How can I enroll to MSN program in US as a foreign nursing graduate

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 8, 2011

I would find an MSN program that you like and ask the school -- only they can tell you if they'll accept your present nursing degree and allow you entrance to their program. Every school is different, there is no one answer. Good luck!

Also, I'm moving this to the post-grad forum (instead of the GN forum) to encourage responses.

ablez · Jun 9, 2011

Thank you both Silverdragon and Lunah RN

UVA Grad Nursing · Jun 9, 2011

Lunah is correct - definitely contact the schools that you are interested in. Some may have FAQs or special pages for international applicants.

At my University, we require that applicants submit documentation from a credentials validation service (we accept this from 4 companies). Such an evaluation will provide admissions committees about the educational system in your home university as well as give an indication if your degree is equivalent to a Bachelors degree. These services also 'translate' your prior grades into a US 4.0 gpa standard that makes it easier for faculty to evaluate.

Most schools will also require recent TOEFL scores. and many will require you to have a RN license in the state where you intend to study.

ablez · Jun 9, 2011

Thank you UVA Grad for these information. Just to have a general idea before I go to apply for a school. Would you tell me which are the companies that your school is accepting CVS. I have green card and I'm RN licensed in CT.

Lunah is correct - definitely contact the schools that you are interested in. Some may have FAQs or special pages for international applicants.
At my University, we require that applicants submit documentation from a credentials validation service (we accept this from 4 companies). Such an evaluation will provide admissions committees about the educational system in your home university as well as give an indication if your degree is equivalent to a Bachelors degree. These services also 'translate' your prior grades into a US 4.0 gpa standard that makes it easier for faculty to evaluate.
Most schools will also require recent TOEFL scores. and many will require you to have a RN license in the state where you intend to study.

UVA Grad Nursing · Jun 9, 2011

Thank you UVA Grad for these information. Just to have a general idea before I go to apply for a school. Would you tell me which are the companies that your school is accepting CVS. I have green card and I'm RN licensed in CT.

My school accepts evaluations from the following four companies:

Educational Credentials Evaluators (www.ece.org)

International Academic Credential Evaluators (www.iacei.net)

Josef Silny and Associates (www.jsilny.com)

World Education Services (www.wes.org)

Definitely contact the MSN programs that you are interested in to see if they would accept reports from these companies or prefer another. It would be unfortunate for you to pay for a report from Company A when your dream school only accepts Company C.

ablez · Jun 9, 2011

Thank you so much again for your advices. I'll definitely contact the school first before I start to do anything. I'm looking for schools in NY and CT. I will start to look for the schools in these states then.

My school accepts evaluations from the following four companies:
Educational Credentials Evaluators (www.ece.org)
International Academic Credential Evaluators (www.iacei.net)
Josef Silny and Associates (www.jsilny.com)
World Education Services (www.wes.org)
Definitely contact the MSN programs that you are interested in to see if they would accept reports from these companies or prefer another. It would be unfortunate for you to pay for a report from Company A when your dream school only accepts Company C.