How To Get a Job in The U.S. as a Foreign-Educated Nurse

You are a registered nurse in your home country. Right? How much do you earn?

I’m sure you don’t want us to hear how much you earn because your net pay might not be something you are proud of.

Well. Let me ask a more comfortable question.

Are you satisfied with the salary offered by your employer in your home country?

Probably not.

If you were, you wouldn’t be here reading this post.

Anyway, it is no secret that nurses in many countries, particularly third-world nations, are underpaid, which drives their aspirations to seek better opportunities in the United States for improved working conditions and financial stability.

If you are seriously looking for a job as a nurse in the USA, that’s the right decision you have ever made.

In the U.S., you can make ten times the amount you earn in your home country. Besides good pay, registered nurses in the U.S. enjoy a wealth of career choices and employment stability unheard of in other careers.

So let no one discourage you from avoiding low salaries in your home country. Go ahead and pursue better remuneration and working conditions in the United States.

But how exactly can I get a job as a nurse in the USA if I’m a foreigner?

Continue reading this post. I will examine how a foreign-educated nurse can work in the U.S.

Is there really a shortage of nurses in the U.S.?

A resounding Yes. For years, experts in the healthcare field have raised concerns about the significant nationwide demand for nurses, highlighting the urgent need to address shortages and ensure adequate staffing levels for optimal patient care.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a yearly demand of 203,200 registered nurses (RNs) until 2031, highlighting the pressing need for an increased nursing workforce.

As stated earlier, United States R.N.s enjoy attractive perks. But why is there a nursing shortage in the country?

Here are the reasons:

1. An aging patient population accounts for much of the growing demand for healthcare services
2. An aging workforce requiring ever-greater levels of care
3. Increase in chronic health issues
4. A nursing educator shortage

Those are a few reasons why nurses are in demand in the country. States most impacted by the nursing shortage, according to the NRSA data, include:

1. Texas, with a projected shortfall of 15,900 nurses by 2030
2. California, with a projected shortfall of 44,500 nurses by 2030
3. New Jersey, with a projected shortfall of 11,400 nurses by 2030
4. Alaska, with a projected shortfall of 5,400 nurses by 2030
5. South Carolina, with a projected shortfall of 10,400 nurses by 2030

Steps of getting a job as a nurse in the U.S. if you are a foreigner

This is the section you were waiting for. If you plan to go to the U.S. to work as a nurse, you must follow U.S. federal immigration law. So, the first thing is to meet federal requirements for immigration. There is no shortcut.

But what are the specific steps you will need to follow?

I’ll show you the steps you will need to follow in your journey to securing a job as a nurse in the U.S. You need to keep in mind that these are not cut-and-paste steps. Some aspects of your immigration journey may differ from this basic outline. Let’s drive in.

Step 1: Meet the basic requirements

You graduated from an accredited nursing education program in your country of education.

You are licensed as a Registered Nurse in another country. You can work in the United States as a registered nurse in your home country. This is one of the basic requirements you must meet before you consider moving to the U.S. to work as a nurse. You should contact the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) to determine their eligibility and qualifications for working in the United States.

You’ve practiced as a Registered Nurse in your home country for at least two years.

Some foreign-educated nurses, especially from countries where English is not a language of instruction, must demonstrate their proficiency with the English language. Exemptions are depending on your country of origin.

Step 2. Pass an English language proficiency test

You must take and pass an approved English language proficiency test. Some allowed English language proficiency tests are IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, and CELPIP. You only take one of them. Remember that any approved English language proficiency test results are sent directly to CGFNS or the state nursing board.

Nurses from selected countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, and New Zealand are exempt from taking English proficiency tests. 

Step 3: Get your nursing credentials evaluated

Your academic and professional credentials must be evaluated before moving to the USA.

America takes patient safety very seriously. So, credential evaluation ensures that the nursing education and qualifications you obtained in your foreign country meet the standards and requirements set by regulatory bodies in the United States.

