License: Foreign Educated Requirements

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Requirements for Applicants Educated in a Foreign Country (Including Canada and *Puerto Rico)IMPORTANT: All information from any of the selected agencies listed in Educational Requirements and Language Validation, must be sent dire?ctly to AZBN from the agency.Foreign Educated Professional or Practical Nurses Must Meet the Following Requirements:Validation of Educational RequirementsRequest an application from Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools International (CGFNS) to obtain one of the following:CES Professional Report.Verification of VisaScreen ® Certificate.Verification of CGFNS Certification (Option not available for practical nurses).ORRequest or download an application from Educational Records Evaluation Services (ERES) to complete an Education Equivalency Report.ORRequest or download an application from Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. to complete an education equivalency report, specifically a ‘licensing for nursing, basic report’.ORIf educated in Canada, have the Canadian licensure board submit a passing score on the English language version of the CNATS or CRNE (Canadian Licensure Exam) AND verification of an ACTIVE Canadian licensure status directly to AZBN.PLEASE NOTE: Exception- RN endorsement applicants who have completed their basic nursing education in a foreign country are exempt from the education requirement if they have obtained a BSN or graduate degree in nursing from an approved program in the United States AND worked at least 960 hours within the past five years prior to the application submission date. Transcripts from the U.S. nursing program are required and must be sent directly from the education institution to the Arizona State Board of Nursing either by mail to 1740 W Adams St., Ste 2000, Phoenix, AZ 85007 or by email to [email protected]. The transcript must show the name of the nursing program, city, state, graduation date, and graduation degree. Transcripts CANNOT come from you. If you obtained a higher nursing degree and would like to be exempt from the education requirement, you will need to provide a written statement to the Arizona State Board of Nursing stating that you are wanting to use the HIGHEST DEGREE in place of CGFNS. This exemption will disqualify applicants from obtaining a multistate license.Contact Information for agencies listed aboveCommission on Graduates of ForeignNursing Schools International3600 Market Street, Suite 400Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651Phone: 215-222-8454Website: www.cgfns.orgEducation Records Evaluation Services601 University Avenue, Suite 127Sacramento, CA 95825-6738Phone: 916-921-0791Toll-free: 866-411-ERES (3737)Email: [email protected]Website: www.eres.comJosef Silny and Associates, Inc.International Education Consultants7101 S W 102nd AvenueMiami, FL 33173Phone: 305-273-1616Website: www.jsilny.comValidation of English Language Skills(If you are an exam applicant you MUST meet the English Language requirement BEFORE taking the NCLEX Exam.)Exemptions from Validation of English Language Skills requirement:If you have graduated from a nursing program in a country or territory where the principle language is English (i.e. Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada (excluding Quebec), Ireland, Trinidad, Tobago, South Africa, Ghana, Jamaica, Barbados, or United States territory) you do not need to validate your English language skills.ORIf you have been employed as a nurse for 960 hours or more within the past 5 years in a country or territory where the principal language is English (see countries/territories above) you do not need to validate your English language skills.If the principal language of the country where your nursing program was given is a language other than English, you are required to obtain one of the following options:Internet-based (iBT) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 84 and a minimum speaking score of 26. To have results sent to AZBN use the code 9680 when completing the application.ORInternational English Language Test Service Academic Examination (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.5 on the Overall Band Score with a minimum of 6.0 on each module.ORPearson test of English Academic Exam with a minimum score of 55 overall and a minimum score of 50 on each section.ORVisa Screen Certificate from CGFNS.? A CGFNS Certificate Contact Information for agencies listed aboveTOEFL:Education Testing ServicesPO Box 6151Princeton, NJ 08541-6151Phone: 1-877-863-3546Email: [email protected]Website: www.ets.org/toeflIELTS:IELTS International825 Colorado Boulevard, Suite 112Los Angeles, CA 90041Website: www.ielts.org(Follow instructions on website for more detailed contact information)Pearson Language TestPhone: 1-800-901-0229Website: www.pearsonpte.comCommission on Graduates of ForeignNursing Schools International3600 Market Street, Suite 400Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651Phone: 215-222-8454Website: www.cgfns.orgValidation of PracticeHave met one of the following practice requirements:Practiced as a nurse for 960 hours or more in the past 5 years orGraduated from a nursing program and obtained a degree within past 5 years orCompleted an Arizona Board approved refresher course in the past 5 years orObtained an advanced nursing degree in the past 5 years (i.e. LPN to RN, RN to BSN, masters, or doctorate).Passed NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN or State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) **** If you have passed the SBTPE in Canada between certain dates, you will have met the testing requirement.ProvinceAlbertaBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew FoundlandNova ScotiaPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewanFirst Administered1954 (September)1949 (September)1955 (October)19611955 (May)19571959 (April)1956 (April)Last Administered1970 (June)1970 (April)1970 (April)19701970 (August)1970 (August)1970 (August)1970 (April) * Applicants educated in Puerto RicoApplicants who have graduated before 9/15/06 AND their nursing program has a program code assigned by the National Council State Board of Nurses, are eligible to apply for licensure by exam and endorsement. They are NOT required to complete validation of education or language requirement.Applicants who have graduated after 9/15/06 are required to request a report from CGFNS or ERES (validating their educational requirements) be sent directly to AZBN as well as Validation of English Language requirement.?Additional InformationNurses educated in a foreign country and have not passed NCLEX or SBTPE must apply for licensure by examination.Applicants who have passed NCLEX but were NOT issued a license need to apply for licensure by exam. You do not need to re-test.Applicants who meet all the requirements except the social security number can be issued a license in AZ, if they sign and complete the affidavit on the Forms and Documents page.Applicants living abroad who have met all the license requirement except proof of lawful presence can be issued a license in AZ if they sign and submit the affidavit on the Forms and Documents page.Enhanced-Nurse Licensure Compact - StatutesEnhanced-Nurse Licensure Compact Final Rules