Nursing in the USA

[Welshcookie 17]

........does one have to re-train if qualified in the UK?

[KarenCee 3]

http://www.fulbright.co.uk/eas/studyus/subjects/nursing.html

Obtaining a License to Practice Nursing

Council on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) Certification Program

Nurses qualified outside the US who would like to practise as a registered nurse in the US must complete the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) Certification Program. The Certification Program includes three parts:

1.

1. A review of the applicant's credentials. Applicants must be a first-level, general nurse and must have graduated from a government-approved nursing programme, which included at least two years general nursing training. Applicants must also be registered as a first-level general nurse ('registered' or 'professional' nurse) in your country. Nurses who specialised in one area without being educated and registered/licensed as a general nurse (e.g. midwife, paediatric nurse, psychiatric nurse) are not eligible.

2.

2. A one-day qualifying exam. Nurses whose credentials meet the CGFNS requirements can register to take the CGFNS Qualifying Exam, which measures basic knowledge in nursing. The exam is offered in the UK (London) and in other countries. Registration and information is available online at www.cgfns.org .

3.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Nurses educated in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or Canada are exempt from this requirement. The exam is offered in many UK cities and in most countries. Registration information is available on the TOEFL website and at the Educational Advisory Service (for postal requests, please send an A4 SAE with 60p postage).

Licensure for Nursing Graduates

All nurses must be licensed in the state where they wish to practise. Most US states require a CGFNS Certificate from foreign nursing graduates before they can take the US registered nurse licensing exam - the NCLEX-RN. Foreign nursing graduates with CGFNS certification and nurses with US nursing qualifications need to contact the relevant state board of nursing for information on registration for the NCLEX-RN exam. The NCLEX-RN exam is offered in the US only.

Visas

Those nurses who gain licensure for a particular state and have an offer of employment for a US health care organisation are eligible to apply for a non-immigrant (H1-B) or an immigrant occupational visa. The CGFNS, through its International Commission on Healthcare Professionals (ICHP) division, is qualified to administer a VisaScreen programme for nurses who plan to apply for an immigrant visa. Nurses should contact the US employer and CGFNS for more information.

Hope this might be of some help to you.

[Welshcookie 17]

Thanks Karen! Can you tell I am too lazy to use my google friend today?

[keltic 1]

........does one have to re-train if qualified in the UK?

which state will you be moving to?

[Welshcookie 17]

Not too sure yet but more likely to be AL or FL.

[keltic 1]

Not too sure yet but more likely to be AL or FL.

each state usually has slightly differing requirements... so to be 100%, check the actual state that you will be wanting licensure...

for alabama:

Q. I was educated outside the United States. What requirements must I meet.

A. A Social Security number is required prior to issuance of a license.

Prior to licensure, individuals educated in other countries who wish to practice in Alabama must:

Provide certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). Also, have a full course by course evaluation package furnished by CGFNS forwarded to the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Be a graduate of a nursing education program approved by the proper authorities in the country where the program is located.

Meet the requirements for nursing program content employed as criteria for approval in Alabama at the time of the applicant’s graduation.

Make up any educational deficiencies.

Provide proof of completion of secondary school or its equivalent.

Pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

http://www.abn.state.al.us/main/FAQ/MAIN-FAQ.htm

for florida:

Licensure Information for Foreign Educated Applicants

The Board of Nursing requires you to have your nursing education evaluated by an approved credentialing agency for examination candidates. Request the nursing or healthcare profession & science course-by-course credentials review. You are responsible for all fees charged by these services. Applicants are urged to apply first to one of the three approved credential review services below and when that process is completed to apply for licensure in Florida.

Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc.

601 University Avenue, Suite 127

Sacramento, CA USA 95825-6738

Phone: (866) 411-3737 or (866) 411-ERES

FAX: (916) 921-0793

E-mail: edu@eres.com

Web: www.eres.com

International Education Research Foundation, Inc.

Post Office Box 3665

Culver City, CA USA 90231-3665

Phone: (310) 258-9451

Fax: (310) 342-7086

Email: information@ierf.or

Web: www.ierf.org

Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools

3600 Market Street, Suite 400

Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 USA

Applicant Inquiries: (215) 349-8767

Customer Service Facsimile: (215) 662-0425

Automated Phone System (to check status): (215) 599-6200

Web: www.cgfns.org

E-mail: info@cgfns.org

Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.

