ACU and CGFNS issue

Published

Hi guys,

I have just begun the process of my education evaluation with CGFNS. One of requirements is request of academic transcript which has to be sent from nursing school to CGFNS. Few days ago I went to my uni to ask them regarding the transcript and pay some money for service. However, my nursing school refused to complete and send any papers to CGFNS on the grounds that all papers sent by Australian Catholic University Nursing School before had been returned back by CGFNS due to lack of some accreditation. ACU is well known Australian university with thousands of international students. I am just shocked. I have already spent nearly $500. What is wrong with ACU, why CGFNS can not evaluate this uni, and what can be done in this situation? Thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The problem is not with the CGFNS, they have evaluated ACU and it seems they have found some deficiency with ACU accreditation.

You need to ask ACU directly on why CGFNS is flatly rubber stamping any of the paperwork being sent by the ACU and being denied passage of their transcripts.

Until ACU can correct whatever is causing the rejection of the ACU transcripts there's not much you can do as it's beyond your control.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you, steppybay. I have been in ACU Nursing School in this week. They told me that they are in process of getting some accreditation and this process has been lasting over 6 months and they do not have a clue when it will be finalised. Therefore ACU refused to send any documents to CGFNS. Moreover, they told me that it was a waste of money for me. That's so weird because every year ACU accepts thousands of international students from all over the world. Perhaps, I should call CGFNS and ask them directly about this issue. I sent them email but had very ambiguous answer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The fact that ACU is admitting they are trying to get their act (accreditation approved) is a step in the right direction. The fact ACU accepts students globally doesn't mean it's meeting certain standards.

There are schools in the USA that don't meet certain educational requirements (one in particular is Excelsior College) and they have left many previous students stranded with no way to re-take the courses at the same institution and still pass their transcripts as being acceptable. Excelsior for example, doesn't meet the qualifications by the CA BRN rules (and a couple of states they used to conduct in) but they are accepted in other states.

I think a call to CGFNS will tell you, it's not a problem with CGFNS but with ACU and until ACU can correct whatever the accreditation issues are, will you and others in your shoes will have to just wait and see if it can be resolved.

The pressure needs to be put on ACU administration so that others don't become a victim like the Excelsior grads.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's not easy to push ACU, they do not care about graduates at all. I am just wondering if Australian state university has a problem with accreditation, what about the nurses from the third world countries, such as Russia, Ukrain, India, Philippines, China, Nepal and others... who would like or have to move to US.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It's not easy to push ACU, they do not care about graduates at all. I am just wondering if Australian state university has a problem with accreditation, what about the nurses from the third world countries, such as Russia, Ukrain, India, Philippines, China, Nepal and others... who would like or have to move to US.

My guess is that they will also have the same issues you are facing and that is not being approved by the CGFNS evaluation, which is only going by the guidelines set forth by certain criteria's.

There are other evaluation companies but one must make sure it's going to be accepted by that particular state's BON and that's the sole responsibility of each applicant to verify that whatever they choose will meet that state's requirements.

We've seen others who assume going with other companies will be ok, only to find they just wasted their precious time and money to find out it's not accepted. Just because it's "cheaper, easier and faster" doesn't mean that's what was required by that state BON's.

Each state has its own requirements and again, it's up to each and every applicant to careful know exactly what's needed from them. Each state has written instructions clearly stated which ones they will accept, anything else will not work, pretty simple.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In addition to this, it's so difficult to contact with CGFNS because they do not provide direct email, and their contact service more often fails than works, and the big time difference between PA and Australia :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know this post is about a year old, but I wanted to check in and see if any ACU grads have had any success with the CGFNS?

I graduated from ACU in 2013 and I am currently living in the USA. I have not had any success with the process and I am currently completing a Master's of Nursing via external education. Prior to moving to the USA, I researched the process extensively, however ACU informed me that they would not provide my transcripts to the CGFNS as they were in the process of re-accreditation. This was 18 months ago and I still have not found out if ACU is accredited. I contacted the CGFNS and they point blank refused to answer a single question that I had. The advice I received from the CGFNS was to pay for the service and I would either pass or fail. Not very helpful.

From what information I have found, the CGFNS requires a certain amount of clinical hours and uni subjects in mental health, medical, surgical and midwifery/paediatrics. At ACU I took a child, maternal and family health subject, but I did no clinical placement hours in this area. This has led me to believe that ACU does not meet the minimum requirements for midwifery/paediatrics in the BON which is a requirement to practice in the USA. I do not know if this is the reason ACU is not accredited but it gives me something to believe.

If anyone else has any info to add or is able to correct me, I'd love to hear it or be able to share experiences.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Yes if your transcript doesn't show clinical and/or theory hours for all areas Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetrics and Adult then you will not meet state requirements. It isn't CGFNS that decides, each state requires it CGFNS just obtain the information and breaks it down for the state BONs to understand

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I paid CGFNS full price a year ago. ACU sent three transcripts with descriptions in different times. Two of them were not accepted by CGFNS due to following reason "Please be advised that your school of nursing must confirm in a letterhead letter that the seal and signature that they used for your transcripts is legitimate and to also enclose a sample of the seal and signature in the letter as well". For the last one I am still waiting for result from CGFNS. ACU said that they can not meet CGFNS requirements for some objective reason such as lack of seal. I believe that ACU does not give full description of units and clinical placements broken down by hours. Personally I have three weeks clinical placement in maternity. Transcripts sent by ACU are expensive as well. I paid $100 six months ago. I pretty sure that it is just waste of time and money in my case.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hi guys. my status in CGFNS is 'meets all program requirements'. when should i expect the report to be issued? CGFNS received all documents four months ago. I sent them email, but got unadequate response. Thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
hi guys. my status in CGFNS is 'meets all program requirements'. when should i expect the report to be issued? CGFNS received all documents four months ago. I sent them email, but got unadequate response. Thanks.

Have you received the green light from the CGFNS?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion