Getting a California nursing license by endorsement

How it works

California licenses out-of-state nurses by endorsement. You must hold a current, active RN license in another US state or Canada, have completed an approved nursing program, and have passed the NCLEX-RN (or the older SBTPE, or the five-part Canadian exam). There is no separate California examination for endorsement.

Processing time

The Board of Registered Nursing publishes a live, date-stamped processing-times table rather than a fixed promise. As of its June 3, 2026 update it quoted US-trained endorsement applications at 10 to 12 weeks of review and was working applications received in early March, so the real wait from submission can run several months. State law requires the Board to complete its initial evaluation within 90 days of receipt. Check the Board's processing-times page for the current cohort before you rely on a date.

Work while waiting

Yes. California issues a temporary license to endorsement applicants (this is the path that NCLEX-exam applicants do not get). It is valid for six months so you can work while the permanent license is pending, costs an extra fee, and is only issued after the Board receives your DOJ and FBI fingerprint results. File the endorsement application first; you cannot apply for the temporary license on its own.

Requirements

Verify each out-of-state license through Nursys, or by paper Verification of License form if your board is not on Nursys. Submit one set of fingerprints; out-of-state applicants must use the FD-258 hard card because California Live Scan must be done in state. Have your nursing school send official transcripts. Submit the application before your fingerprints.

Fees

$350 endorsement application, plus $49 for the out-of-state fingerprint hard card (about $399 together). The optional temporary license is $100 more. Internationally educated applicants pay $750. All fees are non-refundable, even if you are found ineligible. (The fee instruction sheet is dated 2021; confirm current amounts at checkout.)

Compact rules

California is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so a multistate license from another state does not let you practice in California. Every out-of-state nurse needs a California license by endorsement.

Military spouse

California expedites licensure for the spouse of an active-duty service member stationed in California who holds a current license elsewhere (Business and Professions Code 115.5), and offers a separate military-spouse temporary license lasting up to 12 months (BPC 115.6). Bring your marriage or domestic-partnership proof, the military orders showing a California duty station, and your current out-of-state license.

Source: California BRN, licensure by endorsement and processing times, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.