Practice Act under Business and Professions Code § 2736. This requires applicants to submit a full set of fingerprints to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The BRN’s preferred method for this is the Live Scan process.
The Live Scan must be completed at a vendor located within California, even if the applicant is a non-resident. Fingerprint results completed at Live Scan locations outside of California cannot be accepted by the BRN. Candidates outside the state who cannot travel must use the manual fingerprint card (hard card) method, which significantly lengthens the processing time to several weeks or months.
The application for licensure can be submitted before a candidate takes the NCLEX-RN, but the license will not be issued until all requirements are met, including the successful passing of the exam and a clear background check. Processing times for the BRN are often extended due to the volume of applications, making it prudent for candidates to submit all required materials as early as possible. Once the BRN receives confirmation of a passing NCLEX-RN score and all other requirements are satisfied, the license is officially issued.
Licensing for Registered Nurses from Other States
Registered Nurses who hold a current, active license in another U.S. state or territory and wish to practice in California must apply for licensure by endorsement, as the state is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Applicants must have passed the NCLEX-RN or the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) and meet all of California’s educational standards.
Verification and Education Review
A central requirement is the verification of the current license, which can be completed through the NURSYS online verification system if the original licensing state participates. If the state does not use NURSYS, a specific Verification of License form must be completed by that state’s board of nursing. Applicants must submit official transcripts for evaluation to ensure their original nursing program met California’s specific curriculum requirements. If the BRN determines the out-of-state education was deficient in areas such as public health or pharmacology, the applicant may be required to complete supplemental coursework before the California license is granted.
Background Check and Temporary License
Endorsement applicants must comply with the mandatory California-specific criminal background check. This requires the submission of fingerprints via the Live Scan process at a California vendor, or through the slower hard card method if the applicant is outside of the state and cannot travel. Nurses may apply for a temporary license concurrent with their full application. A temporary license allows the nurse to begin working while the BRN completes the full document review. Issuance of a temporary license is dependent on the initial application being complete and the submission of the required fees and background check documents.
Renewing and Maintaining Your California RN License
Registered Nurses must maintain their good standing with the BRN by adhering to a specific renewal cycle and continuing education requirements. A California RN license is renewed every two years, expiring on the last day of the month following the nurse’s birthday.
The state mandates that all RNs complete 30 contact hours of continuing education (CE) during every two-year renewal period. These CE courses must be taken through a BRN-recognized provider, and the content must be relevant to the practice of nursing, aiming to enhance the nurse’s knowledge and skills.
Newly licensed RNs are exempt from the 30-hour CE requirement for their first renewal period. However, all licensees within the first two years of licensure must complete one hour of direct participation in an implicit bias training course. Failure to renew the license or complete the mandatory continuing education results in the license becoming delinquent, prohibiting practice as an RN in California.