CGFNS International (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) is the U.S. organization that evaluates the educational credentials of internationally educated nurses. CGFNS issues the credential evaluations U.S. State Boards of Nursing require to determine eligibility for the NCLEX-RN, and CGFNS issues the VisaScreen Certificate required for immigrant visa applications.

What CGFNS service do I need?

It depends on your State Board of Nursing requirements. Common options: (1) Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) — Course-by-Course Report: detailed transcript evaluation; (2) CES — Professional Report: general qualification statement; (3) VisaScreen: required for U.S. immigrant visa application. Most internationally educated nurses doing EB-3 Schedule A need both a CES report AND VisaScreen.

How much does CGFNS cost?

CES Course-by-Course: USD $385-$540. VisaScreen: USD $540 (includes credential verification, English language assessment, and the visa-screen certificate). Document fees and other state-board requirements add to the total. Filipino BSN and Indian BSc Nursing graduates with English-medium instruction may qualify for English language waivers, reducing cost.

How long does CGFNS take?

Typically 6-12 months from application to receipt of the report, primarily because CGFNS contacts your nursing school and registration authority directly for verification. The single biggest variable is responsiveness of the source-country authority. Filipino PRC verification is typically faster than Indian state-council verification.

Do I need CGFNS if I already passed NCLEX-RN?

Often yes. Many U.S. State Boards of Nursing require CGFNS credential evaluation regardless of NCLEX status, and the VisaScreen Certificate is required for U.S. immigrant visa applications independent of NCLEX. The exact requirements vary by state.

How does Global Nurse Force help with CGFNS?

We coordinate the entire CGFNS process: select the correct service for your state and pathway, prepare your documents, manage source-country verification follow-ups, and integrate timing with NCLEX and visa filing. We pay all the agency-managed costs; you pay only the direct CGFNS fees per the WHO Code.

Credential evaluation for U.S. RN licensure

CGFNS credential evaluation for internationally educated nurses

What CGFNS is, which CGFNS service you need, how much it costs, and how Global Nurse Force coordinates the process end-to-end for EB-3 Schedule A applicants.

Key facts — CGFNS
• Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools — independent U.S. agency
• Issues Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) reports + VisaScreen Certificate
• Required by most U.S. State Boards of Nursing for IENs
• Required by USCIS for the immigrant visa application
• Cost: $385-$770 depending on service combination

Service comparison

Which CGFNS service do I need?

Service	What it gives you	Fee (USD)	When required
CES Course-by-Course Report	Detailed transcript evaluation, course-by-course mapping to U.S. equivalents	$540	Most state Boards (TX, CA, NY, FL, etc.)
CES Professional Report	General qualification statement (less detailed)	$385	Some state Boards (GNM candidates often)
VisaScreen Certificate	Credential + English + license verification, single certificate	$540	USCIS — required for immigrant visa / I-485
CGFNS Qualifying Exam (legacy)	Pre-NCLEX qualifying exam (rare in 2026)	$310	Optional / state-dependent

Frequently asked

About CGFNS

What is CGFNS?: CGFNS International (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) is the U.S. organization that evaluates the educational credentials of internationally educated nurses. CGFNS issues the credential evaluations U.S. State Boards of Nursing require to determine eligibility for the NCLEX-RN, and CGFNS issues the VisaScreen Certificate required for immigrant visa applications.
What CGFNS service do I need?: It depends on your State Board of Nursing requirements. Common options: (1) Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) — Course-by-Course Report: detailed transcript evaluation; (2) CES — Professional Report: general qualification statement; (3) VisaScreen: required for U.S. immigrant visa application. Most internationally educated nurses doing EB-3 Schedule A need both a CES report AND VisaScreen.
How much does CGFNS cost?: CES Course-by-Course: USD $385-$540. VisaScreen: USD $540 (includes credential verification, English language assessment, and the visa-screen certificate). Document fees and other state-board requirements add to the total. Filipino BSN and Indian BSc Nursing graduates with English-medium instruction may qualify for English language waivers, reducing cost.
How long does CGFNS take?: Typically 6-12 months from application to receipt of the report, primarily because CGFNS contacts your nursing school and registration authority directly for verification. The single biggest variable is responsiveness of the source-country authority. Filipino PRC verification is typically faster than Indian state-council verification.
Do I need CGFNS if I already passed NCLEX-RN?: Often yes. Many U.S. State Boards of Nursing require CGFNS credential evaluation regardless of NCLEX status, and the VisaScreen Certificate is required for U.S. immigrant visa applications independent of NCLEX. The exact requirements vary by state.
How does Global Nurse Force help with CGFNS?: We coordinate the entire CGFNS process: select the correct service for your state and pathway, prepare your documents, manage source-country verification follow-ups, and integrate timing with NCLEX and visa filing. We pay all the agency-managed costs; you pay only the direct CGFNS fees per the WHO Code.

Need help with CGFNS coordination?

Global Nurse Force runs CGFNS coordination as part of the EB-3 Schedule A pathway. Free credential review before you commit.

Get a free credential review