Which Board to get licienced with initially?

lawrence01 · May 10, 2006

Hi guys,
It is great (thanks to Suzanne toi finally understand this moving to usa as a nurse thing!)
However of course it now throws up lots more questions LOL.
I am doing this independantly and am currently waiting for my results of my Credential Evaluation Service from CGFNS to tell me what hours I need to make up as I am a registered Mental Health Nurse. I am slightly concerned thought because everything I read says only 1st level GENERAL Nurses can get liciences in the usa, even cgfns site says need to be a registered general nurse to sit for the certification exam!! Tell me as a Mental Health nurse I will be eligable as long as I make up hours.
Also once I know what hours I need to make up and have made them up, which state should I apply to? After all my reading I feel my options are,
1) New Jersey as its where my sister lives and I want to work but requires full cgfns exam the works.
2) Through Pennsylvania as can work there to as sister lives near philadelphia. But from their board site if initial licience for foreign nurse also need cgfns exam.
3) Throught New York as Suzanne says its the easiest then endorse to New Jersey or Pennsylvania 2 places I want to work. Only thing is I will need to repay cgfns for NY cgfns stuff and credential evaluation service was a waste of money.
4) Apply for licience through Vermont as it seems quick easy and not requiring cgfns apart from visa screen and can then endorse to another state.
What do you guys think my best option is?
Ruth x

Hi Ruth. Actually, PA only requires the CES if endorsing from another state and the CGFNS exam if applying for initial licensure.

I have a friend in NJ that says that they won't need the CGFNS exam either if endorsing to them but I cannot guarantee this info. It's best that you contact NJ BON thru email or phone to confirm this. Nothing is said about the cGFNS exam req't in their Instruction for endorsement packet (unless I failed to see it) better contact the NJ BON to be sure.

For initial licensure, I think either NY or VErmont will do. Vermont has an advantage of not relying on any CGFNS service and of course it's less expensive than applying in NY. Yes, one disadvantage is that you have to let your school send another set of transcript to ICHP for VisaScreen purposes whereas in NY they can use the same transcripts obtained from the CVS. The process for CVS, I think really depends on the responsiveness of your school and your licensing body to send the necessary documents on time. If you feel you can't trust your school and licensing body to send everthing on time for you then maybe you can consider Vermont. This is just my humble opinion, though.

Goodluck.

suzanne4, RN · May 10, 2006

Hi Ruth. Actually, PA only requires the CES if endorsing from another state and the CGFNS exam if applying for initial licensure.
I have a friend in NJ that says that they won't need the CGFNS exam either if endorsing to them but I cannot guarantee this info. It's best that you contact NJ BON thru email or phone to confirm this. Nothing is said about the cGFNS exam req't in their Instruction for endorsement packet (unless I failed to see it) better contact the NJ BON to be sure.
For initial licensure, I think either NY or VErmont will do. Vermont has an advantage of not relying on any CGFNS service and of course it's less expensive than applying in NY. Yes, one disadvantage is that you have to let your school send another set of transcript to ICHP for VisaScreen purposes whereas in NY they can use the same transcripts obtained from the CVS. The process for CVS, I think really depends on the responsiveness of your school and your licensing body to send the necessary documents on time. If you feel you can't trust your school and licensing body to send everthing on time for you then maybe you can consider Vermont. This is just my humble opinion, though.
Goodluck.

NJ still requires the CGFNS exam. The person that you are referring to had one, they just did not ask her for the verification from CGFNS, she included the copy that she had with her. And did not think anything about it until I brought it to her attention. If you look at NJ website, it is still there.

Ruth,

For you go the route of Vermont. It will be the easiest, since you are already going thru the CES process, and then you can just endorse to Pennsylvania. And everything will be done.

lawrence01 · May 10, 2006

NJ still requires the CGFNS exam. The person that you are referring to had one, they just did not ask her for the verification from CGFNS, she included the copy that she had with her. And did not think anything about it until I brought it to her attention. If you look at NJ website, it is still there.
Ruth,
For you go the route of Vermont. It will be the easiest, since you are already going thru the CES process, and then you can just endorse to Pennsylvania. And everything will be done.

Guess, problem solved already. Goodluck Ruth.