A career in nursing is an excellent choice for anyone looking to work in healthcare. Nursing has been a flexible, stable, and well-paying career for decades. As the American population ages, the demand for nurses will only increase, potentially leading to better pay and even greater job availability. Nursing is also a highly “portable” career. There are jobs for nurses in every corner of the United States. Your job and career advancement can easily move with you anywhere in the country and even to some areas overseas.
California has more people than any other U.S. state, making it one of the best states for nursing education and job availability. This article will discuss the steps to becoming a registered nurse (RN) in California, job options, average pay, and career opportunities.
Step 1: Nursing Education
The first step to becoming a nurse is obtaining a nursing education. Completing a nursing program will allow you to register for the certification exams required to obtain a nursing license. There are five main ways to obtain an RN education in California.
Nursing Degree Programs
Some large hospital systems offer a nursing degree program. This is an accredited education program that fulfills the requirements for a nursing license but is not associated with a college or university. These programs do not provide college credits or technically count as a degree.
The major advantage of degree programs is their time and cost-effectiveness. They are usually the fastest and lowest-cost option for becoming an RN. Many are based at major hospitals and have flexibility for varying work schedules if you are employed at one of these hospitals. The major downside of degree programs is that advancement opportunities and pay can be limited without a formal degree in nursing.
Associated Degree in Nursing
Associated degree programs are a middle-ground between nursing degree programs and a bachelor’s of science in nursing. They blend the advantages and disadvantages of both.
An associate degree in nursing is similar to a nursing degree program in that it takes less time to complete than a full bachelor of science in nursing. However, associate programs are affiliated with a college. They will provide you with college credits that may transfer to another degree if you wish to pursue additional education. This college affiliation typically comes with an increase in cost compared to a degree program.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
A bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) is the most common choice for nursing education and the most common program offered in California nursing schools. These programs are affiliated with a university and confer a traditional four-year bachelor’s degree.
The major advantage of a BSN is job flexibility. Many positions in nursing management and education require a BSN. Hospitals that are affiliated with large universities and have student nurses working in their facilities typically require nurses to have a BSN.
The major downsides of a BSN are cost and time. These programs require 3-4 years to complete as a full-time student. Part-time BSN students may need 5-6 years or more to complete the program. BSN programs are typically costly, as you must pay the tuition at a traditional 4-year university. This cost will vary wildly based on the school you choose to attend.
Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Accelerated BSN programs are designed to allow students with a bachelor’s degree in another field to rapidly transition into a nursing career. These programs are similar to traditional BSN programs in that they are affiliated with a university and have a higher cost than other options. However, these programs can be completed in as little as one year, making them an excellent option for individuals who can handle a much faster-paced and potentially stressful program.
Direct-Entry Masters of Nursing for non-Nurses
A direct-entry master’s or nursing degree is another option for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in another field who want to become registered nurses. These programs confer a master’ s-level graduate degree upon completion. They include basic nursing education and graduate-level instruction in nursing education, administration, policy, and public health.
Direct-entry master’s degrees typically take 2-3 years to complete and cost more than accelerated BSN programs. However, these programs have the advantage of better-preparing students for jobs in education and management. They are also useful for students who will pursue a PhD or doctorate degree in nursing.
California-Specific Nursing Programs
The state of California has two specific programs for nursing education. Military Corpsmen who take courses relevant to nursing during their military service are eligible to sit for nursing examinations and obtain nursing licensure.
Vocational and practical nurses practicing in California can be licensed as registered nurses if they complete a “level 30” program. These programs do not grant a degree or diploma and are not recognized in other states.
For more information on these state-specific programs, review their information on the state of California’s website: https://www.rn.ca.gov/careers/steps.shtml
Step 2: Getting Your Nursing License
Unlike the many pathways and options for obtaining a nursing education, getting a nursing license in California is very straightforward. You must meet the education requirements, pass a background check, and pass a national examination known as the NCLEX. After all required documents are submitted, there is a waiting period for the documents to be reviewed and verified. If no issues are found, the time from application to license is 10-12 weeks as of 2024. This timeline can change based on the number of applications, so applications should be submitted as soon as your application materials are available.
These steps apply to the process known as “licensure by examination.” If you already hold an RN license in another state, you can apply for “Licensure by endorsement.” RN Licensure by endorsement in California requires the board of nursing to review your other state licenses and ensure they are in good standing. This will result in a license being issued in California without retaking the NCLEX or any educational programs.
Educational Requirements
The first step is to meet the education requirements for a registered nurse (RN) set by the California Board of Nursing. You must submit a web application detailing your educational and work history at the Board of Nursing website. Nearly all accredited nursing programs in the United States will meet the state’s educational requirements.
