US immigrant, graduating Nurse in the Philippines

suzanne4, RN · May 28, 2008

Thread moved to the International Forum as it deals with requirements as a foreign nurse.

And I responded to your pm.

If you do not hold the US passport, you are still a citizen of the Philippines and have to meet the requirements as such. If you read the International Forum, you will see much written on this topic already. And the fact that CA has become much stricter on this requirement since January of this year.

Please be aware that even if you would not require you to write that exam, you are not going to be able to write the NCLEX as soon as you return as you cannot even start the application process until after you have a completed set of transcripts and they are evaluated. You are looking at four to six months. Remember, that even if you held a passport from here, the fact that you attended school overseas makes you a foreign grad and you will be considered as such for your entire career. This means that you will always have additional steps that need to be completed.

Suggest a good read on the International Forum.

caycay · Jul 11, 2008

Hi there, just read your article and I just thought if I could answer your query. You're a greencard holder. You can come here in the US whenever you want. You just apply for an NCLEX and need to pass it. That's just so easy compared to other nurses there in the Phils who wish to come here(US)without any papers or need to work (for them to qualify for the US employer's standards) and do the NCLEX (either in the Phils or US territories like Guam or Saipan) + the retrogression. You dont need to take Phil local board exam (It is just needed if you want to work in the Phils) since the CBON doesnt ask for it anyway. The only problem would be you dont have any work experience at all. Theory base and actual are very different. You dont want to risk your patient for that. You can come here and work or be trained but as what I read and heard, nurses especially in California are saturated so you have to compete to those who have much experience. Anyway, Goodluck and more power!!!

suzanne4, RN · Jul 11, 2008

Hi there, just read your article and I just thought if I could answer your query. You're a greencard holder. You can come here in the US whenever you want. You just apply for an NCLEX and need to pass it. That's just so easy compared to other nurses there in the Phils who wish to come here(US)without any papers or need to work (for them to qualify for the US employer's standards) and do the NCLEX (either in the Phils or US territories like Guam or Saipan) + the retrogression. You dont need to take Phil local board exam (It is just needed if you want to work in the Phils) since the CBON doesnt ask for it anyway. The only problem would be you dont have any work experience at all. Theory base and actual are very different. You dont want to risk your patient for that. You can come here and work or be trained but as what I read and heard, nurses especially in California are saturated so you have to compete to those who have much experience. Anyway, Goodluck and more power!!!

Sorry, but this is no longer true. CA is now requiring the local license before they will permit one to sit for the NCLEX exam and if a green card holder, it means that they are still a citizen of the Philippines and this requirement is no longer being waived. It has been in effect since January of this year.

There is much already written on this topic. And even for those that are US citizens, if they trained over in PI, there is additional information that is required of them.

Things are changing and they are becoming more strict. CA BRN included.

That is why I wrote what I did based on what is happening currently, not what happened in the past.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 11, 2008

Hi there, just read your article and I just thought if I could answer your query. You're a greencard holder. You can come here in the US whenever you want. You just apply for an NCLEX and need to pass it. That's just so easy compared to other nurses there in the Phils who wish to come here(US)without any papers or need to work (for them to qualify for the US employer's standards) and do the NCLEX (either in the Phils or US territories like Guam or Saipan) + the retrogression. You dont need to take Phil local board exam (It is just needed if you want to work in the Phils) since the CBON doesnt ask for it anyway. The only problem would be you dont have any work experience at all. Theory base and actual are very different. You dont want to risk your patient for that. You can come here and work or be trained but as what I read and heard, nurses especially in California are saturated so you have to compete to those who have much experience. Anyway, Goodluck and more power!!!

Sorry but Ca do require a local license and getting very strict on it. Also expect more BON's to follow.

suzanne4, RN · Jul 11, 2008

And to clarify a few other things, one does not apply for the NCLEX exam, there is actually no application for it, one must apply for licensure as an RN and be granted permission to sit for the exam.

One cannot start the process until they have a completed set of transcripts either, and the wait time now is four to six months to get approval on the application for licensure from CA BRN.

So one cannot just come back to the US and instantly write the exam, it just does not work that way.

caycay · Jul 12, 2008

Sorry about that. I applied NCLEX last October and received the eligibility last Decemeber and I didn't send my Phil license as their requirement. It was still recent so I really assume that it was still the same.Thanks for the update anyway.

Yeah, she really have to meet up with the standards of the CBON but what I mean is coming back here in the US is not very hard. She's a US Immigrant already. One problem would be how she would be able to find work after NCLEX. There are many competitions also especially in California. I'm from Seattle and read some article concerning with the salary as well and feel like going back to Ireland (higher salary, annual leave for 3 months with pay, 6 mos maternity leave with pay, laid back etc...). Only thing, my husband is here so I really have to start from the scratch again.

Thanks Suzanne for the info anyway. :nuke: :up:

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suzanne4, RN · Jul 12, 2008

The made the change and have been enforcing it since January of this year. They will not let anyone sit for the exam if they do not meet their requirements and having a green card does not waive the right of taking the exam in their eyes. The NLE is going to have to be completed and passed.

And coming back to the US is not going to be easy, as it is going to be about six months before being able to begin work as an RN here, it is not going to be automatic and again, the NLE is going to have to be written. Green card holders are still citizens of the Philippines, therefore they have to meet the rules that are in place.

Things have changed drastically in the past several months. And job hunting is not going to be easy either, there is much competition for the new grad positions as it is, and when trains out of the US, it is going to be even harder. They are still considered a foreign-trained RN.