Do you NEED to use CGFNS?

I'm a US citizen, dual citizenship with Canada and have recently moved back to NY state where I'm originally from.  

I'm in NY state and this is what the site says.  Some people have told me not to bother with CGFNS as they spent SO much money and it was a pain as they were able to do it with the second option.

STEP 3: HAVE YOUR FOREIGN NURSING CREDIENTIALS VERIFIED.
You have two options for having your foreign nursing education credentials verified to the NYSED: 
 

NOTE: You are not required to use CGFNS’ Credential Verification Service for New York State. However, it is often more difficult and time consuming to apply for an LPN license without using this service. 
 

Option 1: You must arrange to have the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)* verify your nursing education credentials to the NYSED using CGFNS’ Credential Verification Service for New York State*. If you were also licensed as a nurse in a foreign country, you must arrange for NYSED to receive verification of your nursing license from the licensing authority that issued it using a Verification of Foreign Professional Licensure/Certification (Form 3F). 
*CGFNS is a non-profit company that helps foreign educated individuals who want to work in the U.S. as nurses. If you use CGFNS’ Credential Verification Service for New York State, CGFS will collect and review your foreign nursing credentials. Then CGFNS will send a report to the NYSED regarding your credentials. After the NYSED reviews the report and your RN license application, it will inform you in writing whether your nursing education meets criteria for an licensure as a RN in New York State. You may sign up for CGFNS’s Credential Verification Service for New York State online on at: www.cgfns.org or by calling 1-215-349-8767.
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Option 2: You must arrange to have your credentials verified by your foreign nursing school using a Certification of Professional Education (Form 2F). The school will certify your education on Form 2 and send it along with your official transcript and any other required documentation to the NYSED. If your transcript is in a language other than English, you must arrange to have it translated by a translation services acceptable to NYSED. If you were licensed as a nurse in a foreign country, you must arrange for the NYSED to receive verification of your nursing license from the licensing authority that issued it using a Verification of Foreign Professional Licensure/Certification (Form 3F)