Step 9: Get your California RN license
The last step is your license from the California Board of Registered Nursing. You apply, complete fingerprints, and pass the NCLEX. Then the BRN issues your license.
What to do
- Create a BreEZe account. The BRN recommends applying online.
- Start the “RN Initial Exam Application.” Attach any documents the instructions ask for. The BRN says attaching as much as you can helps reduce follow-up letters.
- Pay the application fee by credit card.
- Your school sends your transcript. California Board-approved programs send transcripts to the BRN electronically when you finish.
- Complete Live Scan fingerprints. Apply first. After you submit, the BRN emails you a Live Scan form and instructions. Live Scan must be done at a vendor in California.
- Track your application in BreEZe or on the BRN’s Application Status and Details page.
If you need testing accommodations, the BRN application lets you attach a request form. If you’ve had discipline on another healthcare license, the instructions explain what to send.
How the BRN processes applications
The BRN posts current processing times and updates them regularly. On its page updated Sept 24, 2026, it listed:
| Application | Posted timeframe |
|---|---|
| California exam applications | 10–12 weeks |
| U.S. (other state) exam applications | 10–12 weeks |
| International exam applications | 10–12 weeks |
| Military | 1–2 weeks |
| NCLEX-RN results | 2–3 weeks |
| Interim permit | 24–48 hours after the exam application is approved |
The BRN says California exam applications are processed as an entire cohort after the graduation date, in the order transcripts arrive from the school. If you apply after your cohort is processed, your application is handled in date order received. The BRN also notes that contacting it while you’re within these timeframes may slow processing.
How long it takes
- California exam applications: 10–12 weeks, per the BRN’s posted processing times (updated Sept 24, 2026). The BRN notes these are general guidelines and can vary.
- Live Scan results: the BRN says results typically arrive within a couple of weeks, often within 72 hours in BreEZe.
- Interim permit (optional): issued within 24–48 hours after your exam application is approved, if you requested and paid for one.
Typical costs
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| RN exam application, California graduate | $300 |
| Interim permit (optional) | $100 |
| Live Scan fingerprinting | DOJ and FBI government fees (the DOJ’s posted schedule lists $32 state + $17 federal for licenses; it is dated 2012 and subject to change), plus the Live Scan site’s rolling fee, which varies by location |
| Manual fingerprint card processing (only if you can’t do Live Scan in California) | $49 |
The BRN says application fees are not refundable or transferable.
School examples
This step happens with the BRN, not your school, so there are no school-by-school differences to compare here. The one school role is the transcript: the BRN says California Board-approved programs send transcripts electronically when you finish. Ask your program when it sends them for your cohort.
Common mistakes
- Doing Live Scan before applying. The BRN requires the application first, then sends the Live Scan form.
- Using a Live Scan vendor outside California. The BRN can’t receive out-of-state Live Scan results.
- Submitting twice. The BRN says submitting an online application after a paper one could slow the process.
- Calling too early. The BRN asks applicants not to contact it while within the posted timeframes.
- Leaving out documents. Attaching what the instructions ask for helps avoid follow-up letters.
Your SEAPHE tool
- Schools A–Z: your program page links the BRN sources we use.
You’re done. Welcome to nursing. Back to the overview.
FAQ
How long does it take to get a California RN license?
The BRN’s posted processing time for California exam applications is 10–12 weeks (updated Sept 24, 2026). NCLEX results are listed at 2–3 weeks.
How much does a California RN license cost?
The BRN exam application fee for California graduates is $300. Fingerprinting and the NCLEX registration fee are separate.
Do I need Live Scan for my RN license?
Yes, fingerprints are required. The BRN prefers Live Scan at a California vendor. If you can’t do Live Scan in California, it explains the manual fingerprint card option, with a $49 processing fee.
Sources
- BRN, Licensure by Examination, https://www.rn.ca.gov/applicants/lic-exam.shtml (checked Oct 13, 2026)
- BRN, Applicant Fingerprint Information, https://www.rn.ca.gov/applicants/fpinstruct.shtml (checked Oct 13, 2026)
- BRN, Fees, https://www.rn.ca.gov/consumers/fees.shtml (checked Oct 13, 2026)
- BRN, Processing Times, https://www.rn.ca.gov/times.shtml (checked Oct 13, 2026; page updated 9/24/2026)
- California DOJ, Live Scan locations, https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations (linked from the BRN page)
- California DOJ, Fingerprint fee schedule (dated 2012), https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/fingerprints/forms/fees.pdf (per Scout’s check, ops-sync 7d61cb3, Oct 13, 2026)