Weoften receive questions about the role of CGFNS in nurse immigration. CGFNS has a number of different product lineswhich overlap and add to the confusion.
Hereare three of the most common uses of CGFNS within the US visa processingsystem. It is best to think of thesethree product lines as independent:
CGFNScredentials evaluation (CES) – Many US state licensing bodiescall on CGFNS to review and evaluate foreign nurse’s credentials in advance ofqualifying the nurses to sit for the NCLEX exam. CES is the process by which applicants canhave their nursing education evaluated by CGFNS for clearance to sit for thestate’s nursing exam (NCLEX).
CGFNSPredictor (Qualifying) Exam – This is an older, legacy examthat is now rarely used to assess a foreign nurse’s competence in nursing. It was more widespread before the expansionof international NCLEX testing centers.
CGFNSVisa Screen – This is the Healthcare Worker Certificate (HWC) that isneeded by RNs at the very end of their immigration process, at their consularinterview. CGFNS’ HWC is branded theVisa Screen. All nurses and allied healthcare workers musthave:
· Passed the USlicensing exam;
· Graduated from auniversity that is equivalent to a US school in the same profession;
· Passed an Englishfluency examination; and
· Hold a spotlessoverseas professional license.
In recent years USCIS approved a second issuer of HWCs, Josef Silney.