For nurses educated outside of the United States, the first step to practicing as a nurse in the U.S. is to apply for a license with a state board of nursing. All state boards require the NCLEX® examination-RN/PN, and each state will have specific requirements to determine comparability of those educated outside of the United States.
Prior to sitting for the NCLEX®, state boards usually require that a credentials evaluation service assess and verify your education and licensure to determine if you meet their licensing requirements. These services can be provided by TruMerit.
List of the: TruMerit services accepted by each state board.
We recommend that you consult with the individual state board’s website for the full details of what is required to apply for licensure.
Here is a summary of each TruMerit service:
Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report meets the specific requirements of individual state boards of nursing. It 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 board, employer, or certification organization.
- Authentication and evaluation of professional qualification (licensure) held by the applicant where they currently are authorized to practice.
- A statement of comparability of an applicant’s education when measured against U.S. standards.
The Certification Program (CP) includes:
- TruMerit 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 examinations.
When all requirements are successfully completed, applicants receive the TruMerit CP Certificate and an official verification letter can be sent to the respective state board requiring this assessment as a prerequisite for authorization to take the NCLEX® exam-RN. The CP Certificate is valid for life.
Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Academic Report is designed to meet the needs of applicants pursuing further education in U.S. institutions of higher learning for academic placement. The CES Academic Report provides:
- A detailed analysis of the credentials earned at multiple levels of nursing education received outside the United States.
- A statement of comparability of an applicant’s education when measured against U.S. standards for academic placement.
- A listing of all courses with suggested U.S. semester credits and grades.
The CES Professional and Academic Reports are advisory in nature and does not make recommendations based on the outcome of the assessment.
VisaScreen®: 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 VisaScreen® requires that specific health care professionals complete a screening program before they can receive either a permanent or temporary occupational visa, including Trade NAFTA status. The VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Service provides:
- An assessment of an applicant’s education to determine comparability to that of a U.S. graduate in the same profession.
- A verification that all professional healthcare licenses that an applicant ever held are/were valid, without restrictions and not revoked.
- An English language proficiency examination.
- For registered nurses only, a verification that the nurse has passed either the TruMerit Qualifying Exam®, NCLEX-RN® or for select years, its predecessor, the State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE).
Applicants who successfully complete VisaScreen® receive an official ICHP Certificate for the VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Service, which satisfies the United States Federal screening requirements. ICHP (International Commission on Healthcare Professions) is a division of TruMerit. The ICHP Certificate for VisaScreen® is valid for five years.
Credential Verification Service for New York State (CVS) verifies the authenticity of international education and licensure credentials for the State of New York. This service is for those healthcare professionals educated outside the United States who wish to practice in New York. As specified by the state, TruMerit completes a verification of foreign education and credentials. The New York State Education Department then completes the actual evaluation of the verified credentials. Credential Verification Service for New York State (CVS) provides:
- A verification of foreign education and credentials assessed by TruMerit.
- An evaluation of the verified credentials approved by the New York State Education Department.