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In 1993, CGFNS developed its
Credential Evaluation Service (CES). The CES is an objective evaluation and reporting
service that analyzes the education and licensure earned outside of the United States in
terms of comparability to U.S. standards and expectations. This objective evaluation
carefully assesses documents received from source agencies, verifying and appraising an
applicant's educational and registration/licensure credentials.
The resulting CES report serves as a valuable tool for regulatory/licensing agencies,
specialty certification authorities, academic institutions, immigration attorneys,
prospective employers and others. It also helps qualified applicants demonstrate the
merits of their credentials with regard to U.S. standards, facilitating their pursuit of
educational or career opportunities in the United States.
The Credentials Evaluation Service analyzes the credentials of multiple types and levels
of healthcare professionals educated outside the United States, or with an international
educational background, who wish to pursue a healthcare professional degree in the United
States. Unlike the Credentials Review service of the Certification Program, which
evaluated an applicant's eligibility for the CGFNS Qualifying Exam and TOEFL, the CES is
designed to provide factual information to assist CES report recipients in their
decision-making. A CES report is advisory in nature and does not make specific placement
recommendations.
Report Users
CES reports are highly beneficial to regulatory agencies (such as a U.S. State Board of
Nursing) prior to licensure; by governmental agencies prior to immigration; by schools to
assist in the admission or placement of a student working towards higher education; or by
employers to evaluate a candidate's preparation. These CES report recipients
(regulatory/licensing agencies, specialty certification authorities, academic
institutions, immigration attorneys, prospective employers and others) determine the level
of report needed by the applicants. The CES is useful for any internationally-educated
healthcare professional, regardless of where the individual was educated or
licensed/registered outside the United States. The fees for the CES are reasonable and are
generally borne by the applicant.
Meeting Diverse Needs
The CES report, customized to meet specific informational requirements, provides the right
set of details to enable accurate decision-making. Tailoring the report also helps contain
its cost, generally paid by the applicant. The report includes copies of original
transcripts from source institutions and validations of registration/licensure from the
issuing authorities.
Type of CES Reports
The service offers three levels of reports from which to choose. The differences among the
reports are related to the amount of analysis undertaken. The decision of which report to
select is generally made by the recipient of the report, i.e., a university admissions
office, U.S. State Board of Nursing, hospital, etc.
General Report
Information includes entrance requirements and dates of attendance for completed academic
programs, the scope of practice for attained registration/licensure credentials and
comparisons with U.S. educational and registration/licensure credentials.
Healthcare Profession and Science Course-by-Course Report
Information includes all of the data in the General Report and a course-by-course analysis
of all profession-specific and science coursework. This report also includes information
about other pathways to the same educational/licensure credentials, where appropriate.
Full Education Course-by-Course Report
Information includes all of the data in the other two levels of reporting and a
course-by-course analysis of all coursework in an applicant's healthcare/post secondary
education. Reports prepared for academic institutions also include a conversion of credit
hours.
Unique Features of the CES Report
Each report incorporates a careful analysis of each credential in the applicant's
non-healthcare and professional education. This may include:
 Secondary and
post-secondary educational infor
mation, to ensure
that the applicant meets all applicable statutory
and regulatory requirements for either academic admission
or
professional practice;
Dates of
attendance for each completed educational program;
Information on
the grading scales used (when applicable);
Comprehensive
professional license/registration information, to
confirm that the applicant has met all practice
requirements;
Verification of
the credential source; and
Bibliographical
and reference citations.
The report also includes country-specific background information on schools and
universities the applicant has attended and details on the language of academic
instruction and textbooks. The service identifies, analyzes and explains each credential,
ultimately presenting it in terms of its comparability to U.S. standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) do?
The Credentials Evaluation Service evaluates the comparability of an international
education and preparation to U.S. standards. The CES provides detailed reports for
regulatory bodies, educational programs and employers. Three levels of report are
available: General Report, Healthcare Profession and Science Course-by-Course Report and
Full Education Course-by-Course Report.
Why do I need to have a CES report?
Many state nursing boards require a CES report and usually a specific level of the report.
Call the state board of the state you are interested in to find out which level you will
need. Also, academic institutions, specialty certification authorities, immigration
attorneys and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), as well as recruiters
and employers all may require a CES report.
Can I have a CES report done for me personally?
No. CGFNS requires you to have an official recipient for the report, but you will receive
a copy.
What are the requirements for the Credentials Evaluation Service?
1. Complete the CES application form, including the enclosed forms that you will send to
your school(s) and/or licensing authority(ies).
2. Your school(s) and/or licensing authority(ies) will send information directly to CGFNS.
3. Enclose the application fees (dependent on the services requested) in U.S. dollars,
drawn on a U.S bank. Send an international money order or certified bank check payable to
"CGFNS" or pay with one of the following credit cards: Visa, Mastercard or
Discover/Novus.
It's very difficult for me to obtain documents from my country. Is it possible for me to
send a copy of my transcripts or licenses to your office?
No. CGFNS needs to have the applicant's school(s) and/or licensing authority(ies) send the
information directly in order to verify accuracy.
Do I need to have validations for all licenses I have held to complete my
Credentials Evaluation Service application?
CGFNS requires all CES applicants to provide validations of their initial and current
licenses, sent to CGFNS directly from the issuing authority(ies).
Can I provide a photocopy of my license instead of a validation?
