Are you educated as a nurse in your home country but considering coming to the United States to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree?
Prospective students from across the globe have many opportunities to pursue bachelor's degrees as well as advanced nursing degrees at American universities.
Since many options exist for foreign students to become nurses in the U.S., in this article, we focus on RN-to-BSN bridge programs that may accept your foreign nursing school credits, credentials, and experience and then allow you to build upon them to earn a BSN degree at an American institution.
Earning an RN to BSN Credential in the U.S.
In the U.S., nursing school graduates qualify to become registered nurses (RNs) by taking a state licensing exam, the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), either after earning a two-year associate degree in nursing (AND) or a four-year BSN degree.
Graduates with either degree are currently qualified to take the NCLEX licensing exam.
However, just as the move to a baccalaureate degree as an entry-level requirement into the nursing profession is becoming a standard in many countries worldwide, the U.S. healthcare industry is increasingly requiring four-year bachelor's degrees for nurses in this country as well.
Qualifying as an RN with International Nursing Credentials
For international nurses, the United States is home to the world's largest nursing credentials evaluation organization, the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) International. Its mission is to verify and promote the competencies of healthcare professionals at a global level.
Each state's Board of Nursing requires that you first apply to CGFNS International, where they will evaluate your academic and professional credentials to authenticate your documents and compare them to U.S. nursing standards.
You may need to take the CGFNS Qualifying Exam to satisfy state Board of Nursing requirements, to determine your readiness for an NCLEX licensure exam, or to satisfy immigration requirements for obtaining an occupational visa.
Considerations for International Students in U.S. RN-to-BSN Programs
Just as American nurses applying to an RN-to-BSN program need to hold a valid RN license, in most cases, international students applying to an RN-to-BSN program must hold an active, unencumbered RN license to practice in the United States.
An alternative would be to submit a Credentials Evaluation Service Report from CGFNS International demonstrating an equivalency.
Keep reading to discover some considerations you will face as a foreign student at some of the leading university nursing programs in the United States.
Visa considerations
Since U.S. federal regulations limit international applicants who possess a student visa to three hours of distance learning (i.e., online) courses per semester, choosing a program that your visa allows is essential.
Students on F-1 and J-1 student visas will not be able to participate in RN-to-BSN programs that are mostly online, but they are eligible to enroll in RN-to-BSN programs that are taught face-to-face.
English Proficiency
If your native language is not English, you'll likely need to submit proof of English proficiency. This evidence may include a high Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL0 score within the past two years.
Some academic institutions also accept International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Duolingo English Test (DET) results.
A minimum TOEFL (or IELTS or DET) score taken within the previous two years or completion of four years of high school or four years of university study in the U.S. at an accredited institution may be acceptable.
An official copy of your test scores or other documentation should come directly from the testing agency to be valid.
Foreign Transcripts
In addition to each U.S. nursing program's application requirements, you will need to submit a native language transcript along with an official English translation of your transcript.
You'll also need a course-by-course transcript evaluation of your foreign educational experience from an evaluation agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
Some of these agencies are:
- CGFNS International
- International Education Research
- World Education Services, Inc.
- Educational Credential Evaluators
The evaluation agency will need to send these reports, which should indicate equivalencies to U.S. grade points and semester credits earned, directly to the nursing programs you are applying for in sealed envelopes.
Each university that accepts you will determine which courses you've taken in your home country will qualify for transfer credit.
Pre-requisite Coursework
If your previous academic study in your home country did not include coursework (or if such coursework did not transfer) in particular subjects required by the American nursing school, you may need to enroll in some additional re-req courses.
These pre-requisite courses are required of American nursing students as well.
They may include topics such as:
- human anatomy
- human physiology
- microbiology
- chemistry (general, inorganic, or integrated)
- statistics
- written communication
- oral communication
Other Requirements
As an international student, your American university will expect you to present a declaration of finances, F-1 travel documents, and other immigration materials such as a Permanent Resident Card, if applicable.
If you do not already have a valid RN license from passing the NCLEX in a U.S. state, check with the university to which you're applying to find out if possessing an RN is a pre-requisite for admissions, or if you may take the exam and earn the NCLEX before graduating.
Transfer Your Nursing Credentials to the U.S. System
Foreign-educated and credentialed nurses are certainly able to apply to obtain the equivalent U.S. credentials, based on their documentation.
These credentials can allow you to become employed as a nurse in the United States or to enroll in an RN-to-BSN nursing school program at an American college or university. Although many steps are involved in the process, in the end, the outcome will make the effort worthwhile.
