As an internationally educated candidate, you will need to complete two processes listed in the next question.
Additionally, regulations and requirements regarding internationally educated nurses vary from board of nursing to board of nursing. Requirements may include:
- Obtaining Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) certification
- Taking an English proficiency examination
- Obtaining official review of credentials (i.e. review of nursing education)
NCSBN does not maintain a list of requirements for internationally educated nurses for individual boards of nursing.
Candidates do not need to be U.S. citizens to take the NCLEX examination, however, there are some boards of nursing which will not allow candidates without U.S. Social Security numbers to apply for licensure or obtain a license. It would be up to a non-U.S. citizen to find out from the board of nursing whether either of these situations apply.
Links to all boards of nursing websites and contact information are available on the Contact a Board of Nursing page.