Requirements for European RN to get US (IN) RN-License.

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My girlfriend is a Pediatric RN in one of the best national hospitals in Europe and has been a nurse for 10 years. We are trying to plan our life together and I was wondering what would be the requirements for her to obtain license here in states (Indiana). Would it be possible to take a test or short prep course instead going to school all over again. Help would be appreciated.

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Clarify "European"... My experience is limited to a UK trained RN working in CA, USA...

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Clarify "European"...

Finland

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My apologies... I have no experience of working in the US if qualified in Finland; but I do know it's not impossible and it'll make it a whole lot easier if you are married to an American, or a foreigner with a permit to work in the US (as in my case).

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Welcome to the site

I have moved your post to the International forum where it is more appropriate.

A lot depends on the route you are looking at her coming over to the US. Unless you are planning on getting married and you are a USC, she will be affected by retrogression which at the moment is approx 5 years which starts once she passes NCLEX, finds an employer and they file I140 and she gets approval. (We do not recommend marriage just to get into the US)

She will need to apply to the state board of nursing and meet requirements of foreign trained nurse Indiana BON which also looks like she will need to sit and pass CGFNS exam. Not sure if better to gain licensure in another state and then endorse (but usually still need to meet requirements so may still need to sit the exam)

I would suggest a good read on this forum especially the thread called Primer to working in the US and I am sure Suzanne one of the other moderators here will offer her suggestions

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Her training done during schooling is what they base approval on to sit for the NCLEX exam and get licensed. Nothing is credited for the number of years worked or in what area. Strictly the training.

She will need to meet the requirements of a general nurse to be able to get licensed here.

Which state does she wish to work in? Would suggest that she complete the CES, done thru CGFNS to find out how her training is accepted. This is going to be the minimum requirement for most states, and she will also need to pass the English exams.

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Thanks for info. Now I have a direction to start to work on this issue. I'm a Police Officer in Indiana and it seems to be easier to her to get her licensing here than it would be to me to get mine over there.

Her nursing school was 3.5 years and she attended med school for few years to become a MD but had to drop out personal reasons. Also I think her English is not going to be problem since she is the one they get when there are people who speak English.

Thanks again.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Thanks for info. Now I have a direction to start to work on this issue. I'm a Police Officer in Indiana and it seems to be easier to her to get her licensing here than it would be to me to get mine over there.

Her nursing school was 3.5 years and she attended med school for few years to become a MD but had to drop out personal reasons. Also I think her English is not going to be problem since she is the one they get when there are people who speak English.

Thanks again.

Still going to take her a few years due to retrogression to get out to the US. Good luck

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