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International Nursing: United States Licensure Requirements
There is a two-step process for obtaining a registered nurse license here in the United States. This process is SEPARATE from the process necessary for obtaining a work visa. For
information regarding temporary or permanent visas, contact the U.S. Department of State at
http://travel.state.gov/ and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service at
www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis.
First Step:
Contact the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
CGFNS prescreens foreign educated nurses wishing to practice in the U.S. Prescreening
involves a review of the nurses education; licensure in the home country; English language
proficiency testing; and a predictor exam that provides an indicator of the nurse's ability to pass the U.S. national licensure exam (NCLEX).
Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools
3600 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651
U.S.A.
Telephone: 215-222-8454
Fax: 215-662-0425
Web Site: www.cgfns.org
Second Step:
In the U.S., every nurse must meet additional state requirements and take the
NCLEX as established by the State Board of Nursing. Each state has its own Board of Nursing.
There are some state boards of nursing that will accept the Canadian Nurses Association Testing
Service (CNATS) or the Canadian Registered Nurses Examination (CRNE). There are also a
few state boards of nursing that will directly endorse foreign educated nurses who have never
take the NCLEX. Because this information can change, it is necessary to contact the state board
of nursing to determine if they have a policy regarding direct endorsement for foreign-educated
nurses.
For additional information and contact information for a specific state board of nursing, contact the National Council for State Boards of Nursing.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
676 N. St. Clair, Suite 550
Chicago, IL 60611-2921
U.S.A.
Telephone: 312-787-6555
Fax: 312-787-6898
Web site: www.ncsbn.org
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