California residents and UofM's online nursing programs
California is the one state UofM rules out by name: the Loewenberg College of Nursing holds no authorization to teach online students living there, and the California Board of Registered Nursing does not list UofM among its approved out-of-state NP programs. That still leaves real options, especially if a move is in your future or you already study at UofM.
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Tell us your UofM program and where you live. A placement advisor replies with the preceptor and site options that fit your UofM course.
UofM's answer for Californians
LCON's graduate residency page names California as the state where it may not offer distance education, and applicants to its online and hybrid programs must live in a state where it may. UofM Global's accreditation page says the same thing from another angle: 49 NC-SARA member states are covered, and California is the one left out.
| UofM program | For California residents | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MSN: FNP, AG-ACNP or PMHNP | Not open | No distance authorization; absent from the BRN's out-of-state NP list |
| NP graduate certificates | Not open | Same residency rule as the MSN |
| Nursing Education or Leadership | Not open | Online study requires an authorized state |
| RN to BSN (online) | Not open | UofM bars California residents from enrolling |
| Traditional BSN | Taught in Tennessee | A campus program in Memphis or Jackson; the California limit is written for online and hybrid study |
What California's Board adds
California runs its own gate for nurse practitioner training. Title 16, section 1486 of the state's regulations has any NP program based outside California win the BRN's approval before its students train there, use preceptors who meet California's standards, and teach California NP law. The BRN's page of approved out-of-state NP programs did not include UofM when it was read on 2026-09-27.
Two more California facts shape any plan. Students from programs based elsewhere need an active California RN license for clinical work in the state, and California is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact. AANP places California among restricted practice states, where NPs in select settings keep a standardized protocol agreement.
Already at UofM and moving west
UofM has a written rule for this case. A student who relocates to California must complete the remaining course requirements in Tennessee or another authorized state, or withdraw. Talk with your advisor and track coordinator before you sign a lease, because the timing of your next practicum decides how much of the program you would complete from an authorized state.
One approach is to complete the remaining practicums in an authorized state where you have a base, or back in the Memphis area. Our Memphis preceptor guide and Tennessee overview show what that looks like, and the local-area clinicals page explains how UofM thinks about where practicums happen.
Paths that stay open
- Planning a move to Tennessee or another authorized state? UofM's online MSN may fit once you live there; confirm the new state with LCON before applying.
- Staying in California? The BRN's out-of-state NP program page shows which programs from other states the Board has approved for NP training there.
- Thinking longer term? UofM's MSN licensure disclosure marks its NP tracks Yes for California with one condition, a California RN license, which suggests a route to California NP certification after graduating from an authorized state.
Our state authorization guide lays out how UofM's four state sources compare.
How we help Californians connected to UofM
If you are enrolled at UofM or heading to an authorized state, we build your practicum plan around where you will actually be. Whatever part UofM plays in arranging it, we find a preceptor and site in Tennessee or another authorized state that fit your track's rotation rules, and we have the preceptor agreement details ready early. Tell us your dates on the contact page.
Questions UofM students ask
Can I take UofM's online FNP program while living in California?
No. LCON is not authorized to offer distance education in California, and UofM is missing from the BRN's list of approved out-of-state NP programs. If you plan to relocate to Tennessee or another authorized state, ask LCON about applying once you live there.
Would a California RN license let me do UofM clinicals in California?
It would satisfy California's license rule for students from outside programs, but the other two barriers remain: UofM's lack of distance authorization in California and the absence of BRN approval for its NP tracks. A license alone leaves both in place.
Why does UofM's licensure disclosure say Yes for California?
That document answers a licensing question: whether the NP curriculum meets a state's requirements for graduates who later apply there. It adds that a California RN license is required. It does not say where students may live or train while enrolled.
Can I finish my UofM clinicals in Tennessee after moving to California?
UofM's rule lets a relocating student complete the remaining requirements in Tennessee or another authorized state, which means being physically present there for practicums. Work out the plan with LCON before the move, and settle the preceptor question early.
Is California in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
No. California has no pending compact legislation, so practicing there as an RN requires a California license. California NP certification also requires the California RN license first.
Related pages
Last checked 2026-09-27
We check these pages against UofM's 2026-27 catalog, the LCON Academic Bulletin, program pages and licensure disclosures. Your clinical faculty and your plan of study have the final word.
Whether UofM helps or you start alone, we find the preceptor.
Tell us your UofM concentration, your next practicum and the town you train near. We find preceptors and sites that fit the course and prepare what the preceptor agreement form needs, early enough for approval before the first clinical day.
- Preceptors matched to the rotation rules: an NP preceptor, family practice for FNP, inpatient and critical care for AG-ACNP
- License, certification and site details ready for the preceptor agreement form, with your Complio items in order
- Across the Mid-South, Tennessee and the states UofM serves
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