NYnurse

No, I would not do that. I am currently living and working in NYC which is why I went this route.

The CGFNS is needed for getting the TN visa and unlike other states NY state will review the CGFNS but will still do all the work again to ensure you can get a license. I am not sure if you actually need the CGFNS prior to applying for a NY license. My recommendation is to try and do both at the same time to expedite the process.

For my NY state license, I can't fully remember what I did, but I believe I left it blank and then called the BON to verbally explain and have a note added to my application. For NY state, I never had an issue without a SSN. I did obtain CGFNS first and this may have allowed me to skirt the SSN requirement for the NY BON application. Hope this helps!

CGFNS was relatively quick, about 4 weeks. If they have to obtain a new transcript, I imagine this timeline will be at least double, but cannot say for sure.

So, I applied for a NY license as an Ontario RN. I was granted my license in both NY and CA without needing a SSN. I applied through endorsement in CA as an international graduate, which is what you will have to do as well. In both states, for a variety of employers, I was not apply to have an official interview until I had my RN license. No matter where you work, it seems they will not grant a job offer without this. However, I initially had a job offer, start date, etc without a SSN. I received my license, confirmed my job, went across the border to get my TN visa and went to a social security office the same day to apply for my SSN. In NYC, it took 2 weeks for my Son to arrive, but I was actually working without the SSN and my employer had no issues. I was working for one of the main hospitals as well. Based off of the previous post, it does seem like there are a few routes you can go with.

Hi! I went to the University of Calgary and had no deficiencies. I have gone through this process now with NY state and CA, neither had any issues. In general, Canadian nurses have way more clinical time than American trained nurses in school. Also in the US you can also get your RN license without a bachelor's degree, so I feel most Canadian nurses shouldn't have issues with deficiencies in their schooling. Hi! I spoke with my advisor and everything for my CA license has been approved. So I used CGFNS edas for all my documents except my NY license, proof of NCLEX and fingerprints. Best of luck!

I was previously licensed in NY in 2019, so I knew all the requirements (or could estimate really well), so I submitted my application and then started the process of having all my documents sent in at the same time (ie. Canadian NCLEX results, transcripts, licenses from various provinces/ states, fingerprints, etc). I submitted my application early October and heard from them mid November about everything that was needed, which was fairly quick. I had most of my documents all submitted by Early December, but I wasn't added to the "qeue" to be reviewed by the evaluator until I called the beginning of January. I sent in some documents from CGFNS, which it sent through an electronic portal not the mail and the only person who could see this was my international evaluator. I emailed her and then she added me to the lineup for review (takes up to 8 weeks for this). So, long story short- they do not check frequently if you have all documents submitted so you need to follow closely. NY state took my just over 6 months, I was hopeful this would be quicker as I sent in all my documents at the same time I sent in my application, but it doesn't seem to be working that way. CA and CGFNS seems like a black box, where every time you call you get a different answer. My international evaluator would answer my questions but this one, she either ignored or did not respond. In fear of delaying the process I had my NCLEX sent in (I completed in AB, not ON, so a little cheaper). I did not send in my license from CNO though, I had CGFNS send that in. I may have better answers in the next month about what worked, if you want to check back in. I know it's a frustrating and expensive process all around.

Hi! I am currently in the process of waiting for my documents to be reviewed. However, I was assigned an International evaluator who explained the process a bit better. CGFNS can send an eDas to CA via an electronic portal. The international evaluators have access to this, not the frontline people who answer the phones at CA BON. She approved for my transcripts and licensing to come from CGFNS, however I still needed to send in my NCLEX results/ initial RN license approval from the original board of nursing. I also had my university send in the degree breakdown because the evaluator was vague on whether this would be accepted (basically she would not say yes until she saw what the complete form said) and I wanted to be safer.

Hi! Yes I did, my international evaluator at the CA BON approved me to send my transcripts and licenses via CGFNS. This may be an exception with the pandemic as they even offered to have my university email in the educational breakdown form to CA BON, which is almost unheard of.

Yes, I know California reviews everything themselves. I was more wondering if I could have my transcripts and licensing sent by CGFNS to California for review. This would be instead of going to all the licensing boards/ nursing school and having it sent in, as this has delayed the licensing process int he past.

Unfortunately there are a lot of extra fees on top of the main $500+ CGFNS fee. Yes I had to pay for my university to send in my transcripts, I don't think you can send in yourself. There is also a form you need your university to fill out to confirm your practicum hours and courses, my university dean had to complete this and it took a while. I paid $50 plus international shipping, but this was an AB school. I also had to pay the province (AB) where I got licensed to send in my NCLEX proof and then pay for CNO to send in my licensing details.

Hi Millo, I am in the same position as you, Canadian RN currently licensed and working in NYC. I have my CGFNS letter and looking to apply to CA for RN license. Were you able to use CGFNS for school endorsement (transcripts and course verification)? If so I would love to hear your feedback. I have called CGFNS who said this was possible if someone in CA okayed it, so far no one at CA BRN has any idea about this and I have been tossed between employer for the last 3 weeks trying to get an answer. Would love some insight, thanks in advance!

Hi! What were your techniques for job searching? Applying directly on the webpage? LinkedIn? Indeed? Thanks in advance!

Hi, I am a Canadian educated RN, wrote the NLCLEX in Canada, and currently working in NY state. I am going through the process to receive my CA license now and am wondering if I can use CGFNS to verify my education credentials (transcript, course verification) and to verify my other credentials (RN licenses in Canada and NCLEX proof). I had used CGNFS for this whole process in March 2019 for my NY state license. CA state board is very wishy washy with their answers and keep passing me between staff who have yet to be able to answer this. I spoke with CGFNS who says this is possible if I ask for and am granted an "exception" from the CA licensing board. Has anyone successfully done this? I would just try it, however it is wasted time and money ($225) if unsuccessful. Any insight would be helpful!

I am a Canadian grad who wrote the Canadian NCLEX and was working in Ontario until I moved to NY in 2019. The whole process is a bit repetitive. You first need to apply for and submit documents for NY state, then go through the CGFNS process. The CGFNS is a federal organization that is not specifically associated with NY state. You will need to send CGFNS all your documents (RN license proof, NCLEX proof, University transcripts and education proof form). CGFNS does not track down documents for you, you must fill out a CGFNS form and email this to CNO to complete and mail in. CNO's email is: [email protected], they will charge for mailing this information and send you the fedex tracking number, which is how you know when they send it in. I did not have to write an English proficiency exam. CGFNS decides on this exam after reviewing all your education documents (Transcript and your verification forms sent in from your university). CGFNS can be frustrating and time consuming to deal with, but overall, once I submitted all the documents it was just a waiting game. The entire process from start to finish took me 5 months (I paid the extra $500 for expedited mailing, which quickened it by about a month). Best of luck!