For Registered Nurses

Certification Program Requirements

CGFNS International 3600 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-2651 USA +1 (215) 222 8454 www.cgfns.org

The CGFNS Certification Program (CP) is designed specifically for firstlevel, general nurses educated outside the United States, who wish to practice nursing in the United States. The Certification Program is comprised of three parts: 1. A credentials review that includes an evaluation of secondary and nursing education, licensure and registration 2. The CGFNS Qualifying Exam, which tests nursing knowledge 3. An English language proficiency examination Successful completion of all three components results in earning a CGFNS (Certification Program) certificate. In order to be eligible, you must have completed sufficient classroom instruction and clinical practice in
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ForaCertificationProgrameligibilityreview, CGFNSmustreceive
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The Certification Program application you completed online. A bank check or international money order (drawn on a U.S.bank in U.S. funds) made payable to CGFNS International or credit card payment (Visa, MasterCard orDiscover) for the full application fee in U.S. dollars. Donot send cash. Documentation of your secondary school (high school) education or external exam certificate with literal Englishtranslations, including a Certificate of Accuracy, ifnot in English (see the note at the bottom of the CP steps page at www.cgfns.org/sections/programs/cp/cpsteps. shtml). The completed Request for Validation of License/Registration/ Certification from your initial and current licensing agency where you have held license/registration as a first-level, general nurse or, in cases where your diploma authorizes legal practice, this same form mailed to CGFNS International from the institution that issued your diploma.* The completed Request for Verification of Academic Records/ Transcripts and full academic transcripts from your school of nursing.* One passport-size photograph, signed on the front. Certified English translations of all documents not in English. CGFNS will only accept translations of documents (such as transcripts and validations) submitted directly to us by the issuing authorities. CGFNS can also provide an official translation of each document for the fee listed at www.cgfns.org/sections/apply/fees.shtml#5.

Adult health (medical/surgical) nursing Maternal/Infant nursing (obstetrics), excluding gynecology Nursing care of children (pediatrics) and Psychiatric/Mental health nursing, excluding neurology
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If you have not completed a sufficient number of hours in each of the above areas, you will not be approved to take theCGFNS Qualifying Exam until you complete them through a government-approved nursing school. You must also hold an initial license/registration as a first-level, general nurse in your country of education, and currently hold a license/registration as a first-level, general nurse. Verification of both registrations must be sent to CGFNS directly from the licensing authority. If you have previously applied for CGFNS services, and the request for validation of your license/registration is more than three years passed, you will need to complete another Request for Validation of License/Registration/Certification online and send it to your licensing authorities.

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CGFNS will not accept documents sent by email or fax. Official documents must be paper with the appropriate seals, sent to CGFNS directly by the issuing agency through mail or courier.

Englishlanguageproficiencyexamination
Applicants must take and pass an approved English language proficiency examination within two years of passing theCGFNS Qualifying Exam. The testing organizations must forward your English language exam scores directly to CGFNS.

* Licensing authorities and nursing schools may charge a fee for verifying your registrations/licenses/certifications or academic records/transcripts. You are responsible for any fees these outside agencies may charge you.
Revised December 2010. Copyright 2010 CGFNS. All rights reserved.

You may be exempt from the English language proficiency requirement if you meet all of the following criteria: n country of nursing education was Australia, Barbados, Canada (except Quebec, the only approved schools in Quebec are: McGill University and Dawson College in Montreal, Vanier College in St Laurent, John Abbott College in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and Heritage College in Gatineau), Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom or the United States and n the language of textbooks and verbal instruction of your education was English. Applicants not exempt from the English language proficiency examination must take one of the following English examinations: n TOEFL-PBT or TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language paper-based test or Internet-based test), administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Passing Score: 540 (paper-based version) or 207 (Internet-based version) or 83 (Internet-based version). For registered nurses in the Certification Program, only a passing total score is required. n TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication), administered by ETS. Passing Score: 725. n IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Module is jointly managed by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. Passing Score: 6.5 Overall.

CGFNS needs the completed Requestfor Validation of License/ Registration/Certification only if both your initial and current licenses have expired. *

Certification Program: Reprocess Application for an expired orderrequirements

For service that has not resulted in the applicant being approved for the CGFNS Qualifying Exam within 12 months of initial application date, due to program requirements not beingfulfilled.
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Apply for theReprocess Application an expired order through your online account at https://www.cgfns.org/cerpassweb/login.jsp. Pay the fee with a bank check or international money order (drawn on a U.S.bank in U.S. funds) made payable to CGFNS International or credit card (Visa, MasterCard orDiscover) payment for the full re-process fee in U.S. dollars. Do not send cash.

OtherCGFNSservices
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Document translation This is to request that CGFNS translate your required documents into English. Forwarding academic records/transcripts This is a request for CGFNS to send copies of your official academic records/transcripts to a licensing board or educational institution (this service does NOT include an evaluation of the documents). Forwarding academic records/transcripts and license/registration This is a request for CGFNS to send copies of both your official academic records/transcripts AND your official professional license/ registration validations or diploma (if it gives authorization to practice) to a licensing board or educational institution (this service does NOT include an evaluation of the documents).

CGFNS Qualifying Exam Re-examinationrequirements

For applicants who fail to pass or miss their CGFNS Qualifying Exam
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Apply for the CGFNS Qualifying Exam Re-Examination through your online account at https://www.cgfns.org/cerpassweb/login.jsp. Pay the fee with a bank check or international money order (drawn on a U.S.bank in U.S. funds) made payable to CGFNS International, orcredit card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) payment for thefull re-examination fee in U.S. dollars. Do not send cash.

Fees for these and other CGFNS services can be found at www.cgfns. org/sections/apply/fees.shtml

* Licensing authorities and nursing schools may charge a fee for verifying your license/registrations and transcript(s). You are responsible for any fees these outside agencies may charge you.

Revised December 2010.

Copyright 2010 CGFNS. All rights reserved.