State says new online nursing application should speed up licensing
California is urging new nursing school graduates who have not already applied for a nursing license to do so using an online application instead of submitting a paper form.
The new web application is designed to speed up approvals for graduates, said Russ Heimerich, a spokesman for the state’s Department for Consumer Affairs.
Ever since California introduced a new computer system to manage licensing on Oct. 8, many students completing nursing degrees have faced weeks-long delays getting authorized to take licensing exams. Because the new system, called BreEZe, did not initially offer an online application tool, staff at the nursing board had to manually key applicant data into the system.
Once students begin using the online tool and entering their own data into the system, Heimerich said, nursing board staff should be freed up “to burn through more” evaluations.
Applicants who pay online also won’t have to wait for checks and money orders to clear, a delay that can add days or weeks to the process, Heimerich said.
“Paying online is really the way to go,” he said.
Instructions for nursing exam applicants are available on the Department of Consumer Affairs website.
Nursing graduates who have already applied to take the board exams should not file a new online application, Heimerich cautioned.
“We’re hoping to reach students that are about to graduate in May and June,” he said.
Around 7,000 people are expected to graduate from nursing programs in those months. The state reported earlier this month that the nursing license backlog had been cleared, but new graduates continue to complain about delays.
Twitter: @LATerynbrown
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