BRIAN

Thanks for your quick reply, Joan. I have a follow-up question regarding obtaining an SSN (Social Security Number). What are ways to have one? I need to have it because I want to be duly registered as RN in California after passing my NCLEX. Do you think it is possible at this time of retrogression in the US particularly in California to obtain one?

The only way you can obtain a SSN is if you are a legal resident in the US. Once you are a legal resident there, you are automatically given a SSN. It would be best to talk to immigration lawyers/ experts to explore your options about this matter as it involves laws and policies in which are more of their expertise. But I think that as long as there is retrogression it would be harder for Filipino nurses to be able to work in the US.

JAJA

good evening ms. joan, i took nclex last nov 2008 but i failed CA state.. clarification lang po.. kelangan ko mag take ng exam within 2 years from the date of my last examination? kung hindi ako magtatake, my application will be considered abondoned and my file will be destroyed.. ibig sabihin kapag sa nov. 2010 hindi pa ko nakakapag exam ulet, magpapasa ulet ako ng fingerprint, school credentials etc. just like applying for the first time? tama po ba? hope to hear from you ms. joan.. tnx in advance..

I am sorry to hear the news. You can actually take the exam 45 days from the last time you took the examination and yes most probably you are given a certain period to retake or else your file will be abandoned from CA BON so you would have to reapply again providing them with the necessary documents.

ms. joan, continuation of my query.. kapag ba magrereapply.. ung first page lang ng form and $75 bank draft ang isusubmit ko? wala na po bang ibang requirements like photocopy of prc licence, diploma? tnx!!!

Yes you would just need to submit your reapplication form plus the fee. If you need help on NCLEX-RN review materials maybe you could read my article regarding such on the link provided. Hope that could help you with your review. I know you can do it this time around, just take time to analyze and see what went wrong during the exam. Let me know if I can help you with anything else.

hi, i know u could help me with my delema, i am a license nurse in the phil for more than 10yrs na, unfortunately nkapagtrabaho lang aq ng 4 years qs a nurse coz i gave birth to my son, after that i was able to work in different field different from my proffession, my question is that i am now an immigrant here in chicago, i wanted to take the NCLEX am i still qualified kc parang iba na ang curiculum nla ngaun, thou im still holding a valid license in the phil. what document/paper shoul i prepare to submit for CES. thank u very much.

The Illinois BON and the CGFNS will be the one to determine if your curriculum in which you obtained your nursing degree is at par with their standards so I really cannot answer that question directly. As for your CES, you would need to download the forms at the CGFNS website. There are forms there that needs to be submitted to the school where you took up Nursing and as well as in PRC. Both of those agencies will then provide the necessary supporting documents and they will also be the one to forward it to CGFNS. On your part, you would need to fill out the application form which you can do online and pay the fees to process your CES Report. Most of the other instructions are there on the forms to be downloaded. If you have more queries let me know Good luck!

MAAN

hi, a friend of mine told me that this site really helped her a lot regarding her nclex application. im applying for nclex illinois and i’m quite confused about their fingerprint reqt.. my friend gave me a fingerprint card obtained in Cali, can i just change the adress typed there?coz i already had my fingerprint in an nbi offfice… then after, i just have to send it to CTS right? thanx thanx and more power…

You cannot use their fingerprint card since like you mentioned it is addressed to California. Each state has their own set of fingerprint cards and you just have to request it from them.

oh, one more thing, i’ve already sent my docs to cgfns for the CES report, in their website(my account), they’ve already sent it to CTS, but that was before i applied in CTS online… would i have a problem with that? and would u happen to know how many months does it take before i can receive my personal copy?coz, i sent the request last august, til now i haven’t received a hard copy from them… same goes with my toefl, i passed toefl even before i applied online and im not sure if theyve sent the report to CTS already… thanks again…

I don’t think this would be an issue. I am not sure on how long or if you are to receive a copy of your CES Report because as far as that is concerned they just forward the results of that to the requesting Board of Nursing. It would be best to inquire both with TOEFL and CGFNS with regards to this matter.

hi, can i just call the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation-Illinois to obtain a fingerprint card? or do they have an online request form like Cali or New Mexico? i have a fingerprint card that i got from Cali, can i just use that? thanks…

You cannot use the one from California. Proof of fingerprint submission should be in the form of a copy of the fingerprint receipt (for Illinois graduates or Illinois residents), or a completed FP-NUR form for out-of state and foreign-educated applicants. You need to request fingerprint card via MAIL from this address: Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

PHINKGIRL

BARB

Hi.. I am an nclex passer of the Saipan bon.. And currently transfering my license to california. I have been waiting and have been trying to call  Saipan bon with no success.. I found out that it takes Saipan bon longer to process endorsements .. Is this true? What can u suggest I do? Can ncsbn help in obtaining information re my license ?

