How to become a nurse in California
California licenses nurses through the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). The route is the same for every state: finish an approved program, apply to the board, pass the NCLEX, then renew on schedule. This page covers what is specific to California.
The steps
Finish a board-approved nursing program
Choose the level you want to start at: a practical nursing certificate (about a year), an associate degree (about two years) or a bachelor's degree (about four). California has 45 bachelor's, 95 associate degree and 127 practical nursing programs in our data. Compare BSN programs in California.
Apply to the board for a license by examination
You apply to the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) before you can test. The board's fee for registered nurses is $300. Expect a fingerprint background check.
Register for and pass the NCLEX
The NCLEX-RN (or NCLEX-PN for practical nursing) is the national licensing exam. Registration costs $200 through Pearson VUE, rising to $350 for registrations from February 1, 2027. The exam asks between 85 and 150 questions and allows 5 hours. 90.2% of California graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first try in 2024/2025, against 86.7% nationally in 2025. NCLEX pass rates in California.
Receive your license, then keep it current
California offers a temporary permit while you wait to test. Licenses renew every 2 years, with continuing education required (details in the table below).
Working in more than one state
California is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a license here covers California only.
Source: Nurse Licensure Compact
California licensing at a glance
| Licensing board | California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Board application fee, RN by exam | $300BRN 'Registered Nurse Examination Application - California Graduate' fee. Graduates of programs in another state or U.S. territory pay $350, and international graduates pay $750. An optional Interim Permit costs $100 more. The $200 Pearson VUE NCLEX registration is separate. | Source |
| Board application fee, LVN by exam | $300Fee charged by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT), a separate board, for 'Exam - California School Graduate' (effective 09/21/2022). Equivalency or non-California school graduates pay $330. The fee covers evaluation of application materials only; the NCLEX registration fee is paid separately. | Source |
| Fingerprint background check | YesAll applicants must submit fingerprints for state and federal criminal history checks by the California DOJ, after applying. Live Scan must be done inside California. Applicants outside California use an FD-258 hard card, which carries a $49 BRN processing fee. The DOJ keeps the fingerprints on file and notifies the BRN of future arrests. | Source |
| State law exam (jurisprudence) | Not requiredThe BRN's exam application page names the NCLEX-RN as the licensing exam and does not list a state jurisprudence exam. | Source |
| Temporary permit while you wait for the exam | YesRN exam applicants can request an Interim Permit for an extra $100. It is issued only after DOJ/FBI fingerprint results are processed and the applicant is eligible for the NCLEX-RN. It is valid for six months or until the first NCLEX-RN results arrive, whichever comes first. Applicants whose files are under Enforcement review because of convictions cannot get one until a decision is made. | Source |
| License renewal | Every 2 yearsRNs need 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years from a BRN-recognized provider. Licensees in their first two years after passing the NCLEX are exempt, except for a one-hour implicit bias course that newly licensed RNs must complete within their first two years (AB 1407, from January 1, 2023). | Source |
Board fees are separate from the NCLEX registration fee paid to Pearson VUE. Fees and rules change; confirm with the board before you apply.
Good to know in California
- California has two boards. RNs are licensed by the Board of Registered Nursing and LVNs by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. Sources: https://www.rn.ca.gov/ and https://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/
- New graduates of California programs should not submit the RN exam application more than 2 weeks before their graduation date. California programs send transcripts to the BRN electronically. Sources: https://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/applicants/exam-app-instructions.pdf and https://www.rn.ca.gov/applicants/lic-exam.shtml
- Graduates of California LVN programs apply through their nursing program director and must include Live Scan fingerprint forms. Source
- The NCLEX registration fee paid to Pearson VUE rises from $200 to $350 for registrations made on or after February 1, 2027. Sources: https://www.nclex.com/fees-payment.page and https://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/fee_increase.html
What nurses earn in California
| Role | Median yearly pay | Employed in California |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse | $140,270 | 338,940 |
| LPN or LVN | $79,750 | 82,850 |
| Nurse practitioner | $168,520 | 25,120 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. The median registered nurse in California earns $42,720 more than the national median of $97,550.