Canadian (Ontario) RN looking to acquire a New York State license

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Hello everyone, 

 

I am an RN in Ontario (passed my NCLEX in January), and now I’m seeking a license in New York State. I have tried to figure out what to do, but it all seems so confusing. 
 

Do I sign up with NYSED and apply for a license? Or do I need to also apply for CGFNS (NY state).. or is it under Visascreens? On CGFNS they ask for my license verification - but I’m not sure if they will check it on their own, or request the CNO send it to them. (CNO is seriously useless when it comes to asking for any help), and I have not gotten any emails back from them for the last few months. 
 

if anyone knows the step by step guide on how to obtain a NY state nursing license from Ontario (having already passed the NCLEX), please guide me. I’m really stuck and unsure of what to do. 
 

thank you!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Here on their website 

If your education was obtained in another country, do not use Form 2. You may arrange for the NYSED to receive your foreign credentials, either directly from the institution issuing the credential using Form 2F or from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), who will verify the authenticity of your foreign nursing education credentials using CGFNS’s Credential Verification Service for New York State. If you are also licensed as a nurse in another country, you may also request that CGFNS verify your foreign nursing license or have that country submit a license verification directly to us using Form 3F. If you use CGFNS, you must contact CGFNS directly to sign-up and pay for CGFNS’ Credential Verification Service for New York State. For more information, visit CGFNS’ Website: www.cgfns.org. After you sign-up and pay for CGFNS's service, CGFNS will send a report regarding your foreign education credentials directly to NYSED. While it is not mandatory for an applicant to utilize the services of CGFNS, the department recognizes that it is often very difficult, if not impossible, and time consuming for an applicant to effectively complete the application process independently and encourage applicants to consider utilizing that service.

http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/nurseforms.htm
 

CNO has to verify your license as well as confirm you passed NCLEX 

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8 hours ago, Silverdragon102 said:

Here on their website 

If your education was obtained in another country, do not use Form 2. You may arrange for the NYSED to receive your foreign credentials, either directly from the institution issuing the credential using Form 2F or from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), who will verify the authenticity of your foreign nursing education credentials using CGFNS’s Credential Verification Service for New York State. If you are also licensed as a nurse in another country, you may also request that CGFNS verify your foreign nursing license or have that country submit a license verification directly to us using Form 3F. If you use CGFNS, you must contact CGFNS directly to sign-up and pay for CGFNS’ Credential Verification Service for New York State. For more information, visit CGFNS’ Website: www.cgfns.org. After you sign-up and pay for CGFNS's service, CGFNS will send a report regarding your foreign education credentials directly to NYSED. While it is not mandatory for an applicant to utilize the services of CGFNS, the department recognizes that it is often very difficult, if not impossible, and time consuming for an applicant to effectively complete the application process independently and encourage applicants to consider utilizing that service.

http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/nurseforms.htm
 

CNO has to verify your license as well as confirm you passed NCLEX 

Hi there, 

 

thank you. I was wondering if CFNGS will contact CNO directly so they can verify my license? Or do I have to contact CNO? They seriously do not pick up the phone or reply to emails... theres a section on CFNGS that asks to input your license number and regulatory body, so I’m unsure if they verify it themselves.

 

also, I don’t need an English test do I? I was born and raised in Canada, so I do not see the reasoning behind that? Maybe it’s for nurses not from North America?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
2 hours ago, Whodaewhat said:

Hi there, 

 

thank you. I was wondering if CFNGS will contact CNO directly so they can verify my license? Or do I have to contact CNO? They seriously do not pick up the phone or reply to emails... theres a section on CFNGS that asks to input your license number and regulatory body, so I’m unsure if they verify it themselves.

 

also, I don’t need an English test do I? I was born and raised in Canada, so I do not see the reasoning behind that? Maybe it’s for nurses not from North America?

For CVS CGFNS do all the chasing for your paperwork so they should contact CNO for verification. As long as your transcripts show schooling done in English then you shouldn’t have to do a English exam 

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9 hours ago, Silverdragon102 said:

For CVS CGFNS do all the chasing for your paperwork so they should contact CNO for verification. As long as your transcripts show schooling done in English then you shouldn’t have to do a English exam 

Hey there, I paid the $360 fee. But it says for my documents that “applicant, please sign and send this to your licensing body to be completed and have them return it to us)...am I going to have to do the chasing? Or can I contact CGFNS to see if they can do it? I have no idea where to mail this to at all. (I did the Visa for NY state application). 

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

According to their Q&A on CVS 

Licenses/Registrations/Diplomas
CGFNS validates the applicant’s initial licenses/registrations for a Credentials Verification Service Report®.

https://www.cgfns.org/services/authentication-and-verification/credential-verification-service-for-new-york-state/

so I read it as they do it. 

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I am a Canadian grad who wrote the Canadian NCLEX and was working in Ontario until I moved to NY in 2019. The whole process is a bit repetitive. You first need to apply for and submit documents for NY state, then go through the CGFNS process. The CGFNS is a federal organization that is not specifically associated with NY state. You will need to send CGFNS all your documents (RN license proof, NCLEX proof, University transcripts and education proof form). CGFNS does not track down documents for you, you must fill out a CGFNS form and email this to CNO to complete and mail in. CNO's email is: [email protected], they will charge for mailing this information and send you the fedex tracking number, which is how you know when they send it in. I did not have to write an English proficiency exam. CGFNS decides on this exam after reviewing all your education documents (Transcript and your verification forms sent in from your university). CGFNS can be frustrating and time consuming to deal with, but overall, once I submitted all the documents it was just a waiting game. The entire process from start to finish took me 5 months (I paid the extra $500 for expedited mailing, which quickened it by about a month). Best of luck! 

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Specializes in Emergency and ICU 14 years.

Hey NYnurse I am in the process of doing my cgfns from Ontario to Michigan did your school charge you a fee to send your transcripts to cgfns Windsor is asking for 169$ which I think is a little much. Does my transcripts have to come from them or can I send them myself 

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Unfortunately there are a lot of extra fees on top of the main $500+ CGFNS fee. Yes I had to pay for my university to send in my transcripts, I don't think you can send in yourself. There is also a form you need your university to fill out to confirm your practicum hours and courses, my university dean had to complete this and it took a while. I paid $50 plus international shipping, but this was an AB school. I also had to pay the province (AB) where I got licensed to send in my NCLEX proof and then pay for CNO to send in my licensing details. 

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Specializes in Emergency and ICU 14 years.

Thank you seems like a money grab to me LOL

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Specializes in Nursing Student.

Hey all. going through this process now. Why does the NYS site say you don't need the CGFNS services? http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/nursecanadian.htm

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Specializes in Nursing Student.

just to clarify, you can do the whole NYS license first without the CGFNS visa screen. Then once I have my license I can apply for the visa screen to obtain my TN visa? anyone? thanks!!

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