Choosing the Correct CGFNS International Service for Nurses
The CGFNS Certification Program includes:
• the CGFNS Qualifying Exam
®
• a credentials evaluation of secondary and nursing education, registration
• demonstration of passing one of the accepted English language proficiency exams
Social Media Response Team
February 28, 2017 18:40
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For nurses educated outside of the United States, the first step to practicing as a nurse in the United
States is to apply for a license with a state board of nursing. While the NCLEX® examination is required
by all state boards for licensure, each state board has its own requirements to determine educational
comparability of those educated outside of the United States. Many boards require a service that can be
provided by CGFNS International prior to authorizing nurses educated outside of the United States to sit
for the NCLEX® exam.
To see a list of the CGFNS services accepted by each state board, visit the State Boards of
Nursing section of the Helpful Links and Resources page on our web site. We recommend that you also
consult with the individual board web sites for the full details of what is required to apply for licensure.
Here is a brief description of each service:
Certification Program (CP) The Certification Program includes the CGFNS Qualifying Exam® for first-
level, general nurses; a credentials evaluation of secondary and nursing education and registration;
demonstration of passing one of the accepted English language proficiency exams. When successfully
completed, applicants receive the CGFNS Certification Program Certificate, whereby, an official
verification can be sent to the respective state board requiring this assessment as a prerequisite for
authorization to sit for the NCLEX® exam. The CGFNS Certification Program Certificate is valid for life.
Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report meets the specific requirements of
individual state boards of nursing. The CES Professional Report provides a detailed analysis of the
credentials earned at multiple levels of nursing education received outside the United States according to
requirements specific to a state. The Report includes a statement of comparability of an applicant’s
education when measured against U.S. standards.
Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Academic Report is designed to meet the needs of applicants
pursuing further education in U.S. institutions of higher learning. The CES Academic Report provides a
detailed analysis of the nursing education received outside the United States. The Report is advisory in
nature and does not make specific placement recommendations.
Visa Screen®: Visa Credentials Assessment (VS) certification is a comprehensive screening program
for health care professionals who are not U.S. citizens and are seeking an occupational visa to work in
the United States. The Visa Screen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Service requires specific health care
professionals complete a screening program before they can receive either a permanent or temporary
occupational visa, including Trade NAFTA status:
• An assessment of an applicant’s education to ensure that it is comparable to that of a U.S. graduate in
the same profession
• A verification that all professional health care licenses that an applicant ever held are valid and without
restrictions
• An English language proficiency examination
• For registered nurses only, a verification that the nurse has passed either the CGFNS Qualifying Exam®,
NCLEX-RN® or for select years and Providences its predecessor, the State Board Test Pool Examination
(SBTPE).
Applicants who successfully complete Visa Screen® receive an official ICHP Certificate for the Visa
Screen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Service, which satisfies the United States Federal screening
requirements. ICHP (International Commission on Healthcare Professions) is a division of CGFNS
International.
Credential Verification Service for New York State (CVS) verifies the authenticity of international
education and licensure credentials for the State of New York. The Service is for those health care
professionals educated outside the United States who wish to practice in New York. As specified by the
state, CGFNS International completes a verification of foreign education and credentials. New York State
Education Department then completes the actual evaluation of the verified credentials.
Credentials Evaluation Service Professional Report
®
Service
Description
Fee
Credentials Evaluation Service
Professional Report
Application
For those educated outside the United States
pursuing licensure to practice in the United States.
$350.00
Expedited Service
Faster review process - after application
submission
$250.00
Reprocess Application
To continue paid in full application for another 12
months (only one reprocess application is
accepted after an initial application expires).
$160.00
Re-evaluation
Additional report prepared after the first one has
been issued. Either same as initial recipient or
different one.
$210.00
Service
Description
Fee
Additional report recipients
(each)
Report to more recipients other than the initial
one included in the application
$100.00
English language proficiency
report
English proficiency report included as a state
board of nursing requirement
$85.00
Additional license/registration
evaluation (each)
Additional license/registration evaluated in
addition to the two non-U.S. registrations/licenses
$75.00
Duplicate report for applicant
(each)
Unofficial copy of the report mailed to applicant
$75.00
Credentials Evaluation Service Academic Report
®
Service
Description
Fee
Credentials Evaluation
Service Academic Report
Application
Report for those who are educated outside the United
States pursuing further education in U.S. institutions of
higher learning
$385.00
Expedited Service
Faster review process - after application submission
and receipt of all documents
$275.00
Reprocess application
Additional 12 months processing time when all
requirements have not been met (only one reprocess
application accepted after initial application expires)
$150.00
Re-evaluation
Report prepared for one additional recipient after
initial has been issued
$250.00
Additional report
recipients (each)
Report sent to additional recipients, in addition to the
one already included, at the time of application
$100.00
Service
Description
Fee
English language
proficiency report (each)
Report for those applying to state boards of nursing
that require an English proficiency report to be
included
$85.00
Additional academic
credential evaluation
(each)
Additional academic credentials evaluated, in addition
to the two academic credentials already included in
the CES application fee
$75.00
Duplicate report for
applicant (each)
An unofficial copy of their report mailed to them
$75.00
Credential Verification Service for New York State
®
Description
Fee
For individuals educated outside the United States pursuing licensure to
practice in New York State.
