Can I apply NCLEX even if I am not a foreign registered nurse?

[rhona25]

Hi Everybody! I need your advise. First of all, I am a graduating nursing student in Manila Philippines and hoping to finish my 4 year bachelor's degree this March 2008.

I am married to a US Citizen and became a green card holder recently. Now my questions came down to the following:

1. If I will graduate this March 2008, I am NOT planning to take the local boards here in Philippines( since I am not also planning to practice here), now can I apply to take NCLEX even if I am not a registered nurse in the country where I had my bachelor's degree?

2. As I have researched, the waiting time after you have sent your application to take NCLEX is 4-6 months before you they will give you your examination date, is this true?

3. Do I still need to take the TOEFL since I am a Filipino and a foreign graduate of nursing?

4. What are needed to be eligible to apply for NCLEX?

Your kind reply and advise is highly appreciated!

Thanks!

Mae

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

I moved your thread to the International Forum so that people with expertise in this subject can help you explore your options. Good luck to you.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

hi everybody! i need your advise. first of all, i am a graduating nursing student in manila philippines and hoping to finish my 4 year bachelor's degree this march 2008.

i am married to a us citizen and became a green card holder recently. now my questions came down to the following:

1. if i will graduate this march 2008, i am not planning to take the local boards here in philippines( since i am not also planning to practice here), now can i apply to take nclex even if i am not a registered nurse in the country where i had my bachelor's degree?many do take licensure in the us without siting local boards. all you need to do is submit a letter stating you will not be taking local boards

2. as i have researched, the waiting time after you have sent your application to take nclex is 4-6 months before you they will give you your examination date, is this true?it can vary as depends on how reliable the paperwork flows but you are looking at average 4 months plus depending on bon

3. do i still need to take the toefl since i am a filipino and a foreign graduate of nursing?depends on the bon some do require english exam if your nurse schooling was not done using english text books but you do not need vsc

4. what are needed to be eligible to apply for nclex?you are applying for licensure to be a rn in the us of which nclex is part of that process. once you have completed schooling you apply to bon of the state you will be living

your kind reply and advise is highly appreciated!

thanks!

mae

hopefully this will help but also suggest reading primer to working in the usa

[suzanne4, RN]

Also to add in to this, you will not be able to start any process for licensure until you have an actual completed set of transcripts in hand. Getting approval to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam can be anywhere from three to eight months, depends on the state where you wish to work.

And just to add in to this, licensure requirements are completely different from immigration requirements and one does not cover the other. You will be graduating from a nursing program that is out of the US. So yes, you are a foreign nursing grad and will have to follow the requirements as such for any state when you start the licensing process. There are additional requirements that you will need to complete for most states, such as getting the CES or even having to pass an English exam. Having a green card, or even a US passport, does not exempt you from licensing requirements.