toefl or ielts?

kathykaye · Jan 14, 2007

hi. if i'm planning to work in the US? which should i take? toefl exam or ielts? thanx

it depends on what the state requires you to take.

suzanne4, RN · Jan 14, 2007

If the state does not have a specific requirement, most from the Philippines find it easier to get thru the speaking section with the IELTS series.

john83, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2007

If the state does not have a specific requirement, most from the Philippines find it easier to get thru the speaking section with the IELTS series.

Yes, I Suzanne is right. I am a living testimony to this and since then, I never encouraged the ETS exam series if one can do away with it.

You have a better chance of passing ielts than the tests offered by ets.

Passing ets tests is like going through an eye of a needle, especially now, the toefl-ibt.

Ask your PT friends or anyone who took the new toefl-ibt and have also taken the ielts. I am sure, they wouldn't want to take the ets series again.

alotssakitkat · Jan 15, 2007

oh i see. thanks. i'm actually planning to work in new york or california. what do those states require?

lawrence01 · Jan 15, 2007

NY and CA boards do not require an english exam to make you eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam. NY requires CGFNS' CVS for NY (http://www.cgfns.org) while CA BRN does their own evaluation (http://www.rn.ca.gov).

We do not recommend CA for initial licensure since it takes 4-6 months ave. plus another 3-4 weeks of waiting for the results. Also, they will only give a letter that you passed NCLEX and that you have 3 yrs. to give them a valid US SSN.

However, been learning lately that there are some applicants that have a 1-2 yr. time-line to take the NCLEX and another 1-3 years time-line before they want to migrate to the US so they chose CA BRN.

For those who wants to take the NCLEX ASAP and start the petitioning process, it is better to just go through either NM, VT or other State BON that processes eligibility letter relatively fast then just endorse to CA.

If you choose NY. There is no other way but to go straight for CVS for NY.

As CVS is also required if endorsing to NY.

lawrence01 · Jan 15, 2007

You will need a passing English exam to complete the Visa Screen process though and you can choose either one for the Visa Screen Certification.

Of course, if you choose a State BON that has English req'ts like NJ (TOEFL) then just do TOEFL for both NJ and for the Visa Screen Certification.

However, if your State BON has no English req'ts then you can choose from either. More people seems to be passing the IELTS (Academic module) though.

juliuscesar1212 · Jan 19, 2007

This is from the Ca. Board of Registered Nurses website and i quote "The Board requires TOEFL only if an applicant attended a non-English speaking nursing school and is applying for an Interim Permit".

My sister is about to take her IELTS exam on Jan. 20 for the Visa Screen Certification. Is she taking the right exam? She already passed NCLEX for the State of California.