Welcome to the guide prepared by Visa Finder Immigration, which aims to provide basics and essential information on how a foreign nurse can validate their diploma and obtain a license to practice in the United States. We know that the desire of nurses around the world to serve and contribute to the US healthcare system is a legitimate and valuable aspiration.

This guide was created to help foreign nurses understand the process of validating their nursing licenses in the United States. We will present the specifics of states that do not require an English proficiency test, using New York State as an example. However, it is important to note that procedures and regulations may vary from state to state, so it is essential to check the specifics of the state where you intend to work. Keep in mind that it is often easier to obtain a license in a state that does not require English proficiency and apply for an endorsement in another state.

By reading this guide, you will have access to information about the general requirements that must be met, the necessary documents, the steps involved in validating your nursing license, important tips, and support resources. We hope this guide will be a valuable resource for you as you embark on this journey to realize your dream of working as a nurse in the United States.

Please note that the information contained in this guide is valid as of the date of its publication, and it is always advisable to check the latest information with the appropriate authorities, such as the New York Board of Nursing, to ensure you are following the most up-to-date procedures and requirements.

Visa Finder Immigration is pleased to offer this guide as part of our efforts to provide guidance and support to foreign healthcare professionals who wish to contribute to the healthcare community in the United States.

1. Summary of the Validation and Licensure Process for Foreign Nurses.

For a foreign nurse to obtain a license to practice in the same profession in the United States, they must first validate their diploma according to the requirements of the Board of Nursing of the state in which they wish to practice. However, in the United States, there are so-called multi-state licenses that are valid for more than one state.

Boards of Nursing generally accept third-party companies to validate diplomas, licenses, and professional experience, and the companies accepted by several states are the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools® (CGFNS) and Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. (Jsilny).

In addition to third-party validation, states such as New York require online courses on topics related to child abuse and infection control.

After passing the courses and validating the foreign license, the Board of Nursing authorizes the foreign nurse to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) exam.

2. Step-by-Step Process for Obtaining a Nurse License in the United States

2.1. Choosing the State for Obtaining the Nurse License

To understand the validation rules, nurses should check each state’s rules on their respective boards’ websites.

States such as Montana and New York do not require an English language proficiency test. Montana is part of the multi-state compact, where the license is valid in 41 US states. New York is still in the validation process. However, it is possible to obtain the license in New York and then endorse it in another state.

List of states and respective links:

Alabama: Alabama Board of Nursing – http://www.abn.alabama.gov/

Alaska: Alaska Board of Nursing – https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofNursing.aspx

Arizona: Arizona State Board of Nursing – https://www.azbn.gov/

Arkansas: Arkansas State Board of Nursing – https://www.arsbn.arkansas.gov/

California: California Board of Registered Nursing – http://www.rn.ca.gov/

Colorado: Colorado Board of Nursing – https://dpo.colorado.gov/Nursing

Connecticut: Connecticut State Department of Public Health – https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Practitioner-Licensing–Investigations/Nursing

Delaware: Delaware Board of Nursing – https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/nursing/

Florida: Florida Board of Nursing – https://floridasnursing.gov/

Georgia: Georgia Board of Nursing – https://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/plb/45

Hawaii: Hawaii Board of Nursing – https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/nursing/

Idaho: Idaho Board of Nursing – https://ibn.idaho.gov/

Illinois: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation – Nursing – https://www.idfpr.com/profs/Nursing.asp

Indiana: Indiana State Board of Nursing – https://www.in.gov/pla/nursing.htm

Iowa: Iowa Board of Nursing – https://nursing.iowa.gov/

Kansas: Kansas State Board of Nursing – https://ksbn.kansas.gov/

Kentucky: Kentucky Board of Nursing – https://kbn.ky.gov/

Louisiana: Louisiana State Board of Nursing – https://www.lsbn.state.la.us/

Maine: Maine State Board of Nursing – https://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/

Maryland: Maryland Board of Nursing – https://mbon.maryland.gov/

Massachusetts: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing – https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-in-nursing

Michigan: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs – Nursing – https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-89334_72600_72603_27529_27575_27585—,00.html

Minnesota: Minnesota Board of Nursing – https://mn.gov/boards/nursing/

Mississippi: Mississippi Board of Nursing – https://www.msbn.ms.gov/

Missouri: Missouri State Board of Nursing – https://pr.mo.gov/nursing.asp

Montana: Montana Board of Nursing – https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/nur

Nebraska: Nebraska Board of Nursing – https://www.nebraska.gov/licensee/index.cgi

Nevada: Nevada State Board of Nursing – https://nevadanursingboard.org/

New Hampshire: New Hampshire Board of Nursing – https://www.oplc.nh.gov/nursing/

New Jersey: New Jersey Board of Nursing – https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/Pages/default.aspx

New Mexico: New Mexico Board of Nursing – http://nmbon.sks.com/

New York: New York Board of Nursing – http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/

North Carolina: North Carolina Board of Nursing – https://www.ncbon.com/

North Dakota: North Dakota Board of Nursing – https://www.ndbon.org/

Ohio: Ohio Board of Nursing – https://nursing.ohio.gov/

Oklahoma: Oklahoma Board of Nursing – https://www.ok.gov/nursing/

Oregon: Oregon State Board of Nursing – https://www.oregon.gov/osbn/Pages/index.aspx

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing – https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Nursing/Pages/default.aspx

Rhode Island: Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education – http://health.ri.gov/hsr/professions/nursing/

South Carolina: South Carolina Board of Nursing – https://www.llr.sc.gov/nur/

South Dakota: South Dakota Board of Nursing – https://doh.sd.gov/boards/nursing/

Tennessee: Tennessee Board of Nursing – https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/nursing-board.html

Texas: Texas Board of Nursing – https://www.bon.texas.gov/

Utah: Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing – Nursing – https://dopl.utah.gov/nurse/

Vermont: Vermont Board of Nursing – https://www.sec.state.vt.us/professional-regulation/list-of-professions/nursing.aspx

Virginia: Virginia Board of Nursing – https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/

Washington: Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission – https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/NursingCommission

West Virginia: West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses – https://wvrnboard.wv.gov/

Wisconsin: Wisconsin Board of Nursing – https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/BoardsCouncils/Nursing/Default.aspx

Wyoming: Wyoming State Board of Nursing – https://wsbn.wyo.gov/

2.2. Validation of Degree, License, and Experience Abroad

Foreign nurses must demonstrate that their nursing education is equivalent to U.S. nursing education standards. This typically involves having their educational curriculum evaluated by a recognized nursing accrediting agency; most states accept evaluations from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools® (CGFNS) or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. (Jsilny). Ensure your academic transcripts are detailed and include information about courses, clinical practice hours, and graduation dates. Additionally, states like New York may require some simple but additional courses.

Characteristics of companies that validate Degrees, Licenses, and Experience:

a. Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools® (CGFNS) – https://www.cgfns.org/

CGFNS only accepts documents physically mailed from overseas to the United States.

b. Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. (JSilny) – https://www.jsilny.org/

JSilny accepts documents sent by email from institutions.

2.3. English Proficiency Exam:

If you are not a native English speaker or your primary education was not taught in English, you may be required to take an English proficiency exam. Common exams include the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Ensure you obtain the minimum scores required to be eligible for licensure. It is worth noting that states such as New York and Montana do not require a proficiency level.

2.4. NCLEX-RN Exam for Obtaining a Nurse Licensure in the United States:

The National Council of Nursing Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) is a critical step in the nursing licensure process in the United States. It is a standardized exam designed to assess the competency of nurses seeking to become registered nurses (RNs) in the United States.

Purpose of the NCLEX-RN:

The NCLEX-RN was developed to assess a nurse’s ability to practice safely and effectively in the healthcare setting. It tests the knowledge and skills necessary to provide high-quality nursing care to patients in a variety of clinical settings. The exam is designed to ensure that nurses are well prepared to care for patients safely and effectively.

Exam Structure:

The NCLEX-RN is a computerized, adaptive exam, meaning that the questions adjust to the candidate’s performance. If the candidate answers a question correctly, the next question will be more challenging. If the candidate answers incorrectly, the next question will be easier. This allows the exam to accurately assess the candidate’s level of knowledge and skills.

The exam consists of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions (where the candidate must select more than one correct answer). It may also include drag-and-drop questions, fill-in-the-blank questions, and calculation questions.

Exam Content:

The NCLEX-RN content is based on safe and effective nursing practices. It covers a wide range of topics, including:

Health promotion and disease prevention.
Patient assessment.
Direct nursing care.
Patient safety.
Pharmacology.
Intravenous therapy.
Ethics and patient rights.
Medication administration.
Nursing diagnosis.
Evidence-based care practices.
Maternal and neonatal nursing.
Pediatric nursing.
Psychiatric nursing.
Geriatric nursing.

Exam Preparation:

Preparation for the NCLEX-RN is essential. Candidates typically prepare through review programs, books, online courses, and practice with past exam questions. It’s important to take the time to review relevant topics, understand the exam structure, and practice answering questions in the NCLEX-RN format.

NCLEX-RN Exam Administration:

The exam is currently administered at Pearson Vue centers and can be taken in other countries, including Brazil, and can be accessed through the website below:

https://www.nclex.com/

Exam Results:

NCLEX-RN results are typically available a few weeks after taking the exam. If the candidate passes, they will receive authorization to continue the licensing process. If the candidate fails, they may retake the exam after a waiting period determined by the board of nursing.

In summary, the NCLEX-RN plays a key role in validating nursing licensure in the United States. It assesses nurses’ ability to provide safe and effective patient care and is a critical step toward becoming a registered nurse in New York or any other U.S. state. Proper preparation and understanding of the exam content are essential to achieving success on the NCLEX-RN.

Remember that the nursing licensure validation process in the U.S. can be time-consuming, but with dedication and proper preparation, you can achieve your goal of becoming a registered nurse in the United States. Be sure to check the latest information on the website of the Board of Nursing where you wish to practice, as requirements and procedures may change over time.