NCLEX and Licensing

[merivera]

Hello well I am a new graduate from an accredited university in Puerto Rico. I want to apply for licensing in Colorado because I will be moving there in October. Wanted to get some advice as to how I should apply and take my NCLEX. I'm still confused as how the whole process works and what is the best way to go about it. Also is applying for a license in Colorado difficult. Should I take my NCLEX in Puerto Rico or in Colorado. Just a little lost and could use some guidance. Thanks

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Doesn't matter where you live or take the exam all questions come from the same pot.

Look at approx 4 month processing time for application to state.

Instructions on BON website. Suggest doing CES report first before submitting application to BON.

Foreign trained applicants: Applicants who are educated outside the United States and its territories must submit

the CES credentials review “Professional Report” from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing

Schools (CGFNS). For more information about ordering this report, contact CGFNS at 3600 Market Street, Suite

400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104; by phone at [phone], or online at CGFNS International â€" Global Credibility in Credentials Evaluation.

Foreign trained applicants must submit proof of demonstrating English proficiency. Passing standards are

outlined in Nursing Board Policy 10-05. To schedule the Test of English as a Foreign Language and order the

English Language Proficiency Exam Report, go to CGFNS International â€" Global Credibility in Credentials Evaluation. Select the “About the

English Language Proficiency Exam” link. Scores should be forwarded to CGFNS for evaluation.

http://cdn.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&blobheadername2=Content-Type&blobheadervalue1=inline%3B+filename%3D%22RN+Examination+Application.pdf%22&blobheadervalue2=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1251854147912&ssbinary=true

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Puerto Rico is a US territory. Wouldn't that mean the pp isn't a foreign trained nurse?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Puerto Rico is a US territory. Wouldn't that mean the pp isn't a foreign trained nurse?

Doesn't always work as you would think. I believe Florida treats as International trained and not from a US territory

[empyempyempyempy]

hi i would like to ask if CO also accept ielts aside from toefl... looking forward to your reply..thanks.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

hi i would like to ask if CO also accept ielts aside from toefl... looking forward to your reply..thanks.

Check either CGFNS website or state website

[Jen_Jen88]

I don't know if this helps now but I graduated from pr also and so did my friends and we are taking our test through Wisconsin in FL (my friends are taking it in Texas) because WI does not see PR as international. After I take it I'll just endorse my license to FL which is like another $200. It took me about a month to receive my ATT.

[NurseMedic28]

@Merivera; you must, must, MUST check with the individual board of nursing that you plan on applying to. Because some state boards of nursing consider Puerto Rico 'Foreign educated' and others do not. @SilverDragon and @miiki, yes, Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and this is the reason that the applications can be confusing; because the applications use terminology like 'foreign educated' without defining if they consider U.S. territories foreign. Some states (like Arizona, SMH) also have more requirements if educated in Puerto Rico than if educated in Canada!!! (they make you take CES from CGFNS AND TOEFL English certification EVEN if english is your 1st language). This all stems from Puerto Rico not belonging to the NSCBN, so applicants from here are a bit ostracized and many people (yes even those working on the boards when you call to ask questions) are IGNORANT. One state board employee told me "I don't even think they have NCLEX testing centers in PR." SMH :facepalm:So people are just clueless when it comes to PR and many don't even know it is a U.S. territory, that you don't need a passport to come here, and that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. I would really recommend jumping on the Colorado state board of nursing website and reading everything, all the fine print, just everything. It's worth doing the homework, reading and understanding everything, and even possibly applying to a different state board and switching your license back to Colorado later if it saves you $800 some dollars and the headaches of CGFNS (OH MY GAWD, can you picture how long it would take La Inter to get those documents done?!) and TOEFL. Put in the time and legwork and do your own due diligence on this one, if you call the state board and ask or call the CGFNS and ask, they will tell you that "Yes, you absolutely need it" every time, regardless. I just read a post from someone in a similar situation that had put her state app through, was told about CGFNS AFTER submitting her BON app, was told up and down by the board multiple times that she needed the CGFNS, hurried to pay the CGFNS fee, only to receive her nursing license from the state in the mail, and lo and behold, CGFNS was not required and she was out that money.

This is a resource too: but still, do your own due diligence in checking with your individual bon.

http://www.cgfns.org/support/resources/#sbon

[dzcafe]

Hi Jen! I will be graduating from UMET in May and returning to Texas - Is taking the test through Wisconsin still the best option?