Inezita

No... You can try contact USCIS (immigration) or an immigration lawyer... But I have no idea...

Higino, that doesn't apply to me since I am already living and working in the US (not as a nurse).

I apply to NY but I have intentions to work in CT. I just have to endorse the license after. I still have to sit for NCLEX, thow.... If you have any questions let me know... After all, I know in 1st hand how hard and stressfull this process can be!!! :S

Did you find out if that is possible? 'Cause I am gonna need to do the same and I can't find any information about it. Thanks.

Hi everybody!!! I was in the CGFNS site applying for the CVS-NY and when I was filling my information I put the professional education information, e.g. my college information as post-secondary instead of professional education. Since I don't have any post-secundary education i would like to erase that information and then fill the professional education camp. The problem is that the web site don't let me erase the information. I already tried cancel the order and then do everything again but the information is still there... How can I erase this? Anybody knows?? Please help me!!! Tomorrow I will try call to CGFNS, but I think I will not have lucky because every time I try they never pick the phone!!!

European nursing education varies from country to country... I can give you an example from Portugal... Over there Nursing is a graduate program, that means that you need to attend college during 4 years. All of us have the bachelor degree( in Portuguese is called "Licenciatura"). We do not have all the categories of nurses like in US (PCA, LPN, RN, etc). After 4 years of college we are a general nurse, what is the same as a RN in US. I think in Italy and Spain, the nursing programs are almost the same, but I am not too sure. For example, I know that in England it's a little bit different. But anyways I am still not too sure... So if you pretend to do your project about EU Nursing education you should consider that the programs are not equal in every European country...

I am not sure, but even in the CVS applicant handbook - http://cgfns.org/files/pdf/apps/2008%20CVS%20Handbook.pdf - if you see the last page, where it say You must sign and date this application in order to be processed, there is a blank for the Signature of Notary and it have a circle that is the place for the official seal/stamp. If you don't mind just take a quick look. Thanks.

Ok, I got you... It also said that the application must be notarized, so even if on top of the electronic form say FOR YOUR RECORDS ONLY, I will sign that form notarize it and send it. Just for precaution... Actually, do you think that is more secure pay online through credit card or through check?? Another thing I remembered when I was looking the nursing application packet of NY State of Education is related to the Form 1 - Application for Licensure. Should I send this form to NY State of Education after everything w/ CGFNS be updated or should I send now? Thanks again... You have been extremely helpful to me!!! I really appreciate your help!

Thank you again Silverdragon! I called CGFNS this morning and they told me to create another account... So I did that... Just to clarify this.. Even I filled all the information on-line I need to print the form and mail it to CGFNS, as well as the authorization forms right. After I proceed the payment and send everything to CGFNS, when I should apply for TOEFL??? They will send me something saying that I can apply??? I am not sure about this... Thank you...

Hi everybody! I am a registered nurse from Portugal, that want to apply for the Credential Verification Service for NY state. As an emmigrant my situation here is OK, since I have green card and SS#. So what I need is apply for CGFNS and pass the exams! When I first started filling the Credential Verification Service form, some doubts popped up, therefore, I really appreciate if you guys can help me! This is the link of the applicant handbook: http://www.cgfns.org/files/pdf/apps/2008%20CVS%20Handbook.pdf In the item #1 (Preliminary Information) of the application form itself, what should I put in the item d.? I am a new grad, so I just have internships experience... Should I put N/A? #10 (Education/Institutions Attended) - What is the primary and secondary school here in US? In Portugal I attended primary school (1-4 grade), then middle/elementary school (5-9 grade) and finally secondary school (10-12 grade). So, I attended 3 different schools, but in the form I just have space for two schools. How can I fill this? Related to the professional education, I suppose that is the name of the school where I attended nursing... #11 (Registration/License) - In the Legal Professional Title box, should I filled with my native Professional Title, in other words, should I write the title in Portuguese or should I translate it to English? I am also very confused with the Authorization for Validation of Registration/License and Authorization for Academic Records (transcripts)... Who will send this to my school and Nursing Board... It is me or CGFNS? Should I contact these two entities to advise them? I am very concerned and I am not sure what is the correct procedure. Thank you so much! I will really appreciate all help you guys can give me!!! Thanks again!

Well, so that's what I am going to do then.... Thank you so much for your help!!! I truly appreciate it!!!

I was thinking maybe it's better if I put N/A in the 3 blanks and then write a letter explaining why.... I would like to hear your opinion!!!

