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Getting My Credentials Evaulated (CGFNS-CES)
Posted on August 8, 2013 by P-May in Nursing.Part of my application with the Alaska Board of Nursing is to have my credentials evaluated by a recognized authority. Since I didn’t get my degree from an American institution, I had to prove that my educational standards meet theirs. Hence my experience with the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools – CGFNS. I decided to write an article about this just in case there are foreign (outside US) nurse grads who are planning to get it done or struggling with their NCLEX-RN and state BON application with a specific requirement about credentials evaluation who might need a little help.
1. So after making sure that the BON in the state where I wanted to apply at (Alaska) does require the CES, I went to the CGFNS website and clicked on the “Credentials Evaluation Service” tab.
It’s going to display a detailed explanation of what the service is, as well as differentiate the professional from the academic report. I’m for the professional report, which is what the BON needs. Next, I started the online application by creating an account.
After a few more clicks, I was able to reach this part…
I provided all the needed information. Then, I received an email verification, with the instructions to click on the link given, bringing me to the log in page. Once already logged in to my account, I’d been asked to upload my passport-size photo.
After successfully uploading, I chose “Purchase services from CGFNS International”, and then clicked on the “Credentials Evaluation Services”. This was the time when I started supplying them with infos regarding my educational background and nursing license/s.
The fee that I needed to pay for the CES was $335 – that was august 2012. And yes, that’s a LOT of money! But you know what’s more shocking? As of this writing the fee has gone up to $350. Sorry about that. But I guess you guys just have to move quickly, if you don’t want to pay some more – we just don’t know when they’re changing their minds and increasing the fee again.
Now it was time to download some forms:
1. Request for Academic Records/Transcripts form – After accomplishing the first part of this form, I submitted this to my school’s college of nursing. I also requested a copy of my official transcripts which will be sent to the CGFNS along with this form. It was just unfortunate that even though this was an office to office transaction, I still had to pick them up after 1 week (really depends on how fast – in my case, how slow – your school is in processing papers) and made sure everything was in an officially sealed and stamped envelope, and just mailed it myself.
2. Request for Validation of License/Registration/Diploma form – For this one, I went to PRC Baguio and had them fill this out. Good thing, unlike my school, they do the mailing of the document to the CGFNS themselves so I didn’t have to worry about going back there – La Union to Baguio is like a 3-hour commute – I can’t afford any more expenses! It just depends on which courier you choose for them to use: of course, the cheaper the fee, the longer it takes for CGFNS to receive it. I have to commend the PRC Baguio staff for handling my papers fast, I received a message from them the very next day, with the tracking number of the said package. Just one day in their office!! ^_^
The next thing I had to do was to obtain a certified copy of my high school diploma. This was the very first document that the CGFNS is going to receive directly from me.
Correspondences
I was always updated about the status of my papers through emails. Every time they received a certain document, I was notified right away. The same is said whenever they still needed some more documents, and they actually specified which those were.
So 1 month after I paid for the said service fee and sent out all the necessary documents and forms, I got the ultimate response from the CGFNS:
So I’m done with my IELTS, and CGFNS-CES… It’s time for the main NCLEX-RN processing!!! ^_^
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- Passing the NCLEX-RN Exam in 75 Questions (Review Tips/Study Guideline) September 18, 2013
- My NCLEX-RN Application (Steps I Took Throughout the Process – the Filipino Way) August 9, 2013
- Getting My Credentials Evaulated (CGFNS-CES) August 8, 2013
- Part 2 of the Come Back! August 4, 2013
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hello! how are you doing now? i’m currently processing my ces application..the high school diploma should be a true copy from school or a photocopy should be enough? thanks!
Hello Rachelle! T’m good, working as a RN here in Anchorage now, thanks for asking. How are you? I submitted a notarized photocopy of my HS diploma. How are you doing with your papers?
Thank you so much for sharing this article!!! Hirap na hirap po ako sa initial steps pero everything is so clear to me now. Anyway, kinda the same question with the one above po: ok lang ba kung photocopy lang ng HS diploma?
Hi
I find your blog very very helpful. I just want to ask. Have you processed CGFNS and IELTS first before submitting an application form to the BON of your state? or apply pay first submit the application form to the BON and process CGFNS, IELTS and send the results to BON? please help me thanks.
is it ok to send all the application forms even without cgfns id? thanks 🙂
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hi ms precious may. i just have a question regarding po sa CES. how long did it take before you got your att after mareceive ng BON lahat? Thanks!
