Update! Febrary 9, 2007 - NCSBN SELECTS THE PHILIPPINES AS AN INTERNATIONAL TESTING SITE FOR
NCLEX® EXAMINATIONS - Click here for more
Update! March 2, 2007 - AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION URGES NEW TESTS FOR PHILIPPINE NURSES SEEKING TO PRACTICE IN THE U.S.- Click here for more (.pdf file)
Update! March 5, 2007 Philadelphia - The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS International) Board of Trustees President Dr. Lucille Joel, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Barbara Nichols, and counsel to CGFNS John Ratigan met in extended discussion with the Philippine Task Force organized by Congressman Monico Puentevella on March 5 at CGFNS headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. - Click here for more
Update! March 22, 2007 Lansing, MI - House of Representatives - Health Policy Committee approved a hearing on removal of CGFNS exam prior to taking the NCLEX®. Remy Solarte of PNAM along with Jeanette Klemczak, Chief Nurse Executive of Michigan testified the need to remove CGFNS during the hearing of House Bill 4207 sponsored by representative Hopgood. As of March 30th, 2007, the Michigan House of Representatives approved House Bill 4207, passed 107-0. We are now waiting for the Senate.
Breaking News ! June 14, 2007 Lansing, MI - Governor Jennifer Granholm signed into law House Bill 4207 removing the CGFNS Qualifying Examination in the State of Michigan. Pictures
CGFNS Task Force Members (Phil Mangahas not in photo)
On September 20, 2006 House Bill No. 6557 was introduced by Reps. Hopgood, Vagnozzi, Lathleen Law, Meisner, Donigan, Alma Smith, Tobocman and Condino and referred to the Committee on Health Policy. This is a bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled “Public Health Code,” by amending section 17211. This pertains to the requirements for the practice of nursing as a Registered Professional Nurse or a Licensed Practical Nurse who is a graduate of a nurse education program that is located outside of the United States.
According to Michigan Chief Nurse Executive Jeanette Klemczak, it is highly unlikely that this legislation will get through the lame duck session. The understanding is that it will be quickly re-introduced in the new legislative session of 2007.
The PNAM Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) Task Force presented to the Michigan Board of Nursing the proposal to remove the CGFNS Qualifying Examination on March 9, 2006 where it was unanimously approved. Since then, the PNAM had been working closely with the Board of Nursing, the Chief Nurse Executive Office, the Coalition of Michigan Organizations of Nursing (COMON), and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Asian Pacific American Affairs (ACAPAA).
There are two routes to achieve the goal of removing the CGFNS Qualifying Examination as a requirement to practice nursing in the State of Michigan. The first is through the Rule’s Change to be initiated by the Board of Nursing. According to Michigan Board of Nursing Chairperson Linda Taft, this will require Public Hearings. The second route is to go through legislature which is a quicker and a more efficient way.
As of May 1, 2006 fees for the CGFNS Certification Program have changed as follows:
• New Applicant – CGFNS Qualifying Exam, Credentials Review $368.00
• Re-applicant (failed to pass Qualifying Exam after being rostered during the first year of
application) $308.00
• Second year re-applicant (service incomplete, not rostered for Qualifying Exam during first year of application) $98.00
• Rescoring Service $75.00
• Verification of Certificate Letter $75.00
• Replacement Certificate $100.00
The PNAM has done a wonderful job in initiating the process. The CGFNS Task Force was formed in September 2005 and it has enhanced the concerted efforts of several groups in supporting this initiative.
CGFNS Update
Visa Screen Eligibility |
Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS International) Statement Regarding VisaScreen® Eligibility of Philippine Nurses Who Took The Professional Regulation Commission’s (PRC’s) June 2006 Nursing Licensing Examination |
PHILADELPHIA, PA — OCTOBER 26, 2006 — The Board of Trustees of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS International) met October 22-23, 2006 and considered whether Philippine
nurses who have passed the Professional Regulation Commission’s (PRC) June 2006 nursing licensing exam are eligible for VisaScreen® Certification.
The Board directed its staff and counsel to review and assess whether the licensure process followed in light of the challenged results of the June 2006 exam is “comparable” with that required for nurses licensed in America, as required by U.S. law. CGFNS will then make a final determination of whether passers of the June 2006 exam are eligible for VisaScreen® certification. CGFNS expects to reach a final decision on the question of comparability in the near future.
Any VisaScreen® applications that CGFNS receives from June 2006 passers will be accepted but deferred for a final decision until this assessment process is complete. If the assessment concludes that the license is not comparable, the VisaScreen® application from a June 2006 passer will be denied (CGFNS, 2006 News).
The PRC has admitted that there was a leakage of test questions in the June 2006 Nurses Licensure Examination and blamed two members of the Board of Nursing for the leaked questions.
In this regard, the Philippine Nurses Association of America came up with a Position Statement regarding the RN Licensing Examination Issues. The Position Statement carried a very strong message “that the PRC continue with measures aimed at uncovering the truth, establishing culpability, justly penalizing the offenders and instituting appropriate measures to ensure integrity of the licensing examination and results.”
By Remedios A. Solarte, MSN, RN, NP
Click on a picture to enlarge
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