Last Updated on September 6, 2022
The increasing demand for nurses in the United States has been growing at a higher rate than ever before. Several factors contribute to this phenomenon including expanded responsibilities, healthcare reform and most importantly, the aging population.
Therefore this is where the international nursing recruitment agencies in USA come in. These international nursing recruitment agencies in USA hire foreign-trained nurses to mitigate the shortage of nurses in the United States.
There are a lot of international nursing recruitment agencies in the US. Foreign nurses are recruited in two main ways:
- By direct trusts; without any intermediaries
- Through a recruitment agency
For these international nursing recruitment agencies in USA, trusts hire an agency to identify, select and facilitate the process of hiring a nurse for a fee per nurse hired.
Apart from the fees, there are other charges such as charges for accommodation, flights, language lessons, and all other expenses of mentoring and inducting nurses.
Now you can see clearly what roles these international nursing recruitment agencies in USA play. It is not just about the money, recruiting internationally brings extra work for trusts.
This is because in some cases, they need to travel to the source country to provide extra guidance and training, particularly if there are language barriers to overcome.
Table of Contents
What Licenses do you need to work in the United States as a Nurse?
As a foreign-trained nurse, the very first step to obtaining work in the United States is to pass the NCLEX-RN exam in the state where the nurse intends to work.
You must look into the states that are part of the Nursing License Compact(NLC) and provide a multi-state license.
To determine if a nurse from other countries is ready to take and pass the NCLEX-RN examination, the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools(CGFNS) offers a prescreening test, so that the nurse can determine if they need a refresher course or not.
Most of these international nursing recruitment Agencies in USA offer these refresher courses.
About the NCLEX-RN examination
This is the compulsory examination that you must take to be licensed as a Nurse in the United States.
This examination is the real deal because your performance in this examination will determine a lot; whether you will be able to continue your nursing career or not.
It is a difficult examination, but at the same time not impossible.
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How to prepare for the NCLEX-RN examination
The NCLEX-RN exam is a difficult one, no doubt, while you may choose to study on your own and get ready for the exam, there are a lot of companies that have created review courses to help potential nurses prepare for this exam. If you are looking for review courses, here are the options available for you.
Review book:
This option is for individuals who are self-motivated. They can simply buy an NCLEX review book and work on their own.
This review book most likely will contain a lot of practice questions as well as test-taking tips.
Online Classes:
The online classes are very flexible. Here you sign up and take a course online. usually, there will be an online instructor who will guide you in completing the course.
Offline classes:
These classes work like your normal nursing class. Here participants can sign up and physically attend the course. There are instructors in those classes that will help guide you through the NCLEX preparation.
Visa requirements
Non-U.S, citizens are required to have an employer-sponsored visa to work in the United States. These international nursing recruitment agencies in the USA are well-versed in that aspect.
They are well versed in sponsoring visas for foreign-trained nurses and are willing to walk interested international nurses through the process.
However, there is a common route that most foreign nurses take, and that is the procurement of a visa by applying for a permanent work visa. This is known as the green card.
However, there are other types of visas such as the TN visa for Canadian and Mexican nurses, and a temporary H-1B visa for certain nursing specialties in underserved areas.
An international can apply for a VISA after the NCLEX-RN examination is passed.
What are the English Language Proficiency Test requirements?
As an international nurse, depending on the country that you are from, you will need to pass either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
The international nursing recruitment agency in the USA usually assists the nurse in determining which tests to take. The results of such tests are sent directly to the state nursing board.
Nurses originating from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, and New Zealand are exempt from passing an English Language Proficiency Test.
Other requirements
Only nurses who have a four-year nursing degree from an accredited nursing school are eligible for licensure and work in the United States.
Some states require foreign-education nurses to take a Foreign Educated Nurses (FEN) refresher course that consists of classroom and clinical hours.
Foreign-educated nurses must have had at least two years of nursing experience in their home country prior to applying for work in the United States.
Those who are NOT eligible for work in the United States as a registered nurse include:
- Nurses that have less than two years of experience.
- Nurses who do not have a four-year nursing degree.
- Nurses who have committed a crime.
- Nurses who are not sponsored (visa) by a reputable, credentialed nursing staffing agency.
