Working in UK as mental health nurse, can I work in the States?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

It's great that you plan to move to the U.S. and continue your nursing career. I'd like to extend a warm welcome!

In the States, RN licensure allows you to practice in a psychiatric, behavioral, or mental health setting. You do not need any other special qualifications.

Therefore, obtaining licensure in the States is the same as for any other foreign-trained nurse. 

Here's what you need to do:

Credential Evaluation

You must have your foreign credentials evaluated by a recognized credentialing agency, such as CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) or ICHP (International Credentialing Health Program). These agencies assess whether your education meets U.S. standards for nursing education.

You may also want to look into CGFNS' VisaScreen service for foreign-educated nurses seeking to work in the U.S.

English Proficiency

If English is not your first language, you must prove English proficiency. This is most often done through a standardized test like the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). 

NCLEX-RN Exam

You must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam to become licensed as a registered nurse (RN) in the U.S.

Although the NCLEX-RN is a national exam, nursing licensure is regulated at the state level in the U.S. Each state has a board of nursing (BON), and states may have differing licensure requirements.

Therefore, you will apply for authorization to take the exam through the BON in the state where you plan to live and practice.  

For example, if you plan to live and practice in California, you would apply to take the NCLEX-RN exam through the California BON.

• Find your BON. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing oversees the NCLEX-RN and provides helpful contact information for each state BON. 

Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Certification (Optional)

 If, down the road, you want a specialized certification, you may consider pursuing a certification in psychiatric-mental health nursing (PMHN) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This is an optional certification but can be helpful to demonstrate specialized expertise in mental health nursing.

I hope this helps, and the very best to you and your husband. 

Nurse Beth