Austrailian nurse asks how to transfer NCLEX score to the U.S.

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

To transfer your NCLEX and OSCE (objective structured clinical examination) scores from Australia to the United States and to understand how it affects your registration in Australia, here's a detailed process:

 Transferring NCLEX Scores to the U.S.

Verification with the U.S. State Board of Nursing (BON): Each U.S. state has its own Board of Nursing regulating licensure. You'll need to contact the BON in the state where you wish to practice to verify your NCLEX results. The BON may require that your NCLEX results be sent directly from the testing agency.

• CES (Credentials Evaluation Service) report. Some states may require a CES report evaluating your education and licensure. Agencies like CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) can help with this process.
• Application for U.S. Licensure: Once your NCLEX scores are transferred, you must apply for licensure with the state BON. This might include submitting documentation such as proof of education, verification of your Australian RN license, and possibly passing a criminal background check.

 Effect on Australian Registration

• Dual registration. Transferring your NCLEX scores to the U.S. should not affect your registration in Australia. You can maintain dual registration, meaning you can be registered both in Australia and the U.S. simultaneously.
• No automatic deactivation. Your Australian registration will not be automatically deactivated unless you voluntarily relinquish it or fail to meet the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) requirements, such as renewing your registration.

Green Card Process

• Employment sponsorship. To obtain a green card (permanent residency) in the U.S., you typically need to be sponsored by a U.S. employer. After securing a job offer, your employer can file an employment-based immigrant petition (EB-3 Visa) on your behalf.
• VisaScreen certification. A VisaScreen certificate from CGFNS is usually required to work in the U.S. as a nurse. It verifies your credentials, including education, licensure, and English language proficiency.
• Timeframe. The green card process can take several months to a few years, depending on the type of visa, country of origin, and current U.S. immigration policies. Processing times for Green Cards vary, so it's important to check current timelines with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Next Steps

• Contact the U.S. BON where you plan to practice.
• Maintain your Australian registration by fulfilling AHPRA requirements.
• Secure a job offer in the U.S. to begin the Green Card process.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth