Canadian RN seeking work in Utah

U.S.A. Utah

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Hello, I am a Canadian RN who is seeking work in Salt Lake City, Utah. I am currently living in SLC, as my husband is working here and I came down initially as his dependant. I have discovered that in order to get a license in Utah, I need to purchase 3 items from CGFNS that all seem to do essentially the same thing - evaluate my education and verify my credentials. I have had to order the Visascreen, Credential Evaluations Service, and the Certification Program through CGFNS, costing me nearly $1350 USD.

Additionally, despite having already written and passed the NCLEX-RN, I now need to write the CGFNS qualifying exam, which is meant to be a predictor of how I will do on the NCLEX (even though I have already passed it!). In Canada, we now write the EXACT same NCLEX as US nurses.

Has anybody else gone through this process? I would really appreciate any advice!

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Hi AlishawRN,

I know I am late in commenting but thought it was worth a shot.

I am A Canadian RN that also wrote the NCLEX to get registered in Canada and am also go through a similar process in Illinois where they don't seem to understand that we write the same NCLEX exam in Canada for our registration I was just wondering if you managed to work things out without having to rewrite the NCLEX or how that process has been for you? It is such a frustrating process so any tips or advice would be so appreciated!

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Hi AlishawRN,

I know I am late in commenting but thought it was worth a shot.

I am A Canadian RN that also wrote the NCLEX to get registered in Canada and am also go through a similar process in Illinois where they don't seem to understand that we write the same NCLEX exam in Canada for our registration I was just wondering if you managed to work things out without having to rewrite the NCLEX or how that process has been for you? It is such a frustrating process so any tips or advice would be so appreciated!

Hi BS0325,

It took me six months to finally get my nursing registration in Utah and was one of the most untimely and frustrating processes I have ever encountered. I had to get 3 services done by a third party company, CGFNS. The services that were required by Utah and provided by CGFNS were the VisaScreen, which you should do first to get your TN visa if you don't have it yet, the Credential evaluation service or CES, and the CGFNS certification program, which requires an exam that predicts how you will do on the NCLEX (even though I already passed the exam!). What I found hard to believe is that the services all essentially do the exact same thing. They evaluate your education to see if it is similar to a US nursing program, verify your previous nursing license/registration in Canada, and verify your experience. Most states do not require all three services or even require you to use CGFNS so hopefully this is the case in Illinois. If you are required to use CGFNS beware they may take up to three months or more to do just one of the services you need.

Anyway, after a lot of frustration, time, and money, I was finally registered as a RN in Utah. Regarding the NCLEX, I ensured them several times that the NCLEX we write in Canada is the EXACT same exam (except the Canadian version has Canadian lab values in addition to American lab values). Eventually they looked into it or just accepted it was the same exam. I had to research all of this on my own as I moved down here independently and wasn't employed through a travel nursing company. It was so hard to find any information on the process, and no one replied to my post here (as you can see). Hang in there and let me know if there is any more info I can give to help you out. Good luck!

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Do you know Lucy by any chance? PM me.

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Hello, to revisit this thread. I am in the same situation. Canadian RN (already licensed and working in the State of Michigan) attempting to obtain a RN license in Utah.

So from what I understand is that you must complete the CGFNS Certificate and CES Professional Report.

Additionally, did you have to complete the certification exam? I find this hard to believe as I have written and passed the NCLEX (I am working in the US already!)
Thanks for the help

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@AlishawRN Hi! I was wondering what did you find were the differences between the CGFNS qualifying exam and NCLEX exam in terms of questions and difficulty? Did you prepare for the CGFNS exam with the same NCLEX prep material? I have already taken the NCLEX, but Utah also wants me to take the CGFNS exam

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Hi,

 

I too am looking to get my license in Utah. I'm from Canada and have also already written and passed the NCLEX. You said you convinced them it was the same exam as the states, does that mean you didn't have to write the CGFNS exam, or did you still have to write it? Who did you contact to be exempted from the cgfns exam if you didn't have to write it?

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Hi all, 

There are no exemptions from the CGFNS exam. As part of the CGNFS CP program you have to take the exam. It is very similar to the NCLEX exam, although it is longer. As well, if you do not have clinical hours in every single area including Maternity/Infants, pediatrics, mental health, medical/surgical, etc. you will not be able to obtain the CP document, so keep that in mind. 

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