Foreign-eduated nurses who graduated before concurrency was implemented in 2011, are having issues with the Board of Registered Nursing regarding licensure. Concurrency means that your classroom theory lectures and clinical cases have to be taken in the same semester to acquire licensure in California (through examination or endorsement).

The Board of Registered Nursing should not ask the clinical cases from foreign applicants who graduated before the year they implemented concurrency. Some of the applicants don't even have a copy of their clinical cases anymore. Schools only keep copies over a certain period of time. Although, nursing schools in the Philippines are now implementing the guidelines of concurrency, this applies only to new graduates as the nursing schools were not even aware of "concurrency" prior to the implementation by the board.

Most applicants from the Philippines who graduated 10 years and over took theory lectures and clinical cases (duty in hospital) consecutively. This is the nursing school's arrangement, the students only comply to the schedules the schools give them. For this reason, the board will deem them deficient and so they will either get denial, be asked to take classes or repeat a whole new nursing program. Doesn't matter if they're an immigrant, got US citizenship, have over 10 years work experience, garnered awards and recognitions for being an excellent RN in hospitals in another state, have master's degree, have Phd etc etc. For as long as they were not concurrent back in college, then they will get that verdict.

It's unfair that the foreign applicants who earned their 4-year BSN degree before concurrency should be deemed ineligible or be asked to take classes/programs just for being non-concurrent. What they're asking is unnecessary besides it's very expensive to enroll in classes or repeat a whole new nursing program in California which will take 2-3 years to finish. Taking classes will be a financial burden due to the cost. Classes per subject range from $6k-12k and you don't easily get a spot as you have to wait for a year to get on top of the waiting list just to enroll in the classes. Nursing programs range from $22k-120k. Also, not all schools in California offer the program and California doesn't recognize out of state programs.

Some applicants then resort to moving out of state because of this. There is already a shortage of nurses in California. Many foreign-educated nurses would like to go back to working as a registered nurse, but this is the only thing that's stopping them to practice their profession. Some have already settled in California and moving to another state is not possible.

Non-concurrency doesn't gauge how well you do as a nurse nor make you less competent. Passing the NCLEX-RN exam will determine if you are fully equipped for the battle. If the Board of Registered Nursing will remove or modify concurrency as a requirement to get eligibility to take NCLEX-RN exam/endorsement, it will give foreign graduates more chances to pursue their chosen career. It will give them a chance to sit the NCLEX-RN exam/endorse their RN license from another state, hopefully pass the exam/approve endorsement, and finally get working as registered nurses in California. This will benefit not only in the healthcare system, but also help in the labor market which will in turn give a more positive impact to the economy of the state.

Clinical cases performed during college by foreign-educated nurses from Philippines that needs concurrency:

i.   5 Major operations assisted
ii.  5 Minor operations assisted
iii. 5 Actual deliveries handled
iv. 5 Deliveries assisted
v.  5 Cord dressing performed

Note: New curriculum changed from 5 to 3 clinical cases each.

Related links or sources:

Immigrants are Key to California's Healthcare Workforce​

The hiring of foreign-educated nurses may be the key to solving the problem of the nursing shortage in the state.​

California Community Colleges Helping Address Nursing Shortage​

Why are there so many Filipino Nurses in the US?​

Fair access to education for immigrant medical professionals

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