A Step By Step Guide to My CGFNS Exam Experience

When I started my journey with the CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools), I found limited resources and anecdotal accounts. Initially, I believed that CGFNS only evaluated credentials, but I soon discovered their wealth of services. In this blog post, I want to share my experience and tips to help others prepare for the CGFNS Exam, particularly those from the Philippines. My goal is to support and encourage fellow nurses to navigate this process.

Disclaimer: This post is a personal account and is not an official guide. I am not affiliated with CGFNS or any of the institutions mentioned.

Step 1: Understanding CGFNS

What is CGFNS?

CGFNS or the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools is an organization that evaluates foreign nursing graduates' credentials. It offers several services, as seen in the image below.

A screenshot from the CGFNS website showing the various services they offer.

Differentiating Between CES and CP

Most Filipino applicants refer to the Credential Evaluation Service (CES), which provides a detailed analysis of nursing credentials earned outside the U.S. In contrast, the Certification Program (CP) includes additional components:

• Credential's evaluation of secondary school education
• Verification of nursing licensure
• Completion of nursing education
• CGFNS Qualifying Exam
• Passing an English Language Proficiency Exam

It is the CES with more steps.

Why take the CP?

Although many U.S. states no longer require the CP for the NCLEX, the certificate is valid for life. My aunt, who completed the CGFNS CP, encouraged me to pursue it for peace of mind. Given that nursing license policies often change, it’s wise to consider the CP.

Step 2: Applying for the Exam

I began my CGFNS CP application with the help of an agency to collect and submit my requirements. Here’s how to navigate the application process:

1. Create a CGFNS Connect Portal 

I faced some challenges using my email to create an account. I found it helpful to use an email address without numbers. For instance, an email like "abc123@email.com" didn’t work, so I created "abc.def@email.com."

Filling up the Personal Profile

After creating my account, I completed my Personal Profile, which consists of 10 sections. The final section includes the "Submit and Transmit to CGFNS" button. Whether you complete this yourself or with an agency, your Personal Profile must be done before purchasing any service.

One of the Personal Profile sections is the English Language Proficiency Test. My agency submitted my personal profile to CGFNS before I had finished the test, and that's okay! If there are any changes, your personal profile can be resubmitted by making the necessary edits and clicking the 'Submit and Transmit to CGFNS' button again.

2. Purchase the Certification Program (CP) service

 My agency purchased the CP for me. Upon applying, I downloaded the CGFNS Qualifying Exam Handbook, which includes vital information about the test, such as content overview and practice questions.

Once you have purchased CP, you can check the details of your CP application by doing the following: go to My Dashboard > Service Ordered Details column > click Certification Program (CP) - Certification Program Application. The status of your required documents is here. 

A screenshot of the CGFNS Dashboard. You can click the blue text in the red box for information on your CP application.

Remember! Your requirements will not be evaluated until CGFNS has received all documents, including your CGFNS Exam scores.

3. Provide the required documents for the evaluation of your credentials

Secondary School Diploma

 In the Philippines, secondary schooling includes junior high (Grades 7-10) and senior high (Grades 11-12). My agency submitted both my diplomas, but CGFNS only required the senior high diploma.

Your country's education system may differ, but a diploma indicating that you have completed secondary school is still required. My agency uploaded a scanned copy of my diploma as they are authorized agents with their own CGFNS portal. Without an agency, you may need to mail your diploma.

License Verification 

To my Filipino readers, license verification pertains to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) State Board Verification. 

The State Board Verification, a crucial step in the process, is a service provided by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). This verification ensures the authenticity of the credentials and licenses of Filipino professionals. PRC handles this process directly, sending the verification to CGFNS. It's important to note that mailing is strictly an agency-to-agency transaction, and PRC is the sole agency authorized to process state board verification. 

My agency handled my license verification, making the process remarkably convenient. All I had to do was provide them with my LERIS account details. If you do this independently, you can request a State Board Verification at LERIS.  The entire process, from the day of request to PRC to CGFNS receiving my license verification, took 23 business days or 3-6 weeks, which is quite manageable. 

Regardless of where you live, you must provide the CGFNS Nurse license/Registration Form to your country's licensing agency, which they will complete and directly send to CGFNS. The form is found in your CGFNS portal.

Exploring your country's verification process can be beneficial as you navigate the license verification process. 

Completion of Nursing Education

Like the License Verification, you must provide the CGFNS Nurse Education Form to your college/university where you completed your nursing school. Your school will also have to complete this and mail it to CGFNS. The form is also at your CGFNS portal. 

