NCLEX Step by Step

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As Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs), we need to meet several requirements to receive Licensure by
Examination as a RN in Illinois.
The steps to licensing can be summarized with this chart:

1. Evaluation of foreign degree and foreign license with an approved credentialing
organization and receive a Credential Evaluation Service Report
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation allows us to have our foreign nursing degree
evaluated by one of two organizations: the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) or
the Education Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES). Personally, I have chosen to use CGFNS for its longestablished service, web access by regulation officials, and fast turnaround times.
CGFNS provides instructions on the steps necessary to evaluate our foreign degree and licensure. Click here to
view the instructions documentation.
Here is an overview of the steps:



Apply for evaluation by either registering online or downloading an application form and sending it by
mail



Request the "CES - Healthcare Professional Report" ($335 in 2012; Fees chart). Make sure that you
ask for your report to be prepared for the Illinois Board of Nursing - this will make your record available
to the State electronically. Available modes of payment include bank check, international money order or
credit card (online or by mail via Credit Card Payment Form). DO NOT SEND CASH.



Use CGFNS forms to send requests for official academic records and licensing confirmation to the
educational institution(s) you attended and your country's nursing regulation agency (e.g. for the
Philippines, the Professional Regulation Commission or PRC). These records must be delivered from the
institutions directly to CGFNS - you cannot mail them yourself. For those educated and licensed in the
Philippines, here's a quick guide on how to do it in PRC.



Provide translations for any documents not in English. This is most often done through your foreign
school(s) or licensing agency. You will need to research how to do this and what you will be charged by
these institutions. Most schools in the Philippines have English transcipts and documents.



Your report is active for 12 months; renewing access to it for another 12 months costs $150 for the
Healthcare Professional Report. See the Fees Chart.



You must show proof that you graduated from high school (a photocopy of a high school diploma or
exit exam will work). You must submit this directly with your application, accompanied by a translation
and special translator statement (if needed).

CGFNS will evaluate your education and licensing to see if it is comparable to the minimum standards for an Illinois
Registered Nurse program. After evaluation, CGFNS will decide either that your degree is comparable except for a
missing clinical component OR that your degree is not found as comparable.
In the first case, you will need to have your training pre-approved by IDFPR and choose a school or other training
provider from a list of approved nursing education programs (the list is available on the IDFPR website). After
completing this clinical requirement and sending transcripts to IDFPR, you will be able to continue your licensing
process.
In the second case, you will need to return to school for a degree program to qualify you for licensure as a
Registered Nurse. You should research nursing education programs in your area, and bring your transcripts and
credential evaluation to the program coordinators to see if you can receive advanced standing for a Bachelor of
Science in Nursing (BSN). The quickest route to becoming an RN may be to earn an Associates Degree of Nursing.
However, if you choose this option you will be settling for a U.S. degree that is not as advanced as your foreign
degree, and you will have to continue studying for a BSN if you want better career opportunities.
For BSN holders from another country, your degree might be determined comparable to the minimum standard
required by the State of Illinois. However, sometimes different standards in nursing practice can affect your degree
evaluation.

2. Get fingerprinted via an IDFPR (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation) approved vendor for a criminal record check
A list of service providers approved by IDFPR and the Illinois State Police is listed in the Licensure by Examination
applicationpages 27-28. Costs vary by site. Call to set up an appointment. Since I'm already in the US, I have gone
to Accurate Biometrics in Chicago, IL. No need for appointments. They accept walk-ins. Save the receipt as
proof that you have taken this step: You must include it in the Licensing by Examination application package you
will later send to Continental Testing Services (CTS).

3. Register online with Continental Testing Services (CTS), submit your Licensure

by Examination application, required supporting documents, and pay application
fee
CTS manages licensing applications for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). You
should call the CTS help number for application assistance: 800-359-1313 (toll-free) or (708) 354-9911 (local).
Steps involved:





First, register online and arrange for payment of an $91 application fee (as of 2012)

Mail all required documentation to CTS. Illinois requires notarized translations of any foreignlanguage documents

Your final application package should include: (always make a copy for yourself)



Four-page Licensure by Examination application from the Illinois Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation (IDFPR)



CT-NUR forms completed by the licensing agency or board of any jurisdiction(s) in which you were
first licensed, are currently licensed, or have been licensed in the last 5 years



Credential Evaluation Service (CES) report from CGFNS or ERES (your foreign degree and licensing
evaluation)



Fingerprinting receipt



Scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if you are not a native English
speaker and the language of instruction and textbooks in your nursing program was not English. You may
request for TOEFL to issue a copy of your scores directly to CTS.

(The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) requires minimal scores of 560 on the
paper-based test, 220 on the computer-based test and 83 on the Internet-based test) This application is valid
for 3 years. If you have not passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) or met other licensing
requirements within these 3 years you will have to submit a new application and pay the processing fee again.

4. Register with Pearson Vue for the National Council Licensure Examination
(NCLEX) by web, mail or telephone
Register with Pearson for the NCLEX at the same time as submitting your application to Continental Testing
Services (CTS). The NCLEX costs $200 (as of 2012).

5. Receive an approval letter from Continental Testing Services (CTS) and
Authorization to Test (ATT); schedule your testing appointment with the National
Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)
You have only 90 days from receipt of the ATT to take the NCLEX. Set up your appointment immediately.
Instructions are included in the ATT notice. I received mine in the email 1-2 days after registering for Pearson Vue.

6. Take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and receive
a passage letter allowing limited practice for 3 months while license is being
processed

Contact CGFNS International
Telephone inquiries
+1 (215) 222 8454
Customer Care hours
Monday through Friday
8 am to 4 pm (ET)
Mailing address
3600 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 USA
Please remember to place your order number and/or CGFNS ID number on all correspondence and payments.
Business office
+1 (215) 222 8454

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