No. CGFNS requires that official validations of licenses must be completed and sent
directly from the issuing authorities.
What are the differences between the CES report and the CGFNS Certification
Program?
The CES report summarizes an applicant's credentials. It does not include a pass/fail
eligibility review or an examination as in the Certification Program. The CES evaluates
the educational/professional credentials of multiple types and levels of healthcare
professionals, while the Certification Program accommodates ONLY first-level, general
(registered) nurses. A critical difference is that the CGFNS Certification Program
indicates one's likelihood of passing the National Council Licensure Examination for
Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RNŽ examination). The CES can be utilized by multiple,
foreign-educated healthcare professionals.
Who typically requests and uses CES reports?
By request of the recipient, the applicant (foreign-educated healthcare professional)
orders the report and indicates as many as two recipients for the initial application fee.
Recipients commonly include: U.S. boards of healthcare professions, academic institutions,
specialty certification authorities, immigration attorneys, the U.S. Immigration and
Naturalization Service (INS), recruiters and employers. The applicant will also receive a
copy of the completed report.
Who pays for the report?
The applicant typically pays for the report. Recipients who will review the report
generally decide the level of reporting required.
How long does it take to obtain a report?
After CGFNS has received all required documentation and fees, it generally takes three to
five weeks to prepare and furnish a completed report. Several rush-service options can
expedite the evaluation process.
What type of information does a CES report contain?
All CES reports contain an analysis of non-healthcare and professional education,
country-specific background information about schools attended by the applicant, complete
dates of attendance, grading scales, validations of registration/license information
received directly from source authorities, credential source verification and
bibliographical references. All information is presented in terms of U.S. standards.
Who provides the documentation included in the evaluation?
CGFNS only evaluates academic records and validations of registration/license submitted
from the issuing authority or, in the event that the institution no longer exists, the
organization authorized to hold transcripts or registrations/licenses on its behalf. The
applicant may submit additional documentation, but CGFNS will request and include official
documentation received from issuing authorities to address particular concerns.
Does CES make a recommendation regarding the applicant's candidacy for academic
admission, licensure or employment?
CES reports are advisory in nature. They provide factual information and interpretation
about educational preparation and registration/licensure to assist decision-making. They
do not make specific recommendations.
Who is available to answer any questions about the reports?
All reports include appropriate contact information and direct telephone, fax and email
contacts for an expert in the credentials evaluation department available to answer all
questions and concerns.
I already applied for or have been certified by the CGFNS Certification Program.
Must I submit any other documentation for the Credentials Evaluation Service?
Perhaps. The documentation required for the Certification Program differs from that
required by the Credentials Evaluation Service. It will be necessary for you to request a
full academic transcript from your foreign school listing each course you completed during
your professional training, since the Certification Program does not require a full
transcript and one may not have been provided by the school.
How do I know which documents to submit for evaluation?
Always check with your report recipients to verify the specific credentials they wish to
see in the report. Once you have confirmed their requirements, submit photocopies of all
appropriate documentation. Remember that CGFNS only accepts academic transcripts and
registration/license validations directly from the issuing authorities.
How do I know that I have submitted the appropriate documents for evaluation?
Each time CGFNS receives a piece of information, it will review your file and contact you
to verify its receipt and the need for any outstanding documentation.
Must I submit my original documents for review?
Yes and no. CGFNS accepts clear and legible photocopies of secondary school documents for
evaluation. However, CGFNS will only accept original verification from issuing agencies.
All validations of registrations/licenses and academic transcripts must come directly from
the issuing authorities to CGFNS. In addition, since CGFNS verifies credential
authenticity, CGFNS maintains the right to validate any documentation with the source
agency.
What if I no longer have my original documents and cannot provide a photocopy?
If you no longer have your original diploma or other documents you must contact the
authority that issued your credential and request that they submit an official letter by
mail or courier directly to CGFNS verifying your records and results. CGFNS accepts
external examination results only if provided by the examination board.
What do I do if my educational institution has closed?
CGFNS only accepts certain documentation from source agencies (such as transcripts and
validations of registration/ licensure). If your school has closed or no longer operates,
you will need to contact the organization or agency authorized to hold documentation for
that institution (such as a ministry of health or the national, provincial or state
licensing authority in your country of education).
Can I fax or email copies of my credentials to CGFNS for evaluation?
CGFNS only accepts documents submitted by mail and courier, but you may fax or email any
questions or concerns regarding the progress of your evaluation.
Once I submit documents for review, can they be returned to me?
Once documentation is received, it becomes the property of CGFNS. Make sure you do not
submit original documents to CGFNS.
What if my documents are not in English?
A certified word-for-word English translation, signed with a certification of authenticity
by the translator, must accompany any credentials not in English. If you cannot furnish a
translation of your documents, CGFNS can provide an official translation of each document
at an additional fee. CGFNS will accept translations of documents submitted by source
agencies (such as transcripts and validations) only from the issuing authorities.
Otherwise, CGFNS will translate documents for the appropriate fee.
Do I receive a copy of the completed CES report?
Yes. You will receive a copy of the official CES report so you can see exactly what has
been submitted to your report recipient.
If I need to send a copy of my CES report to another recipient at a later date,
must I go through the entire process again?
No, but since other recipients may require different information, be sure to verify that
the report on file contains all the necessary information. CGFNS can update any existing
report to include supplementary information for an additional fee. |
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