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English Proficiency Exams
The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) certification includes an English proficiency component. You are therefore required to obtain a passing score on the TOEFL, TWE or the TSE as a preliminary step. Minimum scores are: 540 on the written TOEFL or 207 on the computer-based TOEFL,
and 4.0 on the TWE or 50 on the TSE.
Candidates from the following countries may apply for exemption from taking the English proficiency component of the CGFNS: Canada (all provinces except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. To apply for exemption, the applicant's native language, medium of instruction and the language of all texts used
while in school must have been English. Candidates from all other countries are required to comply with the CGFNS English proficiency component.
These examinations are offered and administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS). For more details, please contact ETS directly:
Educational Testing Services (ETS)
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, N.J. 08541
U.S.A.
Telephone: (609) 771-7100
Website: www.ets.org
Email: toefl@ets.org
CGFNS Certification
All registered nurses who wish to work in the U.S. must obtain certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) or certification from an independent credentialing organization approved by either the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services or must pass the NCLEX-RN Examination.
The CGFNS certification program is intended to measure a candidate's likelihood of passing the NCLEX-RN examination and becoming licensed as a registered nurse in the United States. The three parts of the program are:
1. Credentials review
2. Qualifying examination of nursing knowledge
3. English language proficiency examinations
Applicants must successfully complete all three parts of the certification program to earn the CGFNS certification.
For further information, please contact:
Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)
3600 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
U.S.A.
www.cgfns.org
NCLEX-RN
All registered nurses are required to take and pass the NCLEX-RN. The NCLEX is given in the United States and should be taken during your first six months of employment in the United States. The NCLEX is offered and administered by the Pearson Professional Centers. Pearson has multiple testing sites in each state and also has sites in the U.S. territories of Guam, Saipan, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additional information can be found at www.ncsbn.org.
Visa Information
All non-US nurses must obtain an immigrant visa in order to legally live and work in the US. An immigrant visa will also allow you to bring your spouse and your children under 21 years of age to live in the U.S. NC STAFFING and the facility that will sponsor your employment will
assist you in obtaining an immigrant visa.
In some cases, nurses applying for an immigrant visa may also be required to obtain a Visa Screen Certificate.
The Visa Screen requires the following:
- Review of educational credentials
- Review of licensure documentation
- English language skills assessment (passing score on IELTS, TOEFL, TWE and TSE
- CGFNS Certificate and/or proof of passing NCLEX-RN
- Nursing License
(issued by the State Board of Nursing)
For more information on visa requirements, please visit www.uscis.gov
Telephone Interview Tips
Whether you are a travel nurse or a non-US nurse, the facility will almost always invite you to a telephone interview. The most important thing to remember about telephone interviews is that your voice is the
most critical tool available to you to effectively communicate. You can't dress for success, make eye contact or use body language to convey your message
during a telephone interview. Concentrate on selling yourself by using your voice.
How you use your voice can make a big difference. Here are some quick tips for a successful telephone interview:
No distractions! Pick a quiet location in your house to make or take the call. No barking dogs or crying babies. Turn off any electronic equipment or appliance that may make noises - TV, radio, other phones, alarm clocks and even your air conditioner if it's too loud. Turn off the call-waiting feature of your phone -- an incoming call will make an annoying beeping sound. If at all possible, try to take the call when you will be home alone and not expecting visitors.
Have your resume, application form, license, credentials and other documents handy. Your interviewer will refer to these documents and you will need to be literally on the same page with him or her. You will also need a pen and paper to take down notes.
Talk directly into the phone receiver. Do not, under any circumstances, use a speaker phone. Speaker phones easily transmit background noises. This is extremely distracting and will make your interviewer feel that you are doing something else while you are talking to him or her. Avoid using mobile phones or even cordless phones - faulty signal and battery power are obvious concerns.
Speak slowly and clearly. When your interviewer asks a question, pause for a second before you answer to make sure he or she is finished speaking. This is especially useful for non-US nurses as international telephone transmissions are often delayed by a few seconds.
Don't eat, drink or smoke. It will show in your voice. You may, however, want to keep a glass of water close by in case your voice gets hoarse. But drink your water only if you are dying of thirst. Ask your interviewer to excuse you for a minute while you drink your water.
Avoid "gap fillers" such as ah, um, hmm, etc. This habit is especially noticeable on the phone. But don't be totally silent either - if you need time to think about a question, say so. There is no shame in saying "Let me think about that for a minute." Silence during a telephone conversation is like dead air time on the radio - a definite no-no.
Get into the habit of repeating or re-phrasing questions. It will show your interviewer that you are being attentive while giving you time to think about your answers.
If you don't know the answer to a question, don't try to fib or bluff. Your interviewer will hear the uncertainty in your voice. Be straightforward. Say "I will have to get back to you on that question." Your interviewer will appreciate your honesty.
Always answer questions confidently and courteously. Irritation and anxiety in your voice will be more obvious than in a face to face conversation. Smile while you talk - it will also come through in your voice.
NC STAFFING will always brief you about the facility to prepare you for your telephone interview. But it doesn't hurt to do your own research. Know as much as you can about the facility and ask relevant questions about their operations - it will show that you are genuinely interested in working for them.
If you need more assistance in preparing for your interview, contact us any time and we will be glad to help you.
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