You must submit a complete education report from a Credential Evaluation Service (CES), prior to applying for Licensure by Exam. The Board accepts the complete education report from the following organizations:
- Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) www.cgfns.org
- Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES) www.eres.com, or the
- Josef Silny & Associates, Inc, International Education Consultants www.jsilny.org.
The CES complete education report includes a detailed analysis of credentials earned at multiple levels of nursing education received outside of the U.S. according to a specific state’s requirements.
- Be a graduate of a nursing education program approved by the proper authorities in the country where the program is located.
- Meet the requirements for nursing program content employed as criteria for approval in Alabama at the time of the applicant’s graduation.
- You must meet all Exam requirements, except transcript submission.
- If nursing courses and textbooks was not taught in English, provide the proof of passing an English Proficiency Exam. The Board Accepts the following:
- IELTS Academic- computer or paper-based
- TOEFL iBT produced by Educational Testing Service (ETS)
- PTE Academic
- Michigan English Test (MET)
FAQs
Foreign Nursing Program Graduates
You must meet the same requirements as all other applicants, in addition to requirements specific to graduates of Foreign Nursing Programs.
- You must be a high school graduate, or equivalent.
- You must have a valid Social Security Number (SSN).
- You must be a citizen or legal US resident. See the Citizenship/Legal Presence FAQs for further information.
- You must demonstrate good moral character.
- You must have graduated from a nursing program (RN or PN) which substantially meets the same educational criteria as Alabama nursing programs.
- You must submit a complete application. For information about what is required on the application, see the Licensure by Exam: General Frequently Asked Questions & Licensure by Exam: Application FAQs.
- You must submit a Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Complete Education Report.
- The CES Education Report includes a detailed analysis of credentials earned at multiple levels of nursing education received outside of the U.S. according to a specific state’s requirements.
- The CES Education Report is not the same as the CGFNS Certification Program, which is typically completed prior to receiving the first U.S. state nursing license.
- Be a graduate of a nursing education program approved by the proper authorities in the country where the program is located.
- Meet the requirements for nursing program content employed as criteria for approval in Alabama at the time of the applicant’s graduation.
- If nursing courses and textbooks was not taught in English, provide the proof of passing English Proficiency Exam. For further information see the English Proficiency FAQ.
- Make up any educational deficiencies.
- You must submit a Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) complete education report.
- The CES Professional Report includes a detailed analysis of credentials earned at multiple levels of nursing education received outside of the U.S., according to a specific state’s requirements.
- The CES Professional Report is not the same as the CGFNS Certification Program, which is typically completed prior to receiving the first U.S. state nursing license.
- Be a graduate of a nursing education program approved by the proper authorities in the country where the program is located.
- Meet the requirements for nursing program content employed as criteria for approval in Alabama at the time of the applicant’s graduation.
- Make up any educational deficiencies.
- Pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®) if you have not already done so.
Yes. You must meet all of the requirements for licensure in Alabama in order to be issued an Alabama nursing license.
| Name of Exam | Minimum Results |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Band score result of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in any one module |
| TOEFL iBT produced by Educational Testing Service (ETS) | 84 with a minimum speaking score of 26 |
| PTE Academic | 55 overall with no sub scores lower than 50 in each scored part |
| Michigan English Test (MET) | 55 with a speaking score of 55 or higher |