Hi everyone! I'm a registered nurse currently practising in Singapore, and I'm hoping to get some advice from anyone who has experience moving to California to work as an internationally educated nurse, particularly those coming from Singapore. A little about my background: I initially obtained a Diploma in Nursing, which qualifies me to practise as a Registered Nurse in Singapore. I subsequently completed a post-diploma Bachelor's degree in Nursing in 2022. English is the medium of instruction. I have varied clinical experience, primarily in subacute and community nursing. I'm currently working as a school nurse in an American international school. I also hold a Professional Diploma in Dermatology. I'm bilingual in English and Mandarin Chinese, having grown up and studied in Singapore's bilingual education system. For context, the nursing education pathway in Singapore can be a little different from that in the US. My initial diploma is sufficient for registration and practice as an RN in Singapore, and my Bachelor's degree was pursued subsequently as a post-diploma qualification. Specific clinical requirements During my initial nursing diploma studies, I completed clinical rotations across the various nursing areas and specialties typically expected as part of a general nursing programme. The duration ranges from one week to one month, depending on specialty. However, when I subsequently pursued my post-diploma Bachelor's degree, the expectation was not to repeat clinical placements across all these areas. I also do not hold any additional advanced qualifications, certifications or specialist training in these areas. I'm therefore wondering whether California evaluates the clinical hours and subject coverage from both my diploma and Bachelor's degree together, and whether my initial diploma rotations would be sufficient to meet the relevant requirements for RN licensure. Why California? I'm considering moving to California for approximately 3–5 years, as my partner will be based there. I'm not necessarily looking to immigrate permanently, so I'm hoping to explore temporary work visa options rather than an immigrant visa. My partner's visa does not grant me rights to work. H-1B1 visa for Singaporeans From what I've gathered, Singaporeans are eligible for the H-1B1 visa, which seems like a potentially more feasible option compared to the regular H-1B. My understanding is that the H-1B1 has lower associated employer filing costs because it is exempt from certain H-1B-specific fees, such as the fraud prevention fee and H-1B lottery registration fee. I've seen figures suggesting that the savings could be several hundred to over a thousand dollars, depending on the employer and filing circumstances. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has actually gone through this route, particularly in the nursing profession. I'm also curious whether employers are familiar with the H-1B1 and willing to consider sponsoring Singaporean nurses. In terms of employment, I'm fairly flexible and open to exploring different nursing roles and settings. I'm not particularly attached to working in a hospital and would be open to community health, outpatient settings, school nursing, dermatology-related nursing or other opportunities that might be suitable for my background. A few questions I'd love some insight on: Has anyone from Singapore successfully obtained California RN licensure? How was the application process through the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN)? How does California assess a nursing education pathway where the initial RN qualification is a diploma, followed by a post-diploma Bachelor's degree? Would they consider both qualifications together? Were there any issues with overseas nursing qualifications, even if the Bachelor's programme was conducted entirely in English? For anyone who has gone through the California BRN process, did you encounter difficulties with credential evaluation, clinical hours or specific subject requirements? In particular, I'm wondering whether the clinical rotations completed during my diploma would satisfy the midwifery and mental health requirements, despite not having pursued further specialist training in these areas. Has anyone managed to secure a nursing job in California on an H-1B1 visa? Do hospitals actually sponsor this visa for RNs, or is it difficult to find an employer willing to do so? Is the H-1B1 a realistic option for registered nurses? Does being bilingual in English and Mandarin offer any particular employment opportunities or advantages in California healthcare settings? I'd really appreciate hearing about anyone's personal experiences, advice or even things I should look out for before starting the process. I'm still at the exploratory stage, so any insight would be incredibly helpful. Thanks so much! :)   submitted by   /u/adjustingrn [link]   [comments]