CGFNS Announces New Pricing for its Certification Program, Credentials Evaluation Service, VisaScreen^® Program, and Ancillary Services

The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS International) has announced a new pricing structure for three of its core services and several ancillary services. Applications for the Certification Program, Credentials Evaluation Service, International Commission on Healthcare Professions VisaScreen^® certificate and ancillary services received on May 1, 2006 and thereafter will be the charged according to the new fee structure. Effective May 1, 2006, the following fees will be charged for the respective services...

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2006-2007 CGFNS Qualifying Exam^SM Dates

The application deadline is approaching for internationally educated registered nurses who wish to take the July 12 CGFNS Qualifying Exam^SM of nursing knowledge, required for licensure in the majority of U.S. states. The application deadline for the July 12th exam is April 12, 2006 for initial application and May 10 for reapplications.

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CGFNS Also Announces Policy Changes for Length of Time Applications May Remain Open, Time Limit for Receipt of Payment, and Refunds

Effective May 1, 2006, applicants applying for the CGFNS Certification Program, Credentials Evaluation Service and VisaScreen^® will be given 12 months to meet the requirements of each program. Orders for these three services that have not resulted in the rostering of an applicant to take the CGFNS Qualifying Exam^SM for the Certification Program, that have not resulted in the issuing of a Credentials Evaluation Service report, or that have not resulted in the issuing of an International Commission on Healthcare Professions VisaScreen^® certificate within 12 months of the application date will be closed.

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Preparing for the CGFNS Qualifying Exam^SM and the NCLEX-RN^® Examination?

CGFNS is Closing Out How To Study and How To Take Tests

How to Study: Preparing for the CGFNS Qualifying Exam^SM and the NCLEX-RN^® Examination will help you get into the right frame of mind to pass the exams. The book helps you: develop a study plan, identify your short-term and long-term goals, choose study techniques that will work for you, and determine when you should study alone and when you study with a group.

How to Take Tests: Strategies for the CGFNS Qualifying Exam^SM and the NCLEX-RN^® Examination will help you learn how to analyze test questions and to recognize clues within the questions themselves that lead to the correct answers. Following the lessons are 50 sample test question from a past CGFNS Qualifying Exam.

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Four New Supplements to the Official CGFNS Study Guide Now Available for Purchase

The Official Study Guide for the CGFNS Qualifying Exam^SM is currently in its 5th edition of printing. Certification Program applicants receive the Study Guide FREE with their initial application and payment of fees.

Applicants have told CGFNS they want additional study materials with more in-depth focus on each of the four major areas of nursing in the United States.

CGFNS is pleased to announce that four additional mini guides or supplements to the Official Study Guide are now available for purchase.

The publications: Adult Health Nursing, Maternal/Infant Nursing, Nursing of Children, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, can be purchased for the price of $20 each or $60 for the set of four.

Order forms for the new mini study guides are available under the Store section of the CGFNS Web site:

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2006 CGFNS/ICHP Program Handbooks and Applications Now Available

The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and its division, the International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP) has updated its program handbooks and applications for 2006. Be sure to use the 2006 versions for all new applications going forward.

Along with other timely updates, applicants will notice that the applications are now part of the handbook for each service.

To download these new applications click here.

CGFNS Will Process English Scores from TOEFL IBT for its Certification and VisaScreen^® Programs

The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) has begun accepting TOEFL iBT English scores on behalf of those applicants who are taking the new internet Based Testing English exam. CGFNS will continue to accept the previous TOEFL,TWE and TSE scores if they are less than 2 years old.

As of November 21, 2005, the following Total and Speaking section scores will be utilized as acceptable minimum passing scores for TOEFL iBT:

• Registered Nurses, Clinical Laboratory Scientists, (Medical Technologists) Speech Language Pathologists, Audiologists and Physician Assistants: Total 83 and Speaking 26
• Clinical Laboratory Technicians, (Medical Technicians) and Practical/Vocational Nurses, (LPN/LVN): Total 79 and Speaking 26
• Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists: Total 89 and Speaking 26

These scores are subject to change when a final decision or announcement is published by the Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the approval of minimum passing TOEFL iBT scores for the designated health care professions.

For Registered Nurses active in the CGFNS Certification Program, only a passing Total score is required.

About TOEFL iBT:
Educational Testing Service (ETS) has developed this new internet based version of the TOEFL, (TOEFL iBT) which will measure all four skills of communication: reading, writing, listening, and for the first time speaking. A new scoring scale has been established that will contain one total score on a scale of 0-120 and four skill scores each on a scale of 0-30.

For a list of where the TOEFL iBT is being administered, visit the learners and test takers section of the TOEFL Web site at http://www.ets.org/toefl/.

Application Status Available 24 Hours Online

In order to remain fully informed of the application process, applicants are encouraged to check their status online. Using the CGFNS/ICHP identification number, applicants can check the status of their applications, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, online at www.cgfns.org. Once on the Web site, click the Check your status link. You will then be prompted to enter your user name and password. Applicants may also use our Automated Phone System to check their status. The Automated Phone System, phone number, 215.599.6200, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Applicants will need their CGFNS/ICHP phone number and birth date to access the Automated Phone System.