Applicants must take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®) if they have not previously taken and passed this exam or have not been licensed as a registered nurse in another U.S. state or territory. All applicants must have completed an educational program that meets all California requirements. If you are missing any educational requirements, you must complete an approved course prior to taking the examination.
The Board of Registered Nursing recommends that applicants apply online. If you have previously submitted a paper application, do not submit an electronic version as it may delay processing.
Application instructions including relevant forms that may be attached to the online application as needed are included.
To apply for the NCLEX examination online, follow these steps:
- Register for a BreEZe account if you do not already have one.
- On your BreEZe account homepage, select “RN Initial Exam Application” from the dropdown menu under “Start a New Application or Take an Exam”.
- At the end of the application process, you will have the opportunity to attach documents to your application. Please attach as much information as possible to minimize paperwork, expedite the review process, and reduce the need for additional correspondence.
For students needing reasonable accommodations, you may scan and attach the Disability Accommodation Request form to your online application.
For students disclosing prior discipline on another healthcare license, you may attach:
- Letter of explanation (signed and dated)
- Letter(s) of recommendation/support
- Out-of-state disciplinary documents
- Any other rehabilitation information listed in Section II “Prior Disciplinary Report Against a License” of the application instruction packet.
Note: See Important Notice Regarding Your Application for more information for applicants with discipline on another healthcare license.
- You must pay the application fee with a valid credit card.
For international applicants:
- Send the “Education Program Analysis for International Nursing Program” to your school along with the “Transcript Request” form. If your transcript is not in English, provide the “Certified English Translation” form to your certified translator.
See CA RN Licensure Qualifications for International Nursing Program Graduates for further details.
California Graduates: California Board-approved nursing programs will submit your transcripts to the Board electronically upon your completion of the program.
Out-of-State Nursing Program: If you attended a nursing program in another State, you may submit your transcripts to our Board electronically from a certified third-party electronic transcript vendor such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, or directly from your school. Electronic transcripts should be sent to [email protected].
If requesting transcripts through the National Student Clearinghouse, please follow the instructions to ensure your electronic transcripts are sent to the Board correctly.
International Nursing Program: If you attended a nursing program in another country, you must submit your official transcripts to the Board via mail.
You may check your online application status by logging into your BreEZe account frequently or by using the Application Status and Details portal.
Please refer to our Processing Times page for current timeframes.
