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I recently graduated and have had a job lined up in NJ since July. My profession requires a national certification after a board exam (I passed the test in July and am certified), but also a license from each state in which you practice. Most states take an average of 3 weeks or less to process a license, but NJ told me it'll take 8-10 weeks AFTER the 10-15 business day period it takes to even acknowledge that they received my application in the mail. And that's if everything gets sent at the same time with no issue. I applied shortly after accepting my position but may not have a license til October at this rate. I'm worried my employer will get impatient and rescind the offer or something. Is there any way to speed up this process? And why does NJ take so long?!
Contact your local congressman and see if they can provide any help.
For a purely state-related issue, wouldn't it make more sense for the OP to contact his/her NJ Assemblyman and NJ State Senator?
Why would a US Congressman get involved in something related to the functioning of the state government?
Good luck. I went through that dog & pony show 5 years ago...fingerprints, $100 application fee, sending in all required transcripts, paperwork, clinicals etc. After 6 weeks, they said they needed docs from the short level I fieldworks from 10 years prior, despite the fact that the school didn't have those records (only Level II), and the instructors no longer worked there. The woman on the phone from the Newark office was curt & unfriendly to deal with as well. Finally I said to heck with NJ and got a job in another state.
Does NJ actually WANT any taxpayers moving into the state? I get the feeling if I was an unemployed non-US citizen applying for benefits, I would have had multiple state agencies holding my hand through the process, and it would have taken half the time.
For a purely state-related issue, wouldn't it make more sense for the OP to contact his/her NJ Assemblyman and NJ State Senator?
Why would a US Congressman get involved in something related to the functioning of the state government?
Your're right. It should be state representative. That's who I contacted when I needed to expedite my license for a job.
I don't know the reason, but went through the same VERY frustrating thing: I am a nurse, and obtained my license in several different states..it took about 1 month in Connecticut, about 2 months in NY and 3 weeks in Florida...in NJ, it took 5 MONTHS for me to FINALLY get it...so frustrating! I feel for you, keep calling and bugging them!
Ugh. My experience with another NJ licensing board -- and the experience of every single person I have ever talked with who also had to deal with the board -- was exactly like yours. Also, my nephew recently experienced a nightmare getting his NJ license from a different licensing board; something to do with his supervised clinical hours. So it appears to be a systemic thing in NJ.
NJ takes so long because you are dealing with state workers who don't have much motivation to work faster or more efficiently, for whatever reason. Sometimes it is because budget cuts have left too few people to do the work, and sometimes it is for other reasons. Or they may have 1970s-era computers that aren't very fast or efficient. (Just look at our beloved DMV....)
Your potential employer is probably used to the way NJ operates and hopefully, will be patient. Good luck!
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