Finland - USA (2013)

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Hello!

I'm currently in the process of obtaining my RN degree from Finland. I am a US citizen and was a resident of New York State. I have searched this forum for more information concerning the transition from Finland to the US and while I have found some information, the information I have found dates back to 2005, 2006, 2011, etc. Are there any recent threads where I can get more information?

What I know already:

Apply through CGFNS.

Wait for verification.

Fullfill verification requirements (if any).

Re-apply to CGFNS after requirements are met? (Extra application fee?)

Wait for ATT by Pearson (?)

Take NCLEX.

I have read that NYS should not be the first State to apply through for foreign Nurses and then I have read that some regretted not going through NYS...so I'm confused. Another post says Vermont is the easiest State to go through for Finnish Nurses but I've read through their licensure procedure and it seems quite lengthy. Which State provides the smoothest transition for licensure to the US? (Preferrably a State that gives licensure for interstate practice)

What are my options? Can someone please verify if I have the correct information and what my next steps should be.

Thank you.

/Sara

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Which state do you plan on living and working in? If NY then regardless you will have to go through CVS so better to do that first

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My family lives in NYC but I am still undecided on which state I plan on settling in when I move back. My plan is to go to graduate school after licensure and a year's work experience but I'm still trying to figure out which will be the smoothest transition with manageable graduate degree tuition fees. I've been looking into Virginia and Pennsylvania but still need a lot more information on what the states' requirements are for foreign nurses.

--Pennsylvania BON website has no information for foreign nurses. The only way to get more information on state requirements is to call them. But I'm not licensed in Finland yet, I am still a nursing student. I'm doing research and preparing for what my next steps after graduating should be since it will keep me more informed when the time actually comes to start applying.

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My family lives in NYC but I am still undecided on which state I plan on settling in when I move back. My plan is to go to graduate school after licensure and a year's work experience but I'm still trying to figure out which will be the smoothest transition with manageable graduate degree tuition fees. I've been looking into Virginia and Pennsylvania but still need a lot more information on what the states' requirements are for foreign nurses.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Each state has their own requirements, because of time and money I would suggest deciding where to live and then look at requirements. Most states will accept CES report from CGFNS but CGFNS require a state to send report before it is issued. Pennsylvania used to require CGFNS exam for initial license but CES report when endorsing. Will check it out more and see if I can find anything

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

From the PA licensing site......Licensure by Endorsement With Exam for Internationally Educated Registered Nurses

State Board of Nursing

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Ok, thank you. PA seems to be such a hassle. Looks like you have to go through the CGFNS exam, NCLEX AND a State licensing exam...more money, more time. It does not seem to be the smoothest transition route I'm looking for. NYS requirements seemed relatively smoother since CGFNS has an application process specific to NYS. I have to weigh my options and read more about this.

--Is there a website which gives you short summaries of most or all State BON and what their requirements are?

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Thank you. Can you verify that after CGFNS evaluates my credentials through NYS and they determine that I have certain requirements to fulfill (extra courses), does this mean that after I fulfill these course requirements I should re-apply for a credential evaluation through CGFNS with the full application fee? Will I have to pay the full application fee twice?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Ok thank you. PA seems to be such a hassle. Looks like you have to go through the CGFNS exam, NCLEX AND a State licensing exam...[/quote']

There is no individual state exam any more. All states use the NCLEX.

--Is there a website which gives you short summaries of most or all State BON and what their requirements are?

Nothing official you may find a third party site that compiled information but likely has a disclaimer that you need to contact the state BoN to ensure current & accurate information.

The most economical option is....Pick the state where you wish to live & work as endorsement requirements are generally similar to initial licensing for IENs. NY requires a specialized report from CGFNS that is not used for any other state. Most other states that accept CGFNS accept the CES, if needed and report is current you can pay a fee to CGFNS to transfer the report to another BoN. The NCLEX is used for all 50 states. A few states also require CGFNS exam in addition to NCLEX.

Several states have additional requirements for all candidates (IEN or US educated) such as an online child abuse reporting class, infection control, or organ donation class approved by the BoN.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Are you generals trained with theory & clinical hours in adult med/surg, pediatrics, geriatrics, psych/mental health, and obstetrics/maternal-child/woman's health? I know some overseas nursing education programs are specialist trained or don't include OB/maternal-child as that is under the scope of midwives not nurses. All 50 US states require generalist trained with theory & clinical in all areas listed above. It's been near impossible for IENs that are not generalist trained to secure theory & clinical in areas lacking.

You also will need an active RN license in the state where you wish to go to graduate school. (if you decide to live in PA but go to school in VA, you will need a VA RN license. ).

There is a link to the US state boards of nursing at the bottom of this website. Each has a section for license by examination for an internationally educated nurse as available. I've read that Louisiana does not have a provision to license IENs by examination only endorsement but I do not know for certain.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Thank you. Can you verify that after CGFNS evaluates my credentials through NYS and they determine that I have certain requirements to fulfill (extra courses), does this mean that after I fulfill these course requirements I should re-apply for a credential evaluation through CGFNS with the full application fee? Will I have to pay the full application fee twice?

CVS is NY state BON version of CES just that CGFNS do all the running for all the required documents. If you requires CES report after CVS because you are looking at another state then generally CGFNS will use the documents used for CVS

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
(Which State provides the smoothest transition for licensure to the US? (Preferrably a State that gives licensure for interstate practice) What are my options? Thank you. /Sara

You are referring to the nursing license compact. In order to have a multi state license you must be a legal permanent resident of a compact state such as DE, MD, VA, NE and others. NY, NJ, PA, CT & VT are not compact states so if you lived in NY or PA and applied to VA, if meet the licensing requirements you would be issued a single state license that is only valid in VA. You need to prove residency

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