7101 SW 102 Avenue

Miami, FL 33173

Phone: (305) 273-1616

FAX: (305) 273-1338

Email: info@silny.com

Web: www.jsilny.com

English Competency -- Per Rule 64B9-3.002(1)(e) F.A.C. one of the following requirements for English competency must be demonstrated through one of the following:

Successful completion of any one of the acceptable English competency examinations:

A minimum score of 540 (207 on computerized version) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Examination

A minimum score of 79% on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)

A minimum MELAB converted score of 79% on the Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) Examination

A minimum score of 725 on Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)

A minimum score of 6.5 overall with a 7.0 on the spoken portion on the academic version of International English Language Testing System (IELTS);

Completion of a nursing program given in English in another country;

A passing score on a nursing licensing examination, which is given in English;

A certificate from the Commission on Graduates from Foreign Nursing Schools or other agency which indicates successful completion of TOEFL, TOEIC, or IELTS;

Completion of a college level course for academic credit in a U.S. institution;

Completion of English as a Second Language (ESOL) through Level IV.

NOTE: These are the only acceptable proof of ability to communicate in English.

Applicants educated in the following countries will not be required to provide any further proof of English competency when applying for the examination.

Antigua Ghana Samoa

Australia Gibraltar Scotland

Bahamas Grenada Sierra Leone

Barbados Guam Singapore

Bermuda Guyana Solomon Islands

Botswana India South Africa

British Honduras (Belize) Ireland Suriname

Cameroon Isle of Man Swaziland

Canada (Provinces: Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan) Jamaica Taiwan

Kenya Tanzania

Liberia Tasmania

Malta Tonga

Midway Island Trinidad and Tobago

Cayman Islands New Zealand Turks and Calcos Islands

Channel Islands Nigeria Uganda

England Pakistan United Arab Emirates

Falkland Islands (U.K.) Philippines Virgin Islands

Fiji Islands Saint Vincent's Island Wales

Gambia Saint Lucia Zambia (Northern Rhodesia)

Zimbabwe (Rhodesia)

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/nur_foreign.html

[Welshcookie 17]

cool....thanks for the links ppl

[lovers 0]

http://www.fulbright.co.uk/eas/studyus/subjects/nursing.html

Obtaining a License to Practice Nursing

Council on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) Certification Program

Nurses qualified outside the US who would like to practise as a registered nurse in the US must complete the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) Certification Program. The Certification Program includes three parts:

1.

1. A review of the applicant's credentials. Applicants must be a first-level, general nurse and must have graduated from a government-approved nursing programme, which included at least two years general nursing training. Applicants must also be registered as a first-level general nurse ('registered' or 'professional' nurse) in your country. Nurses who specialised in one area without being educated and registered/licensed as a general nurse (e.g. midwife, paediatric nurse, psychiatric nurse) are not eligible.

2.

I am RN in Morocco, i will live in California (see my time line).

Do i need to pass my TOFEL here in my country before i come to the US?

Thank you for your help.

2. A one-day qualifying exam. Nurses whose credentials meet the CGFNS requirements can register to take the CGFNS Qualifying Exam, which measures basic knowledge in nursing. The exam is offered in the UK (London) and in other countries. Registration and information is available online at www.cgfns.org .

3.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Nurses educated in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or Canada are exempt from this requirement. The exam is offered in many UK cities and in most countries. Registration information is available on the TOEFL website and at the Educational Advisory Service (for postal requests, please send an A4 SAE with 60p postage).

Licensure for Nursing Graduates

All nurses must be licensed in the state where they wish to practise. Most US states require a CGFNS Certificate from foreign nursing graduates before they can take the US registered nurse licensing exam - the NCLEX-RN. Foreign nursing graduates with CGFNS certification and nurses with US nursing qualifications need to contact the relevant state board of nursing for information on registration for the NCLEX-RN exam. The NCLEX-RN exam is offered in the US only.

Visas

Those nurses who gain licensure for a particular state and have an offer of employment for a US health care organisation are eligible to apply for a non-immigrant (H1-B) or an immigrant occupational visa. The CGFNS, through its International Commission on Healthcare Professionals (ICHP) division, is qualified to administer a VisaScreen programme for nurses who plan to apply for an immigrant visa. Nurses should contact the US employer and CGFNS for more information.

Hope this might be of some help to you.

I am RN in Morocco, i will live in California (see my time line).

Do i need to pass my TOFEL here in my country before i come to the US?

Thank you for your help.

[pooh_loves_muffet 0]

My baby is from Bahamas. She has to retake some nursing exam to become certified and employable. If you need more info than that, just ask. I can ask her.