Need some Advice for "CGFNS Preparation"

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Nov 14, 2006

Thread moved to International Forum for more responses.

lawrence01 · Nov 14, 2006

Hi, Ramil. Welcome to allnurses.com.

May we know what State you plan to work? Have you actually applied already for the CGFNS certification (exam)?

Ramil2k7 · Nov 14, 2006

Thank You for the Warm Welcome. Yes i already applied for CGFNS Certification and im planning to work in Miami Florida USA.

batasMTR_RN · Nov 14, 2006

FLorida does not need CGFNS exam, only Credential Evaulation (CES) do you really want to take CGFNS exam? well if you do, then just read and read and read... know the many concepts... and you have lots of time since i believe you will take it come MArch?? am i right?

well, testmanship (or answering questions with rationales) helps a lot...

hope this helps..

lawrence01 · Nov 14, 2006

Thank You for the Warm Welcome. Yes i already applied for CGFNS Certification and im planning to work in Miami Florida USA.

Don't want to burst your bubble but Florida doesn't need CGFNS Certification. It only needs their Credential Eval'tn Service (CES).

I would recommend to you to read Suzanne's "Primer" above. It will guide you through everything and it also ha a collection of links you should know.

You may go to Florida's website and read their requirements.

If I were you I would just go for the CES if it isn't too late already. They do refunds or cancel by the way.

suzanne4, RN · Nov 14, 2006

I would also stay away from that review center that you mentioned, they were at the center of the cheating controversy with the NLE exam in June.

And if you are going to work in Florida, not sure why you are even considering that exam, it is not needed and you will be throwing away money. Suggest that you have CGFNS apply the funds to the CES or the VSC.

Ramil2k7 · Nov 17, 2006

Thanks, so.. is it recommended to attend and review at Centers for CGFNS? or a self-review is much better.

lawrence01 · Nov 17, 2006

I think what we are trying to say is to stay away from local review centers and just do the CES per req't of the Florida BON and not do the CGFNS exam anymore.

mayflower2000, RN · Nov 17, 2006

Thanks, so.. is it recommended to attend and review at Centers for CGFNS? or a self-review is much better.

you asked for an advice and yet you are still not listening to what they are

trying to tell you. :uhoh3:

Ramil2k7 · Nov 17, 2006

lol i already applied for CGFNS Exam and Florida is just one of my plan where i want to work someday, in addition the purpose why i want to take the CGFNS Exam is to have a full access to various States in US and to assess my chances of Passing the US registered nurse licensing Exam (NCLEX-RN).

Im asking for an advice, Is it necessary to attend Local review centers and its full course being offered? Or a Self-review/ Self-preparation would be much better? lol i hope i make things clear right now :) Thanks.

lawrence01 · Nov 17, 2006

Stay away from local review centers, esp. those implicated on the current nursing controversy. Foreign employers are aware of what is happening in the Philippines. They maybe even more aware of what is happening than the common nurse.

We also do not recommend applying for the CGFNS Certification (exam) before deciding w/c state/s you would consider working in. The 1st decision should always be w/c state/s would you be considering because majority of State BON or BRN do not actually need it and those State BON/BRN who does not need the CGFNS certification will let you follow their own set of req'ts w/c could be the CES (NJ, Fl, etc..) CVS (NY) or they can evaluate your credentials (transcripts and/or licenses) on their own (CA, NM, VT)

If that state does not specifically say that they will accept the CGFNS Certification in lieu of the CES then they will let you do the CES or whatever their req't is regardless of you having the CGFNS certification or not.

Some BON/BRN will say that if you have a CGFNS Certification you can submit it together w/ the application but if they didn't say that they will accept that in lieu of their own req'ts then you will have to give them their respective set of req'ts as well.

A good example is NY. They will require you the CVS for NY no matter what. As long as you are a foreign-trained nurse you will have to undergo CVS for NY. Does not even matter if you already passed the NCLEX or is licensed already in NM or VT; they will still require you to apply for CVS for NY.

Another example is CA BRN. They have a statement in their application packet that you may furnish them a copy of your CGFNS certification if you have one but you will still have to give them your transcripts for evaluation (CA BRN only requires that your school send them your transcripts for evaluation for a foreign nurse to be made eligible).

And if you failed the CGFNS exam (knock on wood) what then? You have delayed yourself when the State/s you were considering only required you to do a credential evaluation in the 1st place.

I have many friends that all applied for the CGFNS Certification w/o even having an idea w/c State they will go eventually. They thought that once they have that Certification it will be automatically accepted in lieu of whatever State BON's req'ts are. Not true.

What happened to them? Some failed but didn't re-take it anymore since they eventually realized that the state they want to go didn't need it anyway so why waste the money again. They could have saved that money for paying Pearson-vue's registration and Intl' fee ($350 total) and just needed some more for the airfare and accomodations.

Some were rostered after they were made eligible for the NCLEX (and passed); they still took it because it was already paid or couldn't cancel anymore because it was too late but also realized that since they already passed the NCLEX exam the results of the CGFNS exam wouldn't matter anymore.

I'm sure their are only a handful of states you are considering. Goodluck.