In my experience, I did not need my agency's help as my university offers a convenient way to request school records online. I was thrilled they had their own CGFNS portal to upload my documents and the Nursing Education Form. 

English Language Proficiency Test

Several tests are accepted by CGFNS, including TOEFL iBT, IELTS, and OET. I took TOEFL iBT, opting for ETS to mail my results directly to CGFNS.

Take note: CGFNS does not accept at-home versions of the tests. I took TOEFL iBT. In purchasing the exam, I chose the option for ETS, the company behind TOEFL iBT, to mail my results directly to CGFNS. It only took 3 days for CGFNS to receive my score report.

A screenshot of a portion of my score report showing my TOEFL scores.  

 

3. Receive the Authorization to Take Test (ATT)

CGFNS offers four testing windows each year. After CGFNS received all my requirements, they emailed me my pre-ATT, allowing me to sit for the exam even before my license verification was processed.

Upon receiving my Authorization to Take Test (ATT) on June 7, 2024, a month before my assigned testing window, I was able to select my specific testing date and location. It was crucial to do this before the 'Last Cutoff date', June 28, 2024, to ensure I could take the test during my assigned window. 

It's vital to schedule your exam as soon as you receive your ATT. Missing the 'Last Cutoff date' could mean having to wait for the next available testing window, which could be several months away.

Step 3: Preparing for the Exam

Like NCLEX, the CGFNS Qualifying Exam content is based on the Client Needs Model. The following is the model according to the CGFNS Qualifying Exam Handbook 2024. 

• Safe, Effective Care Environment
  • Management of Care (17-23%)
  • Safety and Infection Control (9-15%)
• Health Promotion and Maintenance (6-12%)
• Psychosocial Integrity (6-12%)
• Physiological Integrity
  • Basic Care and Comfort (6-12%)
  • Reduction of Risk Potential (12-18%)
  • Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies (9-15%)
  • Physiological Adaptation (11-17%) 

The Qualifying Exam contains 150 questions, with an additional 15 unscored items that I had to answer in under 3 hours, with no breaks. 

When you study for the CGFNS, you're essentially preparing for the NCLEX as well. This similarity in preparation should give you confidence and reassurance.

How different is NCLEX from CGFNS?

Their main difference is that the NCLEX has New Generation questions that use case studies, while the CGFNS Exam only has standalone and Select All That Apply questions. 

Moreover, you can pass the NCLEX with a minimum of 85 points and a maximum of 150 because it is a Computer Adaptive Test. On the other hand, CGFNS has 150 questions, with 15 unscored items at the start, so you have a total of 165 items to answer in under 3 hours. The CGFNS Exam is a pass/fail decision based on the minimum passing score of 410.

What study materials did I use?

I used UWorld and Archer to study. I also enrolled in a local NCLEX review program called Inap. I also listened to Mark Klimek's 12 Lectures and purchased the CGFNS Self-Assessments A and B for $50 each. 

How did I study?

For the first 4-5 weeks, I dedicated each day to a different subject, watching on-demand lecture-type videos and taking notes. 

For the following weeks, I challenged myself with 85-150 questions daily, alternating between Archer and UWorld and reading all the rationales. 

Admittedly, tackling 150 questions a day was a taxing routine. I adhered to this schedule for 5 days a week, ensuring to take weekends off. Once I had a good grasp of the content, the real challenge was to build my test-taking endurance. I learned that rest is as crucial as studying and taking breaks to recharge is okay.

Step 4: Waiting for the Results and Certification

After my exam on July 12, 2024, I received my results 15 business days later. I was officially "Certified" on August 2, 2024, and my certificate was mailed shortly thereafter.

What's Next?

Once you receive your CGFNS certification, don’t forget to purchase the Certificate Verification Letter to send proof of certification to your desired agency.

Timeline of my CGFNS Experience

It took 5-6 months from applying to CGFNS to certification. Here’s a brief timeline:

• March 23 - CGFNS CP application
• March 27 - CGFNS received my TOEFL scores
• April 2 - Requested my university to complete the Nursing Education Form and requested my country's licensing body to complete the Nursing License Form
• April 18 - CGFNS received my Nursing Education Form from my university
• April 19 - Received my pre-ATT despite my pending Nursing License Form 
• May 7 - My Nursing License Form was sent out to CGFNS via mail. I'm not sure when CGFNS received it.
• June 7 - Got my ATT
• June 12 - Exam day
• July 26 - Results were released and my order status changed to "To Review"
• August 2 - My order status changed to "Certified"
  
• August 5 - Received my Certificate from CGFNS via mail