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Discussion

TN Application Questions

First of all let me thank everyone who has contributed in this forum, especially Suzanne. I've read a lot and I've learned a lot.

Let me state my profile first. I am a March 2008 graduate of BSN from University of Santo Tomas, Philippines. I am an Indian citizen, and therefore I am not allowed to take the Philippine Board Exams. I am an immigrant here in the Philippines though, but do not plan to naturalize myself to a filipino because it is costly and takes a lot of time.

The state that I want to apply in is TN, I do understand that there is a retrogression in place and I am looking at a long waiting time, however it is ok because at least I will get to practice Nursing in the future. I really love nursing.

I tried to read other stuff regarding TN, but few people seem to apply for it. I have read VT and NM application though, so I get a little part of the picture.

I have some questions;

1. TN BON memo (http://health.state.tn.us/Downloads/g3104229.pdf)

states that

Professional nurses educated in a country outside of the United States or its jurisdictions, whether or not licensed

in another country or jurisdiction, must qualify for licensure by taking and passing the National Council Licensure

Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®).

Meaning it is ok that I am not licenced in my country of origin right?

2. The same memo also states that

Foreign educated nurses must hold a Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) certificate

to be eligible for licensure by examination.

This basically means CES?, and the Full evaluation is better because I can apply for Continuing education in the future?

3. This memo does not state any other requirements. I've found another Memo . Its dated June 2007

http://www.state.tn.us/sos/rules/1000/1000-01.pdf. This memo states that

Foreign Nurses - Nurses educated in a country outside of the U.S. or its jurisdiction, whether or

not licensed in another country must apply for licensure by attaining the acceptable score on the

State Board Test Pool Examination provided the applicant graduated after January 1, 1957.

Individuals graduating prior to January 1, 1957 will be considered on an individual basis.

1. An applicant shall have graduated with substantially the same general and nursing

education as required by the Board for Tennessee school of nursing graduates at the time

such applicant was accepted for licensure by examination in the original foreign

jurisdiction.

2. When the board has reasonable doubt of an applicant’s ability to comprehend the English

language to a degree sufficient to permit him to discharge his duties as a nurse in this

state with safety to the public, the Board may require him to pass an examination to

demonstrate such ability.

3. An applicant who does not have evidence of satisfactory education may have to take

additional courses of study as directed by the Board in order to fulfill Tennessee

requirements

I do not know which memo to follow. What is the State Board Test Pool Examination? This memo also doesnt mention CGFNS. I also cannot find a proper website fo TN BON. Anyone who has applied in TN , or knows something please help.

4. Ive read the CGFNS-CES requirements. I have a lot of minor applications. If there is a good thread regarding CES application (I cant seem to find it) please post as I do not want to bother people here asking questions that have already been answered.

5.

An applicant whose scores meet the requirements set by the Board will receive an official report

and a license to practice nursing in Tennessee .

Does this mean I do not have to worry about SSN? My license will be sent to me?

5. Suppose Im done with all these requirements, passed NCLEX, but because of the waiting, use my american licence instead to apply for another country - example Australia? (I know that there is an additional bridging program also). But AT LEAST I have a license to show for their requirements. Can they accept different countries of citizenship, education and license?

6. I will also hit up TN BON with an email with the applicable questions, but I do not expect a reply as quick as the ones I can get here. Thanks for reading this lengthy post. Please give any critizations as I plan to apply ASAP. In the Meantime, I am already reviewing. God Bless! :D

Suraj

Featured Replies

  • Experts

The state boards actually have not been in place since the NCLEX exam came into being quite a few years ago. There are no longer state boards individually for nurses to take, only the one national exam that is accepted by all.

This state requires the CGFNS exam, and one of the requirements to be able to sit for that exam is the local license. Unless you go for the local license, you will not be able to sit for the NCLEX exam.

CGFNS Certificate means the exam, as well as the basic English exam to be able to get it. If it were the CES, then it would discuss credentials eval, and the CES does not provide any type of certificate.