Saipan is not part of the compact states so I don’t think the NCSBN might be much of help. I don’t have much experience in applying in Saipan but from what I’ve read and encountered the Saipan BON does not have their own website if you need to contact them here is the information I’ve gathered. Seems like the best way to get in touch with them is via phone or mail:

Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Board of Nurse Examiners

Regular Mailing Address
P.O. Box 501458
Saipan, MP 96950

Street Address (for FedEx and UPS)
Commonwealth Health Center,
New Administration Bldg.
Navy Hill
Saipan, MP 96950

Phone: (670) 234-8950, ext. 3587
Fax: 670.664.4813
Online: N/A
Contact Person: Bertha Camacho, Board Chairperson
Sinforosa D. Guerrero, Staff Contact

Magandang araw po, my daughter will be graduating on March sa Philippines, right after graduation punta na po sila dito sa America, pwede po bang kumuha ng nclex exam ang anak ko sa California without taking the board exam sa Pilipinas?

What is the immigration status of your daughter? Here is the thing the CA BON requires a license in the country wherein she was educated but if she is an immigrant then the PRC might not allow her to take the PNLE thus she can just reason out with CA BON that she is not allowed to sit down for the examination. But if your daughter can take the PNLE it would be best for her to take the examination just so to prevent further problems with her application with CA BON.

Please be reminded that all information placed on these articles are opinions based on different forums, sites, experiences and knowledge. The intention of these articles is to be able to give guidance and idea to the readers. Later on, it will be the reader who will decided on whether or not to push through with the content of this article. In addition, end results vary from person to person and is a case to case basis.

If to be posted elsewhere please creditwww.philippinenursesinfo.com.

PAUSE

Hi! I’m planning to take my NCLEX exam for Chicago, as of now, I’m currently working on my application… I’m having a hard time working on the “Credential Evaluation Service or CES”. I dont know where I can download the form for Chicago, I thought that the philadeliphia form will work, but when I went to the PRC they asked for the Chicago CES form

The reason why you are having difficulty is that the form for the CES is not available in the Illinois site. You need to get it in the CGFNS website and the link provided leads you to the CES Form.

MA. THURSDAY

Hi, it’s me again.By the way, I’m from the Philippines that is why it is so hard for me to get the SSN and ITIN for the Cali license.This is a follow-up to my question regarding my supposedly application for license verification for Arizona.After sending the Cali BON the verification form for AZ together with the $60 and doing everything you advised me,what will my application to AZ BON be, license application by endorsement or application by examination? Please, I need your advise again and hope that these questions may not only help me but other nurses as well who have the same problem. Thank you so much again for not letting us down.

It would still be by endorsement since you’ve already passed the NCLEX-RN Examination.

IVEVERN07

Thank you for being supportive and i think i’m thanking you a little late that’s due to boxbe never opened it before not until one of my contacts said the message he sent bounced so i checked on it and found so many messages that i’d been waiting for sometime all there and it included yours,ha,ha,now i realize the importance of doing some extra reading…well  the reason why i said i cannot retake NLE anymore,i guess(but hope there were changes made)it’s because it’s only good for two years according to the book:Professional Nursing in the Philippines,page16:”Renewal examination shall be taken within two years after the last failed exam” since the first exam which i mentioned “i didn’t make it”(just so shy to say i failed)and this Nov. is the 2nd year after my first take..but oh thank you for your kind assistance and for giving me the hope to make it.Hope you have an update on NLE retaking. Thank you

It would be best to check with PRC just to see where they stand.

ROSE

I have posted a thread previously on how to retake nclex after failing and ur advise is really helpful on the steps of retaking. Now i already pass the page 5 of the retake form in vermont to PRC, however, i have a problem on sending mine part page 1-4 of the form coz i can’t find a bank that will make a bankdraft for me to be able to attched the payment in the application form that i will send. I already tried BPI and Allied bank so far but they don’t cater (though BPI did before in my first take) unless u have a dollar account and i dont have that. Right now I don’t know how to pay the $30 retake application fee. Do u know any means of paying it or maybe banks that will accept bankdraft even without a $ account? i tried to search but i can’t really find similar problem that i have.

Its kind of unusual for them to have a dollar account as a prerequisite. It would be best to ask a bank where you have or a family member have an account. Its usually part of their special services and it would be easier to get these type of services when you have an account with the bank. You can always try other banks such as BDO, Metrobank etc.

Also I am confuse with 365days open for the eligibility??? It’s already past 1 year since i took my first exam in nclex in vermont. How this affect my application? do i need new registration form as if my first time to register or just retake form?

I think what it means is that an eligibility is valid for a year so you have to take the exam within the year. But since you used that eligibility when you took the exam first time around then you need to re-apply thus the retake form once you submit that, you will then be given another eligibility so you can retake the examination.

I already passed the page 5 of the retake form in the PRC and paid the express mailing. i’m just concern if i did pass the right form?

Yes the page 5 of the form should be submitted to PRC and they will be the one to mail it to Vermont Board of Nursing.

