Registration Verification from Saudi Council

[EdOng]

Hi! Been following the discussion about verification of nurse registration since last week and I decided to join this site to get some help and be of assistance, if possible.

Currently, I am applying for Further Assessment in Alberta's College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA). At this stage, the only requirement I need is the Verification of Registration from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) or known as the Saudi Council. I was advised that it is done online so I paid and received a Certificate of Good Standing via email in a matter of minutes. I thought everything was fine but the problem has just get started from that point.

Two weeks ago, I sent the said certificate electronically but they advised me to have it printed and sent directly from its source that is Saudi Council. So I went there a couple of days back to ask them to send it as it is the requirement of CARNA (with the fee of sending to be paid by me) but they declined my request. They just gave me an envelope and instructed me to send it myself.

The dilemma did not end there because last night, CARNA emailed me that the certificate does not include the Initial Date of Registration and that their Nurse Consultant will call them with this concern. As for my end, I am planning to go back there and have the Verification of Nurse Registration Form filled up in addition to the good standing certificate. However, I would like to hear from you guys who have the same concern or been processing their CARNA registration or with any other jurisdiction (eg., NMC UK, AHPRA) that requires registration verification from Saudi Arabia.

Thank you!

[EdOng]

About the translation, I went to a registered translator here in Buraydah. It is along Al Khobaib street, our version of Riyadh's Batha here.

Regarding your concern for the expiration of your IELTS test result, I think the NMC would consider it as long as it is still valid. Agencies may require at least a year. Since you already commenced with your application, you do not have to worry because the timeline for you to have a decision letter is up to 90 days unless additional papers shall be needed. Lately, the NMC gives an initial waiting time of 6-8 weeks for international application to be processed, which is longer compared to what they told me last April to follow up in 3-4 weeks. Yesterday, the agent told me that they have lots of applications to process lately. Still, another 2 weeks of patience for me or even 2 months if I'll be fortunate to not have any problems along the way.

[stylish_gem, BSN, CNS]

Thanks a lot for taking time to answer my queries. I really appreciate your input about these matters which are causing me worries. I called Greenfields International today to ask their advice on applicants who are currently employed overseas. They don't advise me to hand in my resignation yet until I get my certificate of sponsorship from the UK employer. I told them that if ever I recontract with my present employer until December 2015, I might need to take the IELTS again because it will expire a month after that which will be on January 2016. They advised me that I need to take IELTS again if that would be the case since the employers would prefer an applicant with a valid IELTS at least for 1 year. However, there's no need for me to worry about the NMC decision letter because it will be valid for 2 years. It would only mean that I need to study for my IELTS exams again if ever I renew my contract which is one of my possibilities at present. I am still undecided as to what will best suit my situation. I just really pray to God that my decision letter will finally be out before I leave this place in case I formally hand in my resignation notice.

By the way, our hospital has a shopping schedule in Buraydah this Saturday (June 21), and we will go to Al-Kobaib too. Can you tell me the office location of the person who translated your Saudi Council document? In case I ask my friend my Riyadh to represent me in SCFHS for the verification of registration, do I still need to give her a special power of attorney or a simple authorization letter would do?

[EdOng]

You're welcome :) Same as what they told me. The decision is taking ages but it certainly won't cost you a couple of years of waiting, though.

Regarding your other query, the office of the translator is near Makati Express, so just go straight pass it if you are coming from the stores such as Kabayan Store, which I bet you know about. It is in the same area/block, right side of the main road.

About your SCFHS, I think an authorization letter will do. Just to make sure, try to reach their customer service center on a weekday during office hours. Their contact number is available on their website.

[stylish_gem, BSN, CNS]

Edong, I called the SCFHS call center today, and they told me that there is no need for an authorization letter even if my friend will get it on my behalf. However, I think it would be best to still send her a letter of authorization together with the verification form from NMC just in case they will ask for it. Thanks again for your help!

[EdOng]

Do not forget to send a copy of your Saudi License along with the form to your friend because they did ask me of that too. Also, you might as well consider Rabinski's advice about the translation service offered by the SCFHS. Good luck to you then.

[ReenaDangoy]

Hi! Sorry to ask again but what is the process that you followed for Nmc registration verification? What about me who's here in the Philippines es na and won't be going back to Ksa? Which form did you have translated for saudi council? We're they the one who filled up your pack2 form or you? Did they send it to nmc or you did? Or they just gave you a certificate of good standing and you were the one who sent it to nmc? Thanks so much for your help.

[EdOng]

Hello ReenaDangoy. With regards to the registration verification, I forwarded the form to the SCFHS personally and had it filled out, signed, stamped and sent the document (verification form) back to the NMC UK's address. The good standing certificate is another thing, but I lodged it together with my full application pack as a supporting document. Again, the verification form must come directly from the Saudi Council. Since you are in the Phils now, I think you would want to ask a friend of yours in Riyadh to do you a favour.

[ReenaDangoy]

They were the one who sent it? Nareceive na ng Nmc? Coz i heard they aren't processing these kinds of verification that's why they have the electronic certificates na for good standing. And there's no way to track your document if you will leave it with them. I'm afraid it will just get lost. Thanks so much for your help but I'm really worried because I'm leaving, hopefully in a few weeks, and I haven't received my pack2 yet. So, it's really nerve wrecking to process these things.

[EdOng]

Yup, they did receive everything that I sent. It is may be just a hear say but I can prove that wrong because I just did as required. Actually, they have a tie up with Aramex and my verification got there safely. I can attest to it for I tracked it and made a follow up when I checked it online that their staff has received the document. I hope this disproves your claim about the incompetence people might have told you about SCFHS.

[stylish_gem, BSN, CNS]

Thanks for the great suggestions, Edong and Rabinski. I will follow it as you mentioned in your posts. God speed!

[EdOng]

Thanks for the great suggestions, Edong and Rabinski. I will follow it as you mentioned in your posts. God speed!

You're welcome. All the best on your application then. May God bless you as well.

[ReenaDangoy]

Thanks so much. Do I need to pay for anything? They were the one who sent it to Nmc thru aramex? I'll just ask a friend to do it for me. If I will, what do I need to provide for them? and will they be the one to fill up the form? Sorry if I got to many questions I got confused with the process. Can you tell it again as a story? Like who you asked to fill it up, where you there while they're filling it up? Thanks so much. This is such a great help.