NCLEX-RN Path for Filipino Nursing Graduates Applying to Work in the US
By Muntasir • Published Aug 08, 2026 • Updated Sep 27, 2026 • Fields of Study
Filipino nursing graduates need a CGFNS Credentials Evaluation Service report, an NCLEX-RN pass at a Pearson VUE test center, and a CGFNS VisaScreen certificate before a US employer can sponsor an occupational visa. You can sit the NCLEX-RN inside the Philippines instead of traveling to the US.
💵 CGFNS charges $485 for the CES Professional Report that verifies your PRC license and BSN education.
🏠 Pearson VUE runs NCLEX-RN test centers inside the Philippines.
💵 CGFNS charges $740 for the VisaScreen certificate required by US immigration law for an occupational visa.
English test options include IELTS, OET, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, TOEIC, Cambridge, and MET, with minimum scores set per test.
Each US state board of nursing sets its own extra requirements, so pick your state before you start.
What you need before you sit the NCLEX-RN
Hold an active Philippine Registered Nurse license from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a CHED-recognized school. US state boards of nursing require both before they let a foreign-educated nurse register for the NCLEX-RN. Pick a state board to apply through first, since the NCLEX-RN itself does not grant a license. Individual state boards decide eligibility and issue the license once you pass.
Getting your CGFNS Credentials Evaluation Service report
Most US state boards require a Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report from CGFNS International before they approve you to test. The report verifies that your Philippine nursing education and PRC license meet US education standards, course by course. CGFNS charges $485 for the CES Professional Report, according to its official fee schedule at trumerit.org , the organization CGFNS now operates under. Submit your transcripts directly from your nursing school to CGFNS in English, since photocopies from you are not accepted for this step.
Taking the NCLEX-RN exam
Once your chosen state board approves your CES report and application, register for the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE and receive an Authorization to Test. Pearson VUE runs test centers inside the Philippines, so you sit the exam without traveling to the US first. Registration fees are set by Pearson VUE, and testing outside the US carries an added international scheduling fee. Check the current amount on the NCSBN candidate portal before you register, since it changes.
Pass the NCLEX-RN and your state board issues your US registered nurse license. At this stage you work as an RN in that state, but you need a work visa to enter and work legally in the US.
Getting your VisaScreen certificate
US federal immigration law requires a VisaScreen certificate from CGFNS before a nurse receives an occupational visa, such as an employment-based green card sponsored by a hospital. VisaScreen verifies your nursing education, validates your PRC license, confirms your NCLEX-RN pass, and checks your English proficiency. CGFNS charges $740 for the VisaScreen application, per the same official fee schedule.
For English proficiency, CGFNS accepts IELTS, OET, TOEFL iBT, TOEIC, Cambridge English (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency), MET, or Pearson PTE Academic. Minimum passing scores vary by test and change periodically. As of December 1, 2024, the PTE Academic minimum is 63 on speaking and 55 overall, with a minimum 50 on other sections, according to CGFNS's VisaScreen page . Confirm the current cutoff for your chosen test before booking it, since CGFNS updates these figures.
Putting the timeline together
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. CES Professional Report | CGFNS verifies your PRC license and BSN education |
| 2. State board application | A US state board reviews your file and approves NCLEX eligibility |
| 3. NCLEX-RN | Sit the exam at a Pearson VUE center in the Philippines or the US |
| 4. State RN license | Issued once you pass the NCLEX-RN |
| 5. VisaScreen certificate | Required before a US employer files your occupational visa petition |
Run your CES report and English test early, since both apply across state board applications if your first choice does not work out, and CGFNS advises starting VisaScreen well ahead of your target visa filing date because it involves verifying documents directly with your nursing school and the PRC.
Choosing a state board wisely
Some US states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which lets a nurse licensed in one compact state work in other compact states without a separate license. Non-compact states, including California and New York, require their own state-specific license regardless of where you first qualify. Check whether your target employer sits in a compact or non-compact state before you start your CES report, since this affects where you can work later without repeating parts of the process.
Working with a US employer
Most Filipino nurses start this process with a hospital or staffing agency already lined up to sponsor the visa petition. Confirm which state board the employer's facility falls under before you start your CES report, since switching states after your evaluation is complete means redoing parts of the process. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration requires overseas Filipino workers, including nurses, to process through licensed recruitment agencies for jobs abroad, so verify any agency's license before signing a contract.