BSN Graduate from the Philippines holding a dual citizenship applying for NCLEX in IL

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Hi everyone,

I know there might be some similar threads regarding this issue, but from most of what I have seen were people seeking for NCLEX in CA. So anyway, my situation is this: I am a recent BSN graduate from the Philippines, i didn't take the local board, and i hold a dual citizenship (US and Fil). Currently I'm here in Illinois and is planning to take the NCLEX here, but the issue is that the BON here in Illinois is now requiring for foreign graduate nurses to be a local board passer from the country they have had their nursing training. I am just basically confuse about the entire process. Will i still need the local board even with my citizenship status and I have no plan in practicing my profession in the Philippines? or is it best that i go back to the Philippines and just take the local board exam?

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The best and only answer to your question(s) is to simply write (via e-mail) to the IL BON and ask them directly. You can ask to see if they will accept a letter of explanation like many others do that previously apply into CA, of why they do not possess a nursing license from the country of their BSN origination.

But don't be at all surprised if IL decides that any letter of explanation will not be accepted other than evidence of a verifiable nursing license from the country that one obtained their BSN from. It is one way to prevent the fraudsters from applying with falsified documentation as when the particular state BON goes to confirm the nursing license numbers it doesn't match, then the application will subjected to further review before granting the US nursing license.

While those applying into CA can submit a letter of explanation of why they do not have the local country's nursing license (for reasons of due to their citizenship, country does not allow non-citizens to get a nursing license), CA could also one day no longer extend the "courtesy" of the reasons of why there's no local country nursing license and applications will be subjected to the 3 year limitation to complete their application by getting the required local country nursing license.

CA could enforce the local nursing license requirement without exception and without further notice, as it's clearly stated for an application eligibility.....we need a copy of your country's nursing license. If they do, then they will no longer be willingly to bend the rules.

Going back to your situation in IL, if it's required, then you have no choice but to go back and take the local board and pass it. It becomes your problem, not theirs, as you entered into their territory and now must make yourself fit into their requirements.

Having the dual citizenship does not concern the various state BON's whereby the requirements of submitting the local country's nursing is one of the documentation they need for the US nursing license application, they just want to see that one qualified themselves in their country as a licensed nurse.

I truly believe that IL is one of the other popular states that a possible few thousands of PH applicants went to after being denied access in CA and now I think IL is starting to see their fair share of illegal and fake documentation that has put the BON evaluators on high alert status, which has put those who have honestly studied hard, put their families thru many stresses on a financial basis and the burden of the student and nurses who have played the game correctly and are now suffering because of those greedy and selfish PH (in particular) "nurses".

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With the known problems of those submitting their applications from the PH, it will be much easier for the state BON evaluators or investigators to see if the name and local country nursing license numbers matches with the submitted documents of each individual and much harder to make false paperwork.

If the local country nursing license proves as either invalid or NO such numbers found or name does not match the license numbers etc., it will help prevent the cheaters from getting into the US nursing license system.

Don't blame the IL BON for the new requirement, look at the guilty students and nurses who's only way to get licensed was by pushing you to the ground and running over you so that they can benefit from their devilish actions.

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Call Illinois BON and ask for a Supervisor, Explain situation and let them make the call. I applied for a girl a few years ago at Texas BON and they BON were confused since she never took local exam in Philippines I finally got hold a supervisor and he helped push everything thru and get her approved to sit for NCLEX in Texas.

Other option is to find a state like where you they don't require local license (Many to choose from in USA), and then endorse to Illinois if that where you want to practice.

Our state board in Texas has different requirements for applying for NCLEX or endorsing

Good Luck........

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It has nothing to do with citizenship; it's about where you got your nursing education. You are a foreign-educated grad and will always have extra paperwork and requirements for licensure anywhere you apply for licensure. Being a US citizen doesn't change that.

Whether or not the IL BON will be willing to exempt you from the requirement is entirely up to them. Have you asked them about it?

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Other option is to find a state like where you they don't require local license (Many to choose from in USA), and then endorse to Illinois if that where you want to practice.

Our state board in Texas has different requirements for applying for NCLEX or endorsing

Many states have different requirements for US-educated and foreign-educated grads; if you're a foreign-educated RN, some states require that you still meet all the requirements you would have had to meet for initial licensure, even if you are applying for licensure by endorsement with a license from another US state. It just depends on the inidividual state.

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