[rudolf]

Hi, may i know what states that only needs only the NCLEX to be employed from foreign nurses like me. Tnx a lot

[suzanne4]

I took the liberty of moving your post to the International Forum. There ar stickies written at the top of the page as to what you need to do.

All states require minimum of NCLEX, series of English exams, and the Visa Screen Certificate.

Others require the CES in addition, which is a credentials eval done by CGFNS.

Best and easiest route is NY.
Least favorable route to go for initial licensure, if you are a foreign grad is CA.

[lawelane]

If you have a visa even just a tourist visa or something, u still can take NCLEX in California, Vermont, New Mexico (these are only the states I know who don't require you to be RN in ur country). But if u don't have visa yet and u will apply in agencies or something, then u really have to take exams like TOEFL, etc....

[Silverdragon102]

This thread is nearly 2 years old and things do change, there has been talk in the last couple of months of Ca changing and requiring local licensure. Always better to approach and ask BON on current requirements

[lawrence01]

Originally Posted by lawelane

If you have a visa even just a tourist visa or something, u still can take NCLEX in California, Vermont, New Mexico (these are only the states I know who don't require you to be RN in ur country). But if u don't have visa yet and u will apply in agencies or something, then u really have to take exams like TOEFL, etc....

Just giving a friendly clarification that having a tourist visa or any visa for that matter has nothing to do with licensure requirements of each state. If one is a foreign-educated nurse, that applicant still has to fulfill the requirements of the State BON for foreign-educated nurses. This still holds true even for US Citizens who are educated in non-US programs. They still have to do the requirements for foreign-educated nurses. The only thing they don't have to do is the English Prof. exam and the Visa Screen certification for obvious reasons.

Also, majority of State BON/BRN do not have en English Prof. exam as req't for initial licensure (CA BRN, VT, NM, etc..) or they waive it if it was taught in English and if the course was taught by the use of Nursing books written in English (IL, NJ, etc...).

An English exam is mandatory for the Visa Screen Certification (either IELTS or TOEFL) if needed. US Citizens and those who already have a US immigrant visa or are in a fiancee visa are exempted to avail the VSC.

And lastly, as Anna said, the diff. BON change their policies and req'ts often.

[lawelane]

This thread is nearly 2 years old and things do change, there has been talk in the last couple of months of Ca changing and requiring local licensure. Always better to approach and ask BON on current requirements

I am not a registered nurse in our country but I was still eligible to take the CA NCLEX-RN. 5 of us here in CA who didn't take the local board in our country was made eligible to take the exam. 4 of us have already passed. While me, still waiting for the result. Four of them stopped at 75 questions and passed. I also stopped at 75 Q's but i'm not pretty sure yet if I pass/fail. I don't want to expect anything.

[Silverdragon102]

Originally Posted by lawelane

This thread is nearly 2 years old and things do change, there has been talk in the last couple of months of Ca changing and requiring local licensure. Always better to approach and ask BON on current requirements

I am not a registered nurse in our country but I was still eligible to take the CA NCLEX-RN. 5 of us here in CA who didn't take the local board in our country was made eligible to take the exam. 4 of us have already passed. While me, still waiting for the result. Four of them stopped at 75 questions and passed. I also stopped at 75 Q's but i'm not pretty sure yet if I pass/fail. I don't want to expect anything.

It all depends on when you sent your application in. When BON's make changes and NM recently made changes there is usually a date it will start from ie NM BON new changes will start from 1st Feb so applications sent before then should not be affected although the BON will make their on assessment to accept or not.

[lawelane]

Ok! I got it! Thanks for the info. At least I can help my friends... hehehhe...

[suzanne4]

What happened a year ago can be very different in terms of immigration as well as licensure. Rules are always changing, they never stay the same.

And just because someone has taken the NCLEX exam, but if they do not have a local license, then they are not going to be able to get any experience anywhere and this is something that they will be looking at when the nurse goes for their interview at the US Embassy. How are you going to explain graduating five years before, but not having any experience as an RN? With the increase in the number of applicants, you are going to need to make yourself more marketable in terms of finding an employer, as well as those at the US Embassy the day of your interview.

And add into it the fact that CA does not issue a license without a SSN#, therefore you are going to have to go thru another state to get a hard license from there before you will be in the US more than likely. And if all of the other states are changing their requirements, you are going to need to meet those, not just those of one state.