Top International Nursing Recruitment Agencies in USA
Below is the list of the top international nursing recruitment agencies in the USA:
- ADEX Medical Staffing
- Alda Professional Placement Services
- ASMCI USA
- CareerKnacks International Nursing Recruiters
- Cross Country Nurses
- Christine Paris Enterprises USA Inc
- Emerald Health Services
- Comprehensive Medical Staffing
- Global Healthcare Resources
- Global Nursing Recruiters
- GlobeMed Resources
- Guardian Healthcare Providers
- HealthStar International
- International MedLink
- Kennedy Healthcare Recruiting
- MedPro International
- MedPro International
- Medliant
- O’Grady Peyton International
- Onward Healthcare
- Pacific Link Healthcare
- PPR Travel Nursing
- Premier Healthcare Professionals
- Professional Healthcare Resources
- RCM Health Care Services
- Global Nurse Force
- Shearwater Health
- Stateside Nursing International
- Westways Staffing Services
- Wilson Staffing Network
- WorldWide HealthStaff Associates
How to work as a Nurse in the United States
Step 1: Meet the Basic Requirements
As a foreign-educated nurse seeking to work in the United States, make sure you follow U.S. federal immigration law and that you meet the basic educational and/or professional requirements:
Immigration
- In order to legally migrate to the United States, you must meet federal requirements listed in full here.
- You will need to obtain a Registered Nurse Immigrant Visa (“Green Card”) or H-1B visa.
- U.S. law requires nurses to complete a screening program before they can receive an occupational visa.
- CGFNS is approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to validate the credentials of nine foreign healthcare professionals for occupational visas, including registered nurses.
- Completing CGFNS’ VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Service will satisfy the screening program requirement.
- You will need a “U.S.-based employer” that will serve as the petitioner for your visa. Your VisaScreen® certificate must be included on every visa or green card petition filed on your behalf.
Educational / Professional
- In order to seek work as a foreign-educated nurse, you must demonstrate at least some of the following:
- You graduated from an accredited nursing education program in your country of education
- You are licensed as a Registered Nurse in another country
- You’ve practiced as a Registered Nurse for at least two years before.
- Some foreign-educated nurses must demonstrate their proficiency with the English language by taking an exam such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). There are exemptions depending on your country of origin.
Step 2: CGFNS Evaluates your Credentials
State Boards of Nursing require that you first apply to CGFNS International, Inc. to have your academic and professional credentials evaluated to ensure that your documents are authentic and that what you’ve learned is comparable to U.S. nursing standards.
You may also be required to take the CGFNS Qualifying Exam® to satisfy State Board requirements, to satisfy immigration requirements for obtaining an occupational visa, and to determine your readiness for a licensure exam.
Step 3: Pass a Licensure Exam
In order to practice nursing in the United States, you will need to have a professional license from the state where you plan to work. Registered Nurse licenses are regulated by State Boards of Nursing with varying requirements.
You will likely need to pass a licensure exam to be registered as a nurse by your state board. Before taking the licensure exam, first-level, general nurses educated outside the U.S. may choose to apply to the CGFNS Certification Program®, which consists of:
- a credentials evaluation
- the CGFNS Qualifying Exam®, and
- an English language proficiency component.
The CGFNS Qualifying Exam® is a requirement by some state boards before you can sit for the NCLEX-RN, but it serves as an excellent predictor of how any nurse will do on that exam. Taking the Qualifying Exam may help gauge your readiness before committing to the licensure exam.
The Qualifying Exam also fulfills the U.S. federal government’s screening requirement for an occupational visa.
Step 4: Find a Registered Nursing Position
After you meet all federal immigration requirements, have had your credentials evaluated by CGFNS, meet your State Board of Nursing requirements, and have passed a licensure exam, you are ready to begin working as a registered nurse in the United States!
While it’s not required, you may choose to work with a nursing recruiter to help you find a registered nurse job. These recruiters can also act as your “U.S.-based employer” for your immigrant visa.
Check to see if your recruiter uses ethical recruiting standards by looking for the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices Certified Ethical Recruiter seal on their website.
Is NCLEX hard to pass?
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, in 2017, the first-attempt NCLEX pass rate for U.S.-educated nursing students was 87%.
The second-attempt pass rate for domestically-educated students taking the test was 45.56%. These results demonstrate that it is a pretty difficult test.
How many times can you take NCLEX?
Are You Limited to Retake the NCLEX-RN Exam? If you happen not to pass the exam, you can retake it after 45 days. And if you are wondering how often you can take the NCLEX, the NCSBN retake policy allows for a retake eight times a year, ensuring 45 exam-free days between each test.