State does not require English proficiency test

Trauma Columnist · Jun 19, 2015

Moved to Nurse Registration

steppybay · Jun 20, 2015

Can anyone tell me which state does not require english proficiency test? I'm from Philippines a new BSN graduate. The English proficiency test is too expensive. I'm trying to save some money if there is a state that doesn't require english proficiency test for NCLEX-RN.

It doesn't matter if the other 49 states do not require the English proficiency tests or course evaluations reviews, if the real desired state you wish to find a job immediately passing the NCLEX, if that desired state does require the English proficiency testing, guess what?

You're going to have to meet that English requirement even if you try to endorse over to the real desired state. You will also have to re-pay another set of non-refundable application fees to the real desired state.

So in the end, you just wasted more of your precious time (waiting for test results and BON evaluation) and threw away more money (TOEFL expenses and application fees and course evaluation cost) than you needed to, which you could have avoided in the first place by simply trying to meet the real desired state's requirements.

This is a very common process with many international students and nurses and a common trend of "this is how to get around the difficult parts", which only leads to loss of time to find a job and the countless times of "why does my state want all these requirements", "why is my state being so difficult", why, why, why.

That's because of the bad advice from others who "knew" of their friend of a friend from another friend's friends experience, who's mother of their auntie's nursing friend from their cousin's nursing friend and was successful, but in the end, it was all a dreamland fairy tale (for the most part).

Times have changed.

Philippines2015 · Jun 20, 2015

Thanks for the respond.

babymich_0922 · Jun 20, 2015

Hi! I'm a filipina nurse too, well, @steppybay's advise is true. If you're living and planning to pursue your nursing career in a state that doesn't require TOEFL or IELTS, then you're lucky. Honestly, I'm afraid of taking the TOEFL, because I'm not a native speaker and rarely speaks english at home, just got here in the US last May 2015. But we need to do it because we're doing it based on their rules, not ours. I'm here in WA state and currently preparing myself for TOEFL on Aug 1. If I fail, then I need to try again,haha If I passed, that would be awesome!!

babymich_0922 · Jun 20, 2015

By the way, how much is the TOEFL or IELTS exam in your state? Here, it's 190$ for TOEFL ( which is not bad ) but IELTS is more expensive :/

Bethrod · Jun 20, 2015

By the way, how much is the TOEFL or IELTS exam in your state? Here, it's 190$ for TOEFL ( which is not bad ) but IELTS is more expensive :/

Here is $200. .

babymich_0922 · Jun 21, 2015

Oh I see, not a big difference though, but my husband needs to pay 230$ because he's taking the exam in Japan, if you don't mind, what state are you at? because I know some states, the English test is being waived for some immigrants, like our friend in Illinois. He's a filipino nurse too.

Philippines2015 · Jun 21, 2015

I'm not in the state yet. Planning to get a license in Florida. Hoping to bypass the english exam that's why i keep searching for a state that doesn't require english proficiency exam.

babymich_0922 · Jun 21, 2015

Hawaii is one of the state I know :)

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Jun 22, 2015

The only way to find out is to look at the application for each state.

Do you plan to move to Florida? Or just stay in the state you find that doesn't require an English proficiency test?

Philippines2015 · Jun 23, 2015

Yes. I plan to move to Florida if I get a Licence there.