2009 News
19 NOVEMBER 2009
U.S. Department of Homeland Security reauthorizes CGFNS
to certify foreign-born health care workers
CGFNS is the only organization to screen all seven covered health occupations to help ensure quality of health care and access to health workers
CGFNS International and its division, the International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP), were reauthorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to certify health care workers born outside the United States in seven occupations covered under section 212(a)(5)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The approval is valid for five years beginning 19 November 2009 and comprises a visa credentials assessment certification for registered and licensed vocational nurses, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, medical technologists, medical technicians, occupational therapists and physicians assistants seeking employment in the United States. This certification process was established by Congress in 1996 and is required for all non-citizens in those occupations.
CGFNS was notified of the reauthorization on 9 November 2009. CGFNS was initially granted a five-year authorization in November 2004 as a certification organization by the Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services. Prior to that, CGFNS operated under the authority of interim rules previously issued by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service’s Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.
“CGFNS is pleased with the U.S. Government’s five-year reauthorization to allow us to provide a certification service for health care workers seeking U.S. employment. Its recognition of our more than 30 years’ experience certifying the credentials of health care workers born outside the United States is gratifying. No other organization in the country is authorized to certify health care professionals from all seven occupations,” said Barbara L. Nichols, Chief Executive Officer of CGFNS International. “In the past 12 years, we have issued 90,000 International Commission on Healthcare Professions VisaScreen® certificates to foreign-born health care professionals seeking to work in the United States.”
The International Commission on Healthcare Professions VisaScreen®certificate is issued after a complete evaluation of a professional’s credentials to verify that they meet the minimum statutory requirements.
The International Commission on Healthcare Professions administers this screening process. The certificate must be presented to:
The VisaScreen® program is comprised of three parts:
The VisaScreen® certificate is valid for five years and must be renewed if the person has not been awarded permanent status.