One of the bodies approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to validate credentials is CGFNS. This body validates credentials for healthcare professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, dentists, physicians, physical therapists, medical laboratory scientists, occupational therapists, radiologic technologists, and speech-language pathologists.

So, you will need to enroll in CGFNS Certification Program. Under this program:

Your credentials will be evaluated, including higher secondary school education, nursing diploma/degree, and nursing registration certificate/license. Usually, document verification will take approximately 30 days after CGFNS receives all required documentation.

You will need to sit and pass the CGFNS Qualifying Exam.

You will show evidence of passing one of the approved English Language Proficiency examinations.

For more information on how to enroll for CGFNS Certification Program, click here

Step 4: Pass a registered nurse license exam

You can’t practice or work in the U.S. as a nurse if you don’t have a nursing license. And to obtain a Registered Nurse license, you must take and pass the NCLEX-RN® exam.

How do you go about it?

First, you must find a U.S. state where you plan to work as a nurse. The next step is to apply to that state’s Board of Nursing to take the NCLEX-RN exam.

You must meet the State Board requirements and prove to the State Board that you are qualified to take the NCLEX-RN exam. One way to prove that you qualify is through the CGFNS Certification Program. If you passed the CGFNS Qualifying Exam, you will be allowed to take the exam.

Check the State Board requirements for each take here.

Step 5: Complete the visa credentials assessment

The U.S. immigration department requires specific healthcare professionals to complete a screening program before they can receive either a temporary or permanent occupational visa.

So, once you complete the CGFNS Certification Program, the next thing is to go through the VisaScreen procedure.

You will have to apply for the VisaScreen procedure through CGFNS. The initial application fee for the screening is $540. Your VisaScreen Certificate will be valid for five years from the date of issuance.

Step 6: Find a Registered Nursing position

Once you meet all the federal immigration requirements, have had your academic and professional credentials evaluated by CGFNS, have met your State Board of Nursing requirements, and have passed the NCLEX-RN exam, you are ready to begin your journey to working in the U.S. as a nurse.

So, the next step is to start looking for a registered nursing job in the state where you took the NCLEX-RN exam. You can directly look for a job through a US-based employer or use a nursing recruitment agency. It is easier to work with an independent staffing agency or recruiter than to work directly with a US-based employer (healthcare facility)

Popular U.S. nursing recruitment agencies include American Traveler, NursesRx, Cross Country Nurses, Aureus Medical Group, Fastaff Travel Nursing, and Medical Solutions.

Be careful when using recruiters because some agencies may charge exorbitant fees, engage in fraudulent practices or misrepresent job opportunities or visa requirements. 

The Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices lists recruiters who use ethical recruiting. Often, a recruiter that meets uses those standards have a Certified Ethical Recruiter seal on its official website. Confirm from your recruiter’s website if they have such a seal.

Step 7: Apply and obtain an R.N. immigrant visa/green card

There are three types of work visas for registered nurses. These include:

1. T.N. Visa: This is a special visa for Mexican and Canadian nurses who want to move to the U.S. to work as registered nurses. To qualify for this visa, you must have a license to be registered as a nurse in either Canada or Mexico, pass the NCLEX and state licensure requirements, and have an offer of employment from a U.S. employer.
2. H-1B Temporary Work Visa: If you hold a four-year nursing degree and fulfill a specialized nursing role, you may qualify for an H-1B temporary work visa. You can apply for a foreign green card once you land in the United States.
3. Permanent Work Visa: This is a permanent work visa for nurses, also known as a green card. You must apply for and obtain this visa before traveling to the United States.

Wrapping up

Embarking on the journey of securing a nursing job in the United States as a foreigner may seem daunting. Still, with careful planning, adherence to immigration laws, and thorough evaluation of your credentials, it is an opportunity filled with immense growth and rewarding experiences.

The U.S. healthcare system welcomes skilled and compassionate nurses like you, offering you a chance to build a prosperous career, contribute to patient care, and expand your professional horizons in a country known for its advancements in healthcare.

Take the leap, embrace the challenge, and unlock the doors to a promising future in nursing in the land of opportunity.