Daniel Timmons

I just sent them my original CES report in an email. (Which they already had from my failed international application). It was "expired" at the time. The next day I had my compact. I don't know if they just needed to verify my education or if they needed a CES / CVS report so you might have to ask them - you can message the TXBON in the portal.

NCLEX is a lot harder than you think; study up. I used Archer review and it helped a lot. Texas requested my transcripts only when I asked for my license (which was already active) to be converted to a compact license. Nursing here encourages more independence than back in Australia. You are going to be gathering and acting on data about your patients more actively than I did in Australia. Drs will expect more autonomy and responsibility on your part. Communication between Dr's and Nurses is overall poorer in my experience also. Though this could just be the hospitals I have worked at. I never set foot in NY after I obtained my license so I wouldnt know ?. Texas is alright but Austin is cooler than Dallas ?

If you have been approved to take the NCLEX and have an ATT (authorization to test, or something similarly worded)They have accepted your application. Once you pass the test you will be a recognized RN in the state of NY.

If your documents haven't expired (you can extend the expiry for $$) but your report itself has expired you can just apply for another report and it would be done pretty quickly (Again $$) Money makes the US go round... You can pay for everything but It's a headache.

CGFNS is THE WORST. If they didn't have all my documents already I would use literally anything else. But they almost have a monopoly on this service so they charge what they like and do it how they like. I think there are one or two other companies that do it but they aren't as well known and there's a chance they could be worse - although I'm not sure how it could even be possible TBH Good luck with your applications! The good news is you can work in NZ easily if you prefer haha. The bad news is the US will make this very hard for you ?

I didn't have to do a visa screen because I obtained my green card through marriage. As far as I am aware immigration and nursing licensure are very separate systems. The only issue you might have is registering in a state without having a social security number yet!

You only need to do the CVS for NY. Once you become registered in NY you then transfer (known as "endorsement" in the US) the license to Texas or any other state. Some states might ask for a CES with this application at which point you would need to get one from CGFNS. Texas definitely does not need a CES to endorse from New York. I have been messaging them lately however as I was interested in converting my Texas license to a "compact" license to work in another compact state and they are asking for something similar to a CES to confirm my degree.. I'm a little worried they won't let me so I haven't sent it yet haha - keeping the dream alive!

You won't know the outcome until you finish your application with VA BON. And if you want to send your CES to another BON you will have to pay CGFNS to do so again! ? And I can't know the answer to that LOL, I used NY to register in Texas and it's worked for me! Other states might have different processes though. I might work in NY one day, but I don't have plans to haha.

Yes, you don't have to resubmit any of the annoying forms again, just the application for the CVS - CGFNS already has all the stuff they need! Trust me, I did the EXACT same thing you did and worried about the exact same things haha! You will also have to pay for the NY BON application fees ($143) You will have to pay for two courses about mandatory reporting and safety (I don't remember exactly what but it's like $150 or something.. all online based training) You will have to pay to sit the NCLEX once you get approval. ($200) and if you aren't physically in the US at the time you sit the exam it's an extra $200 to sit it internationally.. And I would HIGHLY suggest studying for the NCLEX with a good exam prep course, it's really finicky and I failed my first attempt because I thought I was going to be fine to just barely study.. it was not fine! I ended up sitting it (and paying for it) twice... These also cost money.. I used U world and Archer review.. Archer review was better overall I think, U world had a higher difficulty to it. I have no idea when the CES would expire! You might have to call CGFNS and ask! It's all expensive, the US likes to nickel and dime you everywhere you look and it's how the whole system is set up with private entities having monopoly on government systems.. I paid around $1600 total USD (2,396 AUD but who's counting?!) To get my US licence.. it's hard to swallow especially when everything is so uncertain.. but I'm working here in Texas now and I'm making pretty okay money.. I still sometimes think I should have gone into computer science instead though ?

They won't be able to tell you what to study, but they will be able to tell you if you are eligible or not based on the CES! (And will give you a license if you are haha) And no, you won't need to resubmit the forms again from your school or anything else really as long as you use CGFNS for your CES if you do decide to try to register in New York! I did exactly that and I didn't have to resubmit anything - honestly I was so sick of the whole thing and wouldn't have used CGFNS again if I had a choice - but they already had all the forms so I kinda had to!

You can proceed with your application with the BON and if you are lucky they might approve it based on their requirements... (Not likely, but worth a shot when you're this far along and paid for everything anyway) If you wanted you could go and study midwifery in Aus and it might cover those deficiencies.. or it might not, because they are very specific about the requirements. OR, pay for a CVS and register in New York, and transfer over by endorsement to one of the states that allow that (not sure about Virginia) The BON will likely refer you to the colleges, the colleges will refer you to the BON. Nobody will have an answer I am afraid. Bridging courses don't exist so you'll have to go back to school and start from the very beginning if you want to do it by the book!

I have no experience with the visa side of things; I married a US Citizen so all of that was separate from my nursing applications. But if you got as far as passing the NCLEX you should have been registered as a nurse at that point in time in a US state? I would reach out to the state board and see about re-activating your registration as a first step!

NYBON will send you an ATT in your email. You can see their processing times here http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/ . Looks like they are running at about a 3 months waiting time right now. You can call them but the phones are busy a lot of the time.

Thanks for outlining your process and good luck with the NCLEX! The more information that's out there the better because I had SUCH a hard time finding how to do it all and I'm glad my comments helped other people! ?

Yes, it will be faster because CGFNS has all your documents already. Apply for a CES with them and you can try NY. The same thing happened with myself and Texas. It would not impact the NY decision at all.