$465
For individuals educated outside the United States pursuing licensure to
practice in New York State.
$390
Another application after the first CVS report has been issued to verify
additional credentials for the same or different healthcare profession.
$390
An official copy of previously issued CVS report sent to the New York
State Education Department, (NYSED).
$100
eDas
™
– eDocument Authentication Service
™
Report
Service
Description
Fee
eDas - Document Authentication Service Report
Report to 1 recipient
$225.00
eDas - Document Authentication Service Report
Each additional recipient
$100.00
VisaScreen
®
: Visa Credentials Assessment
Service
Description
Fee
VisaScreen®
Application
Initial VisaScreen® application. Includes VisaScreen®
Certificate
$540.00
Reprocess
Application
Reprocess an existing, expired VisaScreen® application
$175.00
Renewal
Application
Renewal application for an expired VisaScreen® Certificate
$275.00
Expedited Review
Service
Expedited review within five business days of receiving all
required documents. VisaScreen® Certificate mailed with
next day express mail delivery.
$500.00
Certificate
Verification Letter
Designated recipient receives an official letter that applicant
was issued a VisaScreen® certificate. Allow 10 business days
for delivery
$100.00
Replacement
Certificate
Replace an original VisaScreen® Certificate. Limit one (1) per
applicant
$150.00
CGFNS Certification Program
®
Service
Description
Fee
Certification Program
application
Application includes the CGFNS Qualifying Exam® Official
Study Guide (electronic version), a credentials review and
an English language proficiency verification
$445.00
Re-Examination
application
Includes a new CGFNS Qualifying Exam® for those who did
not pass or missed a scheduled exam.
$350.00
Reprocess an expired
application
12 month extension of a paid in full application, which was
not completed during initial required time period. Note:
only one reprocess application is accepted after a first
Certification Program application expires
$175.00
Certificate
verification letter
Official letter verifying that a Certification Program CGFNS
certificate was issued
$100.00
Replacement CGFNS
certificate
Replaces an original Certification Program CGFNS
Certificate
$150.00
Reprocess an expired
re-examination
application
12-month expired paid in full re-examination application
which did not meet approval requirements within original
time period
$175.00
Re-score Service
Additional service available for up to two years after the
exam date
$50.00
Additional Fees
List of
services
Description
Fee
Return check
fee
This is the fee that is charged when your check is returned because of
insufficient funds in your account.
$75.00
List of
services
Description
Fee
Resend
certificate
This is the fee that is charged when we have to resend your certificate
after UPS returns it to us because of an address error or there is no one
available to sign for the package.
$100.00
Credit card
denial fee
This is the fee that is charged when your credit card denies payment.
$75.00
List of services
Description
Fee
eSAVED
Extended Storage of Authenticated and Verified
Electronic Documents
$35.00 per year
or $100.00 for 4
years
Forwarding English Test
Results
Request English test scores to be forwarded to
selected licensing boards/authorities.
$25.00
Translations of
documents, per page
(standard size)
Request to have your required documents
translated into English. Fee applies to standard
sized, 8.5 x 11 inch documents.
$85.00
Time limits for applications and payment
Applicants applying for the following services are given 12 months to meet the requirements of an
order:
• CGFNS Certification Program
• Credentials Evaluation Service
• VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment
Orders will expire within 12 months if:
• Applicant is not registered to take the CGFNS Qualifying Exam® for the Certification Program
• A Credentials Evaluation Service report has not been issued
• An ICHP VisaScreen® certificate has not been issued
• Fee payment(s) has not been received in full
If a paid-in-full application expires, an applicant has up to 12 months to apply for a reprocess (another
12 months on that application) and fully pay the reprocess fee. Only one reprocess application is
accepted after an initial application expires.
An applicant does not qualify for reprocess if the order is not paid in full, or if fees paid were applied to
previous services, and the initial application order expires. A new application must be submitted and
paid in full to have 12 months to process the application and complete all the requirements. The
subsequent 12 months begins when we receive the new application.
Refund policy
CGFNS has a “no refund” policy for all programs, products and services. No refund is given after an
order is submitted. If CGFNS makes an error, consideration for a refund will be given on a case-by-case
basis.
What your fees help us to do
The fees reflect the cost associated with processing applications/orders, scanning documents, reviewing
applicant credentials and files, postage and, as applicable, obtaining academic records/transcripts,
validating license/registration/diploma, preparing reports/certificates and administering the CGFNS
Qualifying Exam®.
Appeal Request Service
Applicants have the right to appeal an action by CGFNS. A written notice of appeal must be submitted
within 60 days of service deliverable to CGFNS for review by the appropriate CGFNS staff. Applicants are
notified as to whether appeal request is granted or denied. Granted appeal requests are reviewed by
the CGFNS Appeals Committee in accordance with the CGFNS International Appeals Procedure.
A service fee of $500 will be charged to applicants who have submitted an Appeal Request that has been
granted a review by the CGFNS International Appeals Committee. Eligible applicants will receive
information and notification regarding the Appeals Procedure and will be instructed to submit their
payment online. Appeal requests supported by the Appeals Committee are eligible for a refund of the
service fee charged. Applicants should not remit payment until they have received the Official Appeals
Procedure that explains the process in detail.