Licensure Information for Foreign Educated Applicants

1) If you were educated in a foreign country and are applying for exam, you are required to have your nursing education evaluated by one of the approved agencies listed below. Contact the agency of your choice and request the Full Education Course by Course Report. An original copy of the report must be sent to the Board of Nursing directly from the agency. You are responsible for all fees the agency charges for these services. After your application for licensure is processed and has been deemed complete, the Board of Nursing will review your educational evaluation and contact you with the status of your application in writing. Please ensure that your mailing address is up to date throughout the application process.

• Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc.
  601 University Avenue, Suite 127
  Sacramento, CA USA 95825-6738
  Phone: (916) 921-0790  or  866-411-3737/866-411-ERES (Toll Free)
  FAX:   (916) 921-0793
  E-mail: edu@eres.com  
  Web:  www.eres.com
• International Education Research Foundation, Inc.
  Post Office Box 3665
  Culver City, CA USA 90231-3665
  Phone: (310) 258-9451
  Fax: (310) 342-7086
  Email: information@ierf.org
  Web:www.ierf.org
• Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
  7101 SW 102 Avenue
  Miami, FL 33173
  Phone:  (305) 273-1616
  FAX: (305) 273-1984
  Email: info@silny.com
  Web: www.jsilny.com
• Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools
  3600 Market Street, Suite 400
  Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 USA
  Applicant Inquiries: (215) 349-8767
  Customer Service Facsimile: (215) 662-0425
  Automated Phone System (to check status): (215) 599-6200
  Web: www.cgfns.org
  E-mail: info@cgfns.org

NOTE: The report may take several months to complete and there is a fee for these services.

2) You must also submit an application to the Florida Board of Nursing.  The Florida Board of Nursing requires an application and fee of $204.00. The application and fee is to be sent to the Florida Board of Nursing.

3) The application, instructions, supplemental forms, rules, etc. for Florida licensure can be printed from this web site: www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing   This site is also a good resource for any questions you have. 

4) Foreign educated nurses will be required to take the NCLEX exam for nursing licensure.  This exam is administered by the NCS Pearson Group.  A separate fee of $200.00 is required by the Pearson Group to register for the examination. This fee is to be sent to NCS Pearson along with your registration information.  The Pearson website is at http://www.pearsonvue.com/nclex/.

5)Before a license can be issued, the licensee must have a social security number (SSN). The SSN is not required to complete the application process and take the NCLEX exam.

6) Proof of English competency is also a requirement. If you took your nursing coursework in English and used English textbooks, then you do not need to show English language competency. Per Rule 64B9-3.002 (1) (e) F.A.C. one of the following requirements for English Competency must be demonstrated through one of the following:

7) Successful completion of any one of the acceptable English competency examinations:

• A minimum score of 540 (207 on computerized version and 76 on the Internet based version) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Examination
• A minimum score of 79% on the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)
• A minimum MELAB converted score of 79% on the Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) Examination
  
• A minimum score of 725 on Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
• A minimum score of 6.5 overall with a 7.0 on the spoken portion on the academic version of International English Language Testing System (IELTS);
  
• Completion of a nursing program given in English in another country;
• A passing score on a nursing licensing examination which is given in English;
• Completion of a college level course for academic credit in a U.S. institution
• Applicants educated in the following countries will not be required to provide any further proof of English competency when applying for the examination.

NOTE: These are the only acceptable proof of ability to communicate in English.

To apply by exam please follow this link http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Mqa/nursing/nur_lic_reqExam.html.