local license requirements for licensure in US

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 9, 2008

There are some states that request local license and expect to see more and more make it a requirement

suzanne4, RN · May 9, 2008

It is not just from your country, but many states here as well as all other countries actually require the local license. And the US did in the past when all had to write the CGFNS exam, that still requires a local license.

With the increase in the number of applicants for visas, and the wait of a few years; without a local license there is no way to get experience.

The only ones that would be exempt from this requirement is if they cannot sit for the exam because they are not a citizen there.

elkpark · May 9, 2008

I hope that all US states will return to requiring local licensure for foreign-trained nurses to be eligible for licensure here. I, personally (JMHO :)), can't imagine why any state or country would consider licensing someone who wasn't a licensed RN in good standing in her/his own country. If you (anyone) can't (or won't) get a license in your own country, why should anyone else give you one? :confused:

nieruth · May 11, 2008

The New Mexico , VT and Cali is requiring Local License in the Philippines which is TRUE and it is not a RUMOR anymore.

miss_cy · May 13, 2008

The New Mexico , VT and Cali is requiring Local License in the Philippines which is TRUE and it is not a RUMOR anymore.

oohh...very interesting..just curious...say d filipino got a local license and it will expire on say..2010, he passed the nclex this 2008 and got all other requirements and went to the u.s. to work..

he got a job in u.s. and by 2010, do he still need to renew the "local" license??

RNGrad2006 · May 13, 2008

I hope that all US states will return to requiring local licensure for foreign-trained nurses to be eligible for licensure here. I, personally (JMHO :)), can't imagine why any state or country would consider licensing someone who wasn't a licensed RN in good standing in her/his own country. If you (anyone) can't (or won't) get a license in your own country, why should anyone else give you one?

I agree that a local license should be required from the country where the nurse was educated. I am Canadian but went to school in the US and therefore do not have a local license from my country of origin. And yes, when I applied to get a license in my own country I had to present a local license from the US. I still have not been able to meet all the requirements since they also require a supervised practice experience which I can't do at this time. I actually think the US is not the most difficult place to acquire licensure and unless nurses have gone through the process of researching the requirements in other countries it is easy to criticize. The whole point with licensure is protecting the public. And that is exactly how it should be handled.

lawrence01 · May 14, 2008

oohh...very interesting..just curious...say d filipino got a local license and it will expire on say..2010, he passed the nclex this 2008 and got all other requirements and went to the u.s. to work..
he got a job in u.s. and by 2010, do he still need to renew the "local" license??

If you are already licensed in a US State and are working there legally as well and do not have plans to practice in PH anymore then you can let the local license lapse.

However, if one just passes the NCLEX in 2008 and will only start the process in that year as well, you will most likely not be in the US due to retrogression if going through as an immigrant before the local license expires.