Licensure Process

The RN Professional licensure process is a bit lengthy and so an early awareness of the steps is important to allay frustration and to avoid making promises you cannot keep. There are TWO applications you must make: one application for licensure in the state in which you wish to be licensed and the other application is for the exam. The processes are described below.  We have only included application for licensure in MN as that is where most graduates hold licenses.  The test application is the same regardless of state of licensure.

Application for licensure in Minnesota

• Application for licensure- Fee $105.00 (plus temporary permit of $60)
• MN Board of Nursing Web site
• There is no rush about applying for licensure; about 6-8 weeks before graduation will be soon enough.  Once you have applied for licensure with the Board and with the test service (see below), you wait.  Your graduation must be verified by the school before you will be issued a permit to take the exam (Faculty have until a week after the last day of exams to submit grades to the registrar).  The earliest you can expect the school to be able to verify your graduation is mid-May.  Then you will be authorized to schedule the exam (the test centers are listed at the Pearson Vue website).  In spring 2007 the first CSB/SJU graduate tested on June 6, 37(66%) tested in June and the rest tested in July and August.  Usually you can schedule a test most anytime you are ready but I wouldn't expect to do so before the first full week in June.
• The temporary permit allows you to practice as an RN in MN before you take the licensing exam and is good for 60 days after graduation; once you have taken the exam and passed (or not), the permit expires.  If you do not pass the exam you may no longer practice as a nurse.  Check non-MN states for their policies about graduate or temporary nurse permits. 

Application for NCLEX (this is the test itself)

• Candidates Bulletin - 44 page printable document contains answers to many questions about applying for NCLEX
• You do not have to take the exam in the state in which you are seeking licensure. This is a national exam.
• Online application for the exam (Fee $200.00)
• Preparation
• Test Plan - 
  This document describes how the test is constructed, including the proportion of items in each category and the types of items you might encounter.  This test plan is new, effective April 2007, so comparisons with previous test plans are inappropriate. 
• Review Course  
  The Kaplan test review course is offered the week after graduation at CSB; you may, however, take the Kaplan course at any Kaplan review course site.  Since we have been working with Kaplan our pass rates have stayed steady in the 90%'s.  We also recommend taking the exam as soon after graduation and the review course as possible.  In the past, we have been able to arrange on-campus housing for a small fee ($15-20/night) for that week.
• Self-Study
  You have all begun your self-study for NCLEX with the assigned review questions in each nursing course.  The research indicates that the number of practice test items a student uses in excess of 3000 is predictive of NCLEX success.  PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
• The day of the exam
  You need to be at your best! Allow up to 5 hours to take the exam; that is, don't block yourself into a 2 hour window since it may take longer than that.  Get a good night's sleep the night before and have a healthy breakfast (and lunch, depending on test time).  Stay calm and relaxed.  If you are sick on the scheduled day (or have an accident, as one graduate did) RESCHEDULE the test!