Background Check
The second step is passing a background check specific to California. Forms for the background check are included in the application. All applicants must obtain a full set of fingerprints at one of the locations specified by the state of California on their website: https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations. Individuals not living in California can have fingerprints sent electronically. Contact nearby fingerprint vendors in your state to determine if they participate in the California Live-Scan service.
National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX)
The NCLEX is one of the most anxiety-inducing aspects of nursing school for most applicants. It is a comprehensive test that measures your ability to assess, diagnose, and evaluate patients. The test consists of 75 to 145 multiple-choice questions, varying based on the number of correct and incorrect answers. It takes a maximum of 5 hours with two 10-minute breaks.
Failing the NCLEX is not the end of a new nurse’s career. Up to eight retake attempts are allowed annually, with a mandatory 45-day break between each attempt. Many NCLEX test-prep courses and question banks are available for test preparation.
Step 3: Getting a Job in Nursing
Finally, after all the hard work required to get a nursing education and license, you must find a job! This step in the process begins during school. Many of your clinical rotations in nursing school will be based at hospitals around your school. Many new nurses’ first job offers come from one of these sites. If you are looking for a job outside of your rotation sites, there are several things to consider.
Hospital vs. Clinic vs. Subacute Care
The first decision all nurses need to make is whether they want to work in a hospital or in a clinic.
Clinic nurses usually work at times similar to any other white-collar job. Few to no evening hours, night shifts, or weekends will be required. The number of holidays required will vary depending on the clinic. Clinic patients are typically stable and require very few treatments during their visit.
Hospital nurses have much more variable schedules. The majority work 12-hour shifts either in the daytime or evening, with some “swing” positions alternating between day and night shifts. Schedules are much more flexible, with most nurses working a combination of weekdays and weekends.
Subacute care is a single category that encompasses a wide range of facility types. Long-term acute-care facilities provide complex care to patients who are likely to require multiple months or years of intense daily medical care. Skilled nursing facilities provide care to patients who do not require intense daily medical care but may have regular medical issues that prevent them from reliably caring for themselves. Subacute-rehabilitation facilities offer intensive therapy in combination with medical care. Sierra Care offers many types of subacute care and provides a unique and rewarding job environment for nurses. For more information on Sierra Cares’ employment options for nurses, review our job listings on our careers page.
Specialty
A nurse’s specialty will determine what a normal day of work looks like. Some of the most common specialties that are found in both the clinic and in hospitals are:
- Women’s health (gynecology)
- Labor and delivery (obstetrics)
- Pediatrics
- Pediatrics specialty clinics
- Medical/Surgical (General floor)
- Long-term acute care nursing
- Skilled nursing facility care (nursing homes)
- Home health nursing
- Intensive care
- Trauma
- Operating room (surgical)
- Aesthetics and dermatology
- Medical specialty clinics
- Family medicine
- Internal medicine (adult general care clinic)
- Emergency medicine
The specialty you pick will determine the types of patients you see, the medication you give, and the treatments or procedures you will participate in. Most nurses are exposed to many of these specialties in nursing school, allowing them to narrow down what specialty they would like to pursue.
Income and Benefits
An RN’s income varies significantly based on their geographic location, practice environment, and specialty. Pay can vary significantly in small geographic areas such as a single city based on the hospital system. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides some average salaries for nurses working in various types of facilities:
| Average RN Salary | |
| Government | 99,840 |
| Hospitals | 88,430 |
| Clinics | 81,230 |
| Nursing homes | 79,280 |
| Education | 71,550 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
FAQ’s
1. How long does it take to become an RN in California?
a. RN education takes between 2 and 4 years, depending on your chosen educational program. After completing all education and testing requirements, it takes 12 to 14 weeks to receive your nursing license in California.
2. Are there any prerequisites for enrolling in a nursing program in California?
a. Most nursing programs have some educational requirements. Bachelor’s degrees require a high school diploma and may have specific class and GPA requirements. Associated degree programs have similar requirements but may be more lenient on students with GEDs or low GPAs. Degree programs will typically require some form of on-the-job experience or commitment to the hospital offering the program.
3. What are the best nursing schools in California?
a. There are many ways to determine the best school, some of which may not apply to every student. The traditional method of ranking nursing schools is by the research output and graduation statistics of their associated university. The University of California system has many of the best schools by this definition. For more information, rankings are available on the US News and World Report website.
4. How much does it cost to become a registered nurse in California?
a. The cost of becoming an RN in California varies greatly based on the degree program you select. However, as a general rule, the more years your program takes to complete, the more it will cost. For California residents, the average annual tuition for a BSN program is $11,442. For associate programs, the average annual tuition is around $5,000. A comparison of costs can be found at the California Nursing Board’s website.
5. Can I become an RN in California with a nursing degree from another state?
a. Yes! You will be required to send your educational transcripts to the California Board of Nursing, but nearly all accredited nursing programs qualify for RN licensure in the state of California.
