Friday, October 21, 2011

Steps for International Nurses to Practice in the U.S.

Are you preparing for nursing practice in the United States?  NCSBN can help guide you through everything required to make this important step into your future.

First…find your Board of Nursing

Each state in the U.S. is responsible for the licensure of nurses within their state. Variations exist among the states. So you’ll want to determine the requirements of the state in which you hope to practice. The best place to start is to visit that state’s board of nursing website for information regarding state requirements.

Second…study NCSBN Resources for International Nurses

Now you’re ready to explore all the logistics of establishing a nursing career in the United States. NCSBN has developed a free online manual that covers everything from having your credentials evaluated to making it through immigration, from getting certified for English Proficiency to obtaining a social security number.
NCSBN Learning Extension offers a course geared toward international nurses who are preparing to practice in the U.S. The Acclimation of International Nurses into U.S. Nursing Practice online course will help with orientating both professionally on a U.S. health care team and personally into U.S. culture.

Third…think about your NCLEX

You may want to consider taking the NCLEX before you immigrate to the United States. Once you’ve arrived, that will be one less thing to think about. The NCLEX now is administered by Pearson VUE at over 220 Pearson Professional Centers located in the U.S., and in 18 international locations.
Note that international testing does not change the requirements of states or remove any of the other steps needed to practice in the U.S. You will still need to apply to a U.S. board of nursing to receive clearance to take your examination.
For help locating international testing centers and more about applying for the NCLEX, see the NCLEX Candidate Bulletin and NCLEX International Candidates FAQs.
Ready to get started? Let these resources to guide you through the process of establishing your new nursing career in the United States:

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