Hi Christina!! I think you cannot just submit an ordinary copy of any of your documents, baka ireject nila, especially it’s international transaction. I had mine notarized just to be sure 🙂 Thanks for appreciating this blog! Makes me happy 🙂
Hello Neil! I’m so happy to hear that I’m able to help you guys out.. First of all with which state are you applying for? I suggest you finish your CGFNS-CES and IELTS first (if they do require it) before applying for NCLEX/registering with BON. That’ll make the whole process run smoothly 🙂
Miss Hannah, I don’t think you have to wait for the CGFNS ID before sending them the completed forms/documents. As long as you’ve done the initial online registration and paid the fee, you can download the forms and start sending those papers 🙂
Hi Vigrx! Thank you for noticing! 🙂 Those DIY websites/blogs helped a lot 🙂
Hi Alyssa Jean! What about CES that you wanted to know? As with the NCLEX application, i received their email about having all my papers bound for review end of January, and received an email of approval early April, so I’d say around 2months of waiting, not bad 🙂
hi precious may, I also graduated in Baguio. Anyway,thanks for this blog. it helps us a lot. i just wanted to ask if you also passed the result of your IELTS to CGFNS? Did you register for CES before you took your IELTS? how long does it take? thank you so much!!!!
hi xandie! if I remember it right, meron yatang space during the CGFNS registration where I had to fill in my IELTS number, so I recommend you take your IELTS first before the CES application. I think it took around 1 month from the registration/payment of fees to sending docs/correspondences up to the approval. Good luck on your application! ‘Sang state ka pala apply? ^_^
Hi, Ms. Precious May. I’d like to ask what surname did you used when you applied CGFNS? I’m puzzled if I’m going to used my married name or single name when doing account for CGFNS . They might confuse if I will use my married name hence my documents from the Philippines would be on my single name. Any piece of advice? I’m already here in US since last year and got married. This blog is very informative.
Hi Ms. Precious May. Thanks a lot of your blog. I would like to ask some advice from you. I had graduated Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Philippines last 2009 and I did not take the License Exam in Philippines because I had migrated in the States immediately after my graduation. I am currently living in Arizona and I wanted to take the NCLEX, but I could not get it here in Arizona because they need a nursing license in Philippines and I don’t have it. I only have my nursing degree in Philippines. I am willing to move to other States to take my NCLEX. Can you give me an advice?. I am thinking of going to California, but I have read and searched in the web that they required refreshing course since the law has been changed recently. My next step is to evaluate my Transcript of Records and I am going to contact the BON in California.
Hi, Ms. Precious. ask ko lang po, after nila ma-recieve yung first documents ko, (payment voucher,Application ETC) ilang months po ang total para magka ATT? thank you!
Hi Aldrich! Based on my experience, around 4 months. But that was because I needed to retake my IELTS in the middle of my application because it has expired already. So perhaps it wouldn’t take much longer, given your requirements are complete. 🙂
Hello there Filipina! Honestly I don’t know anything about the NCLEX application/process in all the other States aside from here in Alaska. But yeah, just contact their BON first so you have an idea about other requirements they might need especially since you’re a foreign grad. Keep me posted about your application 🙂
Thanks Leila! ^_^ Just use your married name. That’s what I did too even if my other documents were with my maiden name. I didn’t have any problem with it.
Hi, how are you? I’m trying to have my credentials evaluated for nclex but I don’t know which type of evaluation should I get if it is professional or academic.
Richelle
Hello Richelle, I’m good!
I did the Professional report for my NCLEX application 😉
Hi! How long does it take for CGFNS CES to evaluate your credentials? 🙂
Hi, I’m currently filling up the CGFNS. I wonder if you have to fill your “Elementary Education”
Also, do you just directly gave them your highschool diploma? without any forms? thanks for any help
hi ms p.may! Your blog is really helpful! I’m currently processing my ces-cgfns for hawaii.. I’m in u.s so i’ll just ask my friend to process it for me. Question: how much did you pay sa prc for them to mail the docu sa cgfns? Anything else that my friend should bring? i applied using my married name, should i also give them (prc) a copy of my marriage license coz my license has not been updated to my married name yet? Do i need to send her anything like certified true copy of my license (active), certification of passing, board rating etc? or she should just bring the form downloaded at cgfns site? Thanks!