You will need to get special permission from CGFNS not to have to write the NLE as you are unable to do since you are not a citizen of the Philippines. They do have a waiver in place for that, but you need to provide the documentation to them for it. And this took about two years for them to get it done several years back because of nurses training in other countries.

But be aware that since you are looking at five years or longer to get a visa for the US, you are going to find it difficult if you will not be able to get any nursing experience during that time if you do not hold a license. And be aware that since there are actually more waiting for the green card from your country of birth than even the Philippines, you may be waiting even longer and there is definitely no guarantee that you will be able to get a visa for the US.

Best of luck to you.

  • Author
get it done several years back because of nurses training in other countries. .

So this basically means IT IS POSSIBLE to take the CGFNS exam but I will have to wait about two years?

And be aware that since there are actually more waiting for the green card from your country of birth than even the Philippines,.

I was actually born here in the Philippines, only they follow the blood rule (jus sanguinis) therefore I am an alien here, and perhaps even in India because they follow the birthplace (jus soli) rule.:banghead:

Thats why Im really saddened. My option now is to apply in a state that requires CES only. (Im looking at NM). My most immediate concern is that I need a license. Anywhere. I could use this license as application for Australia since I have relatives there.

Is applying at NM the best option for me or can you suggest a better option?

And yeah 5 years is a long wait,but it is better than NEVER being able to practice nursing. Just the thought of that scares me. I am also thinking of taking Masters in Public Health ed while waiting

Anyway thank you as always for your replies. God Bless.

  • Experts

What the US goes by is country of birth that is on your birth certificate, not blood lines or anything else like that.

Licensure in the US does not get you a license in Australia. If you trained in Philippines, you actually need to do a bridge program in Australia for about six months, there is much already written on that topic.

Please be aware that just because you get a license thru one state, if you are not going to work there, you will need to meet the requirements for the new state before they will permit you to endorse your license.

And be aware that without experience, it is going to be much harder to find an employer. We are expecting that it is going to be required to have two years of actual work experience in the near future for one to get a visa for the US. Five years and the time will be getting longer, and without any experience, it is going to be hard just to get thru immigration.

  • Author
. If you trained in Philippines, you actually need to do a bridge program in Australia for about six months, there is much already written on that topic.

.

Yep, Ive read them.Thanks! Bridging program is fine, but even for that they still ask for a license (or have I read wrong?). Thats the reason I really need a license from anywhere. Most people take licensure from their own country as step one, but since I cant do that, I am looking at obtaining a license from the US, and the sooner I do, the better. As you say they might change rules.

Suzanne, Do you think FL application is faster than NM.

And after much reading here, I have 2 plans basically:

1. To study masterals in the USA, and to have an OPT working, I know that it wont speed up GC application, but take note that experience is what im after.

or

2. Take the bridge program in Australia, and work there.

I know these are costly options, but Id rather spend here than use it to change my citizenship to Filipino ( which costs around 300, 000 pesos- 6$6,000) and after that be stuck here anyway.

Which one do you suggest for me?

Please be aware that just because you get a license thru one state, if you are not going to work there, you will need to meet the requirements for the new state before they will permit you to endorse your license.

Yep Ive read that as well, but I am faced with very few options at this point, and whatever is feasible, I will try.

Either way good luck ro me :scrying:

Thanks again!

  • Experts

There are specific requirements that need to be met before one can obtain the OPT in the US, it is not granted when you first come over to study; actually is offered when you have completed a degree here and is only valid for one year. And with the retrogression, there is no way to adjust the visa at the end of the year.

At this point in time, Australia would be the better option of you if waying each against the other.

  • Experts

Another country for you to look at would be South Africa at this time, you may wish to check out the requirements for there, but I do know that they are short of nurses and are petitioning or sponsoring there.

Best of luck to you.

  • Author
Another country for you to look at would be South Africa at this time, you may wish to check out the requirements for there, but I do know that they are short of nurses and are petitioning or sponsoring there.

Best of luck to you.

Thank You! Will Check out the rquirements. You just have saved my sanity!

  • Experts

Glad to be of help.

( and just a point of information for you, the MSN in the US is called the Master's degree, we do not have anything here called the Masteral degree and most will not know what you are speaking of.)

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