CGFNS Requirements

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 3, 2011

You do not need visa screen certificate as that is only required if main applicant for immigrant work visa. Usually it is a CES or some other form of assessment of transcripts that is required by the state BON. You could contact local nursing schools to see if you can obtain requirements as a guest student to meet state requirements.

Aunurse1 · Feb 5, 2011

You do not need visa screen certificate as that is only required if main applicant for immigrant work visa. Usually it is a CES or some other form of assessment of transcripts that is required by the state BON. You could contact local nursing schools to see if you can obtain requirements as a guest student to meet state requirements.

Unfortunately it IS required in order for me to work in the state of Kentucky. The Kentucky Board of Nursing requires that all foreign educated applicants seeking license have a visascreen certificate.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 5, 2011

Thanks for explaining they must be one of the only states that do it most just require CES or some other form of course evaluation. It looks like they only require it if not already licensed in another state.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 5, 2011

Thanks for explaining they must be one of the only states that do it most just require CES or some other form of course evaluation. It looks like they only require it if not already licensed in another state.

...actually, they also do require it too for any foreign trained nurse endorsing a license form another state within the US. Their requirement is pretty unusual.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 5, 2011

...actually, they also do require it too for any foreign trained nurse endorsing a license form another state within the US. Their requirement is pretty unusual.

Interesting cos I just looked and can't see anything for endorsement however it just states if not already licensed in a US state then visa screen is required

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 5, 2011

http://www.kbn.ky.gov/license/foreign/foreignendors.htm

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 5, 2011

thanks I could see that when I looked

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Feb 8, 2011

Hello,
I'm an Australian RN and currently living in the USA with my husband(American). I've been trying to go through CGFNS for 6months now. I've now recently found out that I may need additional clinical hours in midwifery in order to get my visascreen which is required to get my nursing license in Kentucky. Is there anybody who's managed to get clinical hours without returning to their home country or know of a way to achieve this?

Re CGFNS it's a good idea to get onto it early ..... they seem to take an extraordinary amount of time to process. They are a monopoly and can behave as they like. Customers pay a large amount of money with these people and frequently receive the most appalling level of service from these people. I really don't care how overworked they might be .... they are a business and are supposed to be able to provide an efficient service.

Several years ago, I had planned to work in the US. I applied to a certain state .... everything was in order. CGFNS then took six months to issue a report to the state board. My application period expired with the state as it was over a year.

Now ....when I could see they were taking such a long time issuing the report .... I sent a total of five letters and two emails. I also wrote to the manager of CGFNS. I didn't receive a single reply from any of these letters.

Then ...becoming desperate .... I filed a complaint with the BBB.

The outcome of the BBB complaint was CGFNS refunded the money they overcharged me when I paid for my initial order (about $50). That was it. They never communicated with me nor replied to the BBB.

So I missed out on getting my license and wasted the CGFNS and state board fees.

Be very wary dealing with this company.

crystelle · Feb 8, 2011

Sorry that you have to go through this. I know the feeling, been there.

I found this on KBN, like most BONs they have a list of CES provider that could help you gain your missing hours.

http://kbn.ky.gov/kbn/downloads/Ce.pdf

When it comes to clinical, that's a bit tricky. Maybe approaching a hospital and ask them if they could help you out with the externship?

I hope that helps.

Aunurse1 · Feb 9, 2011

Sorry that you have to go through this. I know the feeling, been there.
I found this on KBN, like most BONs they have a list of CES provider that could help you gain your missing hours.
http://kbn.ky.gov/kbn/downloads/Ce.pdf
When it comes to clinical, that's a bit tricky. Maybe approaching a hospital and ask them if they could help you out with the externship?
I hope that helps.

Thanks so much for the info, I really appreciate it. I'll be looking into those programs asap.

On another note, does anyone have any advice on making an official complaint against CGFNS? I am absolutely appalled at their service (which I have paid $540 to NOT receive). First, they have delayed me over 6 months in getting my nursing licence, and now they are telling me I am missing these clinical hours, when only last week they emailed me saying that everything was accepted and all I needed was NCLEX. Clearly they have no idea what they are doing, and frankly I don't see how they are even qualified to judge my credentials when all they do is screw up constantly. Oh, and just today I checked my application status and after weeks of saying "Meets all program requirements" one of my credentials now says "Received but not accepted". This is getting ridiculous now, I am at breaking point. They have now caused me a great deal of emotional pain and loss of income due to not being able to start working for an extra 6 months (and now even more).

So I'm looking into making a complaint with BBB (Better Business Bureau). Any advice from anyone who has done this before would be great. Thanks.

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Feb 9, 2011

Thanks so much for the info, I really appreciate it. I'll be looking into those programs asap.
On another note, does anyone have any advice on making an official complaint against CGFNS? I am absolutely appalled at their service (which I have paid $540 to NOT receive). First, they have delayed me over 6 months in getting my nursing licence, and now they are telling me I am missing these clinical hours, when only last week they emailed me saying that everything was accepted and all I needed was NCLEX. Clearly they have no idea what they are doing, and frankly I don't see how they are even qualified to judge my credentials when all they do is screw up constantly. Oh, and just today I checked my application status and after weeks of saying "Meets all program requirements" one of my credentials now says "Received but not accepted". This is getting ridiculous now, I am at breaking point. They have now caused me a great deal of emotional pain and loss of income due to not being able to start working for an extra 6 months (and now even more).
So I'm looking into making a complaint with BBB (Better Business Bureau). Any advice from anyone who has done this before would be great. Thanks.

Just to make a point here

The BBB accepts input from the public and rates companies ..... it doesn't have much power to do anything about poor service.

Many companies don't even bother responding to their communication ( from what I've gathered with my reading).

You would need to go and see a lawyer if looking for some redress from CGFNS.

I would advise keeping on at CGFNS and asking to speak with a supervisor. You would need to find out what's missing and try and address the problem quickly.

In my case .... everything was in order within the first six months and they then failed to issue a report within the timeframe.

There was nothing I could do because they failed to respond to all communication once all was in order

I gave up sending letters and emails to a brickwall

Not everyone has such an abysmal experience with the company.

Many people manage to get their orders completed despite a lot of trouble.

And then there are some people who manage to sail through (much smaller group I would imagine)