Hi! got a question here. My school said that it will take 2 weeks (at least) for my request to be completed. Can i go to PRC while my school is processing my request since it is very likely that PRC can send the documents to CGFNS in a faster manner. Is there any order that should be followed to send the documents. Please advise. Thanks a lot!
Hi ms p. What if u r presntly working in uae do u still need to validate ur uae license or prc lang talaga kelangan e validate May idea ka ba regarding this. Hope u can reply. Thank u
Hi.. i lost my hs diploma.. is it really necessary to provide it? 🙁
hi there, I am planning to visit alaska next month and also wanted to take NCLEX, i just knew that they are requiring CGFNS, and now i am about to process it by myself, though i am currently working in saudi, now my question is which one do i have to choose is it the professional or academic in CES? and do they need to evaluate also my current license here in saudi or is it ok if its my home license only? thanks
Hey, i know this is years later after the post but i hope you respond.I have just come from Kenya to Minneapolis but i did not get a license as yet, but i have my BScN degree. Am i wasting my time doing the CES process although minneapolis does not require me to have my local license?
hi, I submitted my application to the BON – MI, should I wait for their response before I do the CGNFS? thanks po.
Hi, Do you know how long is the CGFNS report valid for? does it have an expiration? I had my report done last november but i havent taken my test yet. hopefully i wont have to go through the report all over again.
God day i would like to ask if i could mail my academic record together with my hs diploma or do i need to mail them separately?
Hello,
How long does it take for CGFNS to complet the process once they got what they ask for?
Thank you
Hi ma’am! I’d just like to ask kung photocopy lang ba ng transcript ang sinubmit mo or yung original pa? Thanks for your article btw. It really helped me get started.
Good day p-may! I am a nurse too from the Philippines. I hope and I pray that you could still give answers to my questions. Im currently applying CVS in my case bec thats what the NYS BON asked for, I have gone thru the online process and im stuck with the next step. Im quite confused with the step. Should I pay first before sending documents or the other way around? Where can I get or download all these forms? I was able to search for a CVS handbook and there are forms in there, not sure if I could use it coz its quite different from what you have. And last inquiry is the credit card payment form needs the signature of the card holder, the thing is its gonna be my Aunt whos paying for it and shes in New York right now and im in the Ph. Quite confusing eh? Do i need that form together with the other requirements that should be sent?
Hi po. I’d like to ask if i can send my HS diploma together with my academic credentials? Thanks
Do we have to mail in documents for visa screening certificate or u can scan and e mail? ??
Help! I do not know what is happening why I cannot pay the application fee for $350. Also I do not know how to erase the prof license during registration. I have been trying to find a way how to pay.
Hi Joh, you should do the professional one since you’re applying to be an RN here. With regards to your license, I remember going to PRC for forms they need to personally fill out and send to CGFNS. I suggest just go with whatever license you are currently using.
If the State requires you to go through CGFNS evaluation process, then I believe you are on the right track. I know this is almost a year after your question, but hoping everything is going well with you and your nursing career 🙂
Hello Fairy, the State BON usually lists requirements they need along with the application. If CGFNS is included then I’d say just go ahead and start with the process.:)
Hello Grace, sorry but I’m not sure if it does have an expiration or how long. But if you have already submitted it to BON and already gave you ATT then I would say just stick to your ATT expiration. I’m a bit late responding to this comment but I wish you well with your exam and Nursing career 🙂
If you are talking about the academic record/report from your school then no, you have to send your diploma and other personal files separately. Your school sends your report/filled out paper themselves as this is office to office transaction.
Hello Thomas, about a month 🙂
Thanks Angel for the feedback! ^_^ So when you give your school the form that they have to fill out and send to CGFNS, ask them to provide a copy of your transcript. Sila na bahala dun. 😉
Hi Anna, I am not really familiar with CVS. But If I’m right, I think you have to send your payment first so you can access your CGFNS account online and then you can download the forms from your page. As with the credit card payment, maybe you can email your aunt the form, have her print, sign and send it back to you? Hope that your application goes well.
By academic credentials did you mean transcripts? Your school will have to send it with the request form themselves 🙂
Hi Raj, I’m not really familiar with the Visa Screen. Perhaps you can call or email them for further instructions.
You have to download the credit card payment form fill it out and send it to them 😉