Lastly i dont know what to fill up in this question of the form. “I have practiced nsg as defined in 26VSA 1576, for atleast: 120 days (960 hrs) in the last 5 yrs or 50 days (400 hrs) in the last 2 yrs?” pls help me, i have spent whole day researching on this matter but i cant find specific answers to my questions. Thanks a lot ma’am joan!

Well if you have practiced as a registered nurse you need to declare it and see if it falls in the two categories mentioned and there is always an option below that you haven’t practiced nursing in the past 5 years from the time you graduated.

PHINKGIRL

ganito po kasi yung problem ko miss joan nakapagsend na po ako ng application sa BON ngayon po nag send sila ng letter sa kin stating that i should send them a photo copy ng license ko in the Philippines which i don’t have… kasi po after i graduated last march 2009 bumalik po agad ako dito sa california kasi immigrant po ako dito and i can’t make it po to take the last june board 2009 kasi po mag ooverstay naman po ako dyan sa atin…naka attached naman po sa application ko yung explanation letter why i don’t hold a license so is there any way i could do po to resolve this? or could you please give me po some piece of advice… thank you so much po miss joan, hoping to hear from you soon… thank’s a lot!

Usually this is really a case to case basis depending on who handles your documents in the California BON. Just try to rewrite a letter to them explaining in detail why you were not able to take the PNLE and besides the PRC might not allow you to take the PNLE because of your immigration status. Just explain your situation and provide supporting documents to prove of such. Usually that does it and an eligibility is granted. I hope this helps.

Please be reminded that all information placed on these articles are opinions based on different forums, sites, experiences and knowledge. The intention of these articles is to be able to give guidance and idea to the readers. Later on, it will be the reader who will decided on whether or not to push through with the content of this article. In addition, end results vary from person to person and is a case to case basis.

If to be posted elsewhere please creditwww.philippinenursesinfo.com.

EVA E.

joan, thanks so much for ur help.  i already informed my niece about your reply and really told her to go to your website where she can find my query and ur answer.  i was so relieved to know what to do now.  yes, she in the Phil, and i just wanted to have her obtain a US RN license.  at the moment, per ur suggestion VT should be a very good choice..  i can’t thank you enough.  am positive that my niece will truly “spread” your website so it can help those who are in a dilemna like us.  more power to your site! i carry a copy of ur website, so i can also share it to my co-workers who have nurse/s relatives in our country who are in the same situation as mine.  funny, am taking my hats-off on how u do this multi-tasking, being a nurse, and at the same time trying ur best to help people?  my, that must be a tough, caring job to do for all these things to be on top of your head! am also a nurse,(but took the course here) and being one is already stressful, how much more helping others?  good Lord, you need more than just a trophy!! best of luck!  eva p.s. i surely will be in touch again for a f/u re: my niece, w/c i hope u won’t mind.   tc.

Thank you so much for the kind praises. I would highly appreciate it if you can spread the word about the site so we can help more people who are in the same light as your niece and yourself. It is very flattering all these good words you are telling me but your support to the site means a lot to me. You are more than welcome to drop by here anytime if you have further questions.

JAIDEE

thanks for the reply last time, i really appreciate it, I still got question regarding the finger print card request, where should I request it for Illinois application?? Is the fingerprint card request all the same to other states?? And another thing, I did applied online at continental testing site, as I reviewed the printed application I found out that I missed to put some information, does it affect my application If I’ll apply again?? or how will I correct the incomplete info??
thanks a lot..

You have to request via letter at this address:

JORDIE

hello again! this is a follow-up query regarding my nclex. can i just have my fingerprinting done in a regular police station? or do i have to go to an NBI office? i am from ozamiz city by the way. thanks again!

As long as it is a trained or professional personnel who deals with these things. You might also want to check if the NBI has a satellite office near your area.

MAGGIE

hi joanne, i got a few questions regarding nclex result. i took the nclex exam a week ago, computer screen turned black after 75questions, i got so many multiple response items 10 0r more and drugs.. ,mostly med surg.. im a bit stressed now coz days are counting, still no got no result. is the the online license verification a reliable one? some nurses told me that if u passed u will see you name within 4 days if not it means u failed. please enlighten me on this.. thanks you

It depends on what state you applied in. If they are part of the compact states then more or less results would be in. But if the state you applied in does not participate in the compact states then results should come in a month or so.

GONZALES R.

Good day!  I graduated practical nursing last August 2009 in the Philippines.  I am planning to take nclex-pn in Connecticut BON. Im immigrant and presently residing here in New Jersey.  It says in their website “ Please do not submit your Connecticut licensure application until such time as you are registered for the examination through Pearson Vue.  If you are not registered for examination at the time of submission of your application and transcript, it may delay this office’s approval for you to sit for the examination.” This is contrary to what I understand that you have to apply to Board of Nursing for evaluation first for you to have ELIGIBILITY then after that, that’s the time you’re going to apply to pearson vue to have your ATT.  If I do what the board says, do you think Pearson Vue would accomodate my registration or application since I dont have yet the bulletin index number that would be issued by board along with your eligibility Pls. help me understand this thing.  Thank you so much.