Do you need to pass local board to take CGFNS?

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I heard that in order to take the cgfns exam, you need to have local board exam in philippines? Is this true? I never took the local exam, I planned to come here with just my diploma and transcript then take the nclex exam to become rn. I am in virginia by the way.

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instructions for filing “application for licensure by examination for registered nurses educated in other countries” (virginia):

commission on graduates of foreign nursing schools qualifying examination - cgfns

it is required that evidence of passing on the commission on graduates of foreign nursing schools qualifying exam. the certification program is comprised of a three-part program that includes a credentials review, a one-day test of nursing knowledge (cgfns qualifying exam), and the test of english as a foreign language (toefl).

http://www.dhp.state.va.us/forms/nursing/rn/rnforeign_grad-app_instructions_exemption.doc

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when cgfns staff members review your documents to determine your eligibility for the cgfns certification program, they ask the following questions:

are you a first-level, general nurse?

you must be educated and hold both initial and current registration/licensure as a “first-level, general” nurse as defined historically by the international council of nurses.

• a first-level nurse is called a registered or a professional nurse in most countries. a second-level nurse may be called an enrolled, a vocational, a practical nurse or a nurse assistant. second-level nurses are not eligible to be licensed as registered nurses in the u.s. and, therefore, are not eligible to take the cgfns qualifying exam.

http://www.cgfns.org/pdf/apps/cp%20handbook%20web.pdf

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So does this mean I cannot get a license to be nurse in Virginia if I am not a registered nurse in the Philippines first? What can I do if I don't have that? :madface:

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You can get a license in another state and then endorse. That is the only option that you have open to you. CGFNS exam for July is already colsed, the next exam to follow is November.

You are lucky that you came over on an K-1 visa, otherwise you would be in a very bad position, and really stuck.

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For any others that are reading this, and if you need a green card, do not go this route. You must have permsiion to sit for the NCLEX exam before you even consider coming to the US, not filing after you get here. Many times it will not come thru in time for you. And do not file an extension under any circumstances if you come over on a tourist visa, they are not being renewed without a very good reason, and if you would find a job in the interim time while waiting, nothing can be done until you actually get an answer from immigration . And if it is denies, even with your job offer, you have no choice but to leave the US immediately.

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You can get a license in another state and then endorse. That is the only option that you have open to you. CGFNS exam for July is already colsed, the next exam to follow is November.

You are lucky that you came over on an K-1 visa, otherwise you would be in a very bad position, and really stuck.

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For any others that are reading this, and if you need a green card, do not go this route. You must have permsiion to sit for the NCLEX exam before you even consider coming to the US, not filing after you get here. Many times it will not come thru in time for you. And do not file an extension under any circumstances if you come over on a tourist visa, they are not being renewed without a very good reason, and if you would find a job in the interim time while waiting, nothing can be done until you actually get an answer from immigration . And if it is denies, even with your job offer, you have no choice but to leave the US immediately.

Even if I go to another state and then endorse here in virginia, wouldn't I have to follow the same procedures anyway in order to get endorsed here?

After I pass my NCLEX for example in california then try to get it endorsed here, don't I still have to do the things that Virginia requires in order to get the edorsement?

Also which states do not require the CGFNS or local board? Thank you.

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Even if I go to another state and then endorse here in virginia, wouldn't I have to follow the same procedures anyway in order to get endorsed here?

After I pass my NCLEX for example in california then try to get it endorsed here, don't I still have to do the things that Virginia requires in order to get the edorsement?

Also which states do not require the CGFNS or local board? Thank you.

Virginia does not require the CGFNS for endorsement, only with initial licensure, at least per their website.

CA is the worst state for you to go for initial licensure, it will take four to six months to get approval to even be able to sit for the exam.

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w/c is the best (fastest) state to go for initial licensure that doesn't require CGFNS? thanks

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Virginia does not require the CGFNS for endorsement, only with initial licensure, at least per their website.

CA is the worst state for you to go for initial licensure, it will take four to six months to get approval to even be able to sit for the exam.

Hi suzzanne.. I'm a bit confused because according to this post

https://allnurses.com/forums/f75/nclex-without-cgfns-140792.html

You indicate only 5 states require the cgfns exam now.. all they require is a CES which is credential eval.. so why is this the case if you say in Virginia you need cgfns for initial lincensure? I did not take the local boards because I was told before that no cgfns is required if I come here as fiance visa. I'm worried sorry so many questions :uhoh3:

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i think you were given the wrong information. every states has different requirement. check www.ncsbn.org to find out the website of each bon. if you're migrating to the us on a fiancee visa then you still have to follow the licensing procedure that f1 visa holder has to go through since you are still considered a foreign graduate. virginia requires cgfns for initial licensure only if you are a foreign graduate (according to their website) before you can get an att for nclex. cgfns requires that you hold both initial and current registration/licensure to become eligible for the cgfns certification program. now you can always take nclex in another state that does not require cgfns and just endorse since virginia does not require cgfns if you're already licensed in another state. california for example does not require cgfns since they do their own credential evaluation.

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https://allnurses.com/forums/f75/nclex-without-cgfns-140792.html

why does this thread above say that you don't need cgfns anymore? Only 4 states? I'm just confused because of different things i'm hearing.

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https://allnurses.com/forums/f75/nclex-without-cgfns-140792.html

why does this thread above say that you don't need cgfns anymore? Only 4 states? I'm just confused because of different things i'm hearing.

When people say here that only 4-5 sates now require the CGFNS exam/certification they always presume the "popular" states.

Please understand that foreign nurses going to US usually go to the "more-popular" states and not on "less-popular" states such as Alaska, Alabama, Maine, Georgia, Virginia, etc..

This forum is filled with all the pertinent links to websites for nurses to be able to do the process on their own. I suggest that you go to Virginia's website and find out their req'ts for yourself. You will go their website anyway to download the forms and order the fingerprint cards (if needed by their BON).

You will certainly be confused if you just depend on what other people say and not find out for yourself. If you depend too much on other people spoon-feeding you all the info. then you will be getting diff. answers and opinions as info. depends on one's interpretation.

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