Completing the 18D course and functioning in the field does not qualify you to take the California RN Exam. Here is what the application for licensure by examination from the CA State Board of nursing says about Medical Corpsman:
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CORPSMEN:
Pursuant to Section 1418 of the Business and Professions Code, corpsmen must meet the same theory and clinical qualifications as that of a registered nurse. As a result, those applicants applying for licensure based on military training and experience may not meet the minimum qualifications for licensure.
The Board suggests that you contact a college in your area regarding your educational background. The college may be able to advise you if you will be able to use any of your course work and/or training toward a degree in registered nursing.
Also, you may want to contact the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians to inquire about licensure requirements for a licensed vocational nurse. That board may be contacted at (916) 263-7800 and is located at 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 205 Sacramento, CA 95833.
You may also visit their web site at
www.bvnpt.ca.gov. If you choose to submit an application for licensure, your fees will be nonrefundable and your application
will be evaluated. • Please mail the Request for Transcript form to the school of nursing with the fee required by the school. • Transcripts must be received and evaluated by the Board prior to being found eligible for the
examination. If you have any questions, please contact the Board of Registered Nursing at (916) 322-3350.
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Having both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in nursing, I'm pretty confident that the average 18D would not pass the NCLEX because the focus is different and a lot of subjects are just not taught to SF. It would also be pretty hard to prove that you met the clinical hour requirements which is broken down into things like OB, gerontology, human growth and development, psychiatric, and many more.
Being an 18D is an incredible leg up for success in college for just about any aspect of medicine, but just like selection and the Q Course, there are no short-cuts.