Well, the internships that I did were included in the Nursing program... It was like classes.. I had an evaluation and I needed to have a good grade to pass... So maybe I will fill the blank like this: #1 (Preliminary Information) d. I worked in Portugal as Licensed Nurse for N/A years. And then I write a letter explaining that I am a new grad without a truly experience itself and maybe I describe the internships I did... What do you think... I am really concerned about this... Thank you...

in the item #1 (preliminary information) of the application form itself, what should i put in the item d.? i am a new grad, so i just have internships experience... should i put n/a? you could put your internship experience and where is states professional capasity put some think med/surg internship so, what you are saying is to do like an average of my internships hours during my 4 years of nursing education and then fill the blank, or just do an average of my med/surg internships?? thanks silvergragon... you help me a lot.... there is a lot of paper and burocracy and we get some point that we start to feel confused!!!

What is the pearsonvue? This is really confusing for me.... What about the other questions I did before?. Is anybody that can answer it please?! Thank you again...

And other question... The score to pass the TOEFL ibt is 83 or 85? I just can apply for NCLEX after pass the TOEFL, rigth? Thanks again!!!

Hi, I'm a Portuguese educated RN. I attend a Portuguese Nursing School -University during 4 years. As professional experience I just have the academic internships. I finish the school 1 year ago. In the meantime I married and me and my husband moved to the US - CT state. I am now a permanent resident here. I really would like to practice nursing here, and I already know what to do to reach the Cunnecticut RN license. But the fact of not having experience itself will be an obstacle to getting a job later? I am really worried about that because I have qualifications and I'm afraid will never be able to exercise nursing in this country. Anyway I would also like to know if is possible to work as a CNA or PCA, because I'm already a nurse in another country and thus I am able to perform without difficulty their functions. I would be grateful for any information that you guys might give me. Thank you so much.

I found this http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3121&q=389428&dphNav_GID=1821. So I think that means that it is possible endorsing the NY license to CT. They only said that "Foreign-trained applicants need only arrange for verification of certification by the CGFNS International". Then, I dont need to do the CGFNS exam. I aply for the NY state and when I have the license, I require a licensure by endorsement to the CT state. I think that is a possibility...

Silverdragon102 if I get the license in NY and then endorsing to CT, there is any chance that the CT state tell me to do the CGFNs exam, since it is a requirement here to get the license? Thanks...

NurseCubanita, the master of 5 years is for most Portuguese courses, except medicine, law, nursing and others ... Nursing is now undergoing a further review ... I do not really know how it goes ... I only know that at the end of the course, each student will be required to make some kind of residency for 1 year...However, this is all still under negotiation.

If I take a license in NY would be to work there ... Because I think CT would not accept me to work with a license from NY. However, I am considering what to do, if I take a license in this state or in New York and then move to there... But I heard comments that the market is tough (if it is hard for nurses with experience, for me, newly graduate could be worse).

In Portuguese we call "Licenciado em Enfermagem" (Enfermagem=Nursing) I dont know how to translate the word "licenciado". Is similar to a bachelor, here in the states. In Portugal all the people that attend a university (during 4 years) is called "licenciado". Then if you want to continue your education, you can take a master degree (in Portuguese "Mestrado") Specifically in nursing, you can still get a specialization. Then the nurse is called "enfermeiro especialista" (specialist nurse). In addition, there is also the possibility of pursuing a Ph.D., in portuguese Ph.D is called "doutoramento". Recently, Portugal was suffered an academic reforme called Bologna Process, in which all undergraduate courses lasts for 5 years (3 years, "bachelor" +2 years-master). So when you end the University has a master's degree. This process was implemented across Europe to facilitate the mobilization of students and later workers. Therefore, there is a standardization of courses across Europe.

NurseCubanitaRN2b... I just want to do CNA or PCA because I am in the country and I really need to work... So, that way I am working in a hospital (what I love) and earn some money while I dont have the RN license. My degree in Portugal is the same thing that Bachelors in Nursing from a University, because I attended the university during 4 years...

Well, in Portugal I had that classes (OB, Pedi, and Psych), but obstetrics was included in the medical surgical class (a 4 semesters class). However, I also did an internship in obstetrics, pediatric, psychiatry and so on. NY is only an hypothesis... I didn't know that the market is so tough...

NurseCubanitaRN2b Muito Obrigado (Thank you very much in Portuguese!!!:wink2:) and thanks for the tip... What about CNA or PCA??? It is possible to work with my qualifications or should I enroll in some PCA program? (which makes no sense because I will learn what I already know) thanks again....