Skip to main content

TOEFL, IELTS validity for Visascreen

I was asked a few days ago about the validity of English exam scores for Visascreen purposes. Someone had earlier claimed in a post at an Internet forum for nurses that English scores were valid up to five years if you submit it already to CGFNS. All of the information posted at the CGFNS Web site said English scores were only valid for two years, so I e-mailed CGFNS to verify if the new information was accurate.

As it turned out, the new information is totally wrong. English scores were only valid for a maximum of two years, regardless of the date you file your Visascreen application. So, for example, if your IELTS scores were expiring on Aug., and your NCLEX exam is on Oct., even if you file your Visascreen application before Aug., your English scores would still become invalid and you'll have to retake the IELTS again.

Here's the e-mailed response of CGFNS:
Thank you for your inquiry. If an applicant's English exam expires before he takes the NCLEX exam, he will need to take the English exam again. The initial date of the VisaScreen application does not make the expired English results valid.

The VisaScreen application is valid for one year. If the application expires, you can request to have the application re-processed for a fee of $128.00.

I hope this clears up the issue.

Comments

Anonymous said…
so basically the ielts AND nclex scores must be valid/unexpired before visa screen application?

how about this theoretical scenario:

took and passed ielts nov 2006
passed nclex july 2008
applied for visa screen oct 2008

still valid, right?

must the ielts score be valid until visa screen certificate is approved/granted?

thanks for the info!
Geoff said…
I did ask that question before to CGFNS and they replied that the English scores must be valid at the time of approval, not just during the application period.

Popular posts from this blog

//How To// Applying for a license in New Zealand

Filipino nurses who wish to register with the Nursing Council of New Zealand must show proof that they are registered with the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) of the Philippines as a nurse and they must either 1) have completed an assessment program or 2) have earned a qualification equivalent to a New Zealand nursing qualification. Only a nursing degree earned from an Australian nursing school is deemed equivalent to a NZ nursing qualification, so unless you have the money to enroll in Australia or NZ, the best route to take is the 6-week competency assessment program. To simplify the application process, here's what you need to do: 1. Take the IELTS. A band of 7 on all parts of the exam is required by the NZ Nursing Council. An average of 7, with scores below 7 in any part will not qualify you for registration. You must consistently score at least 7 in all parts--reading, listening, writing and speaking. 2. Once you have the IELTS, contact the NZ Nursing Council. You wil...

// How To // UPDATED Applying for a nursing license in Illinois

UPDATE: In Sept. 2011, IDFPR made some changes to the application guidelines that affect internationally-educated nurses. Updated information is provided after each step, where necessary. Here's a quick rundown of the things to do when applying for a nursing license in the state of Illinois if you're a foreign-educated nurse: 1. Apply for a Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) report from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). Request for a Course by Course evaluation or the Full Education report. Download the application form from the CGFNS Web site (http://www.cgfns.org). *** You may apply for a CES with either CGFNS or with Education Records Evaluation Services . 2. If your school's medium of instruction is NOT English, apply and take the TOEFL iBT (www.ets.org/toefl). How do you know if you're school's medium of instruction is English? Aside from trying to recall if your teachers taught in English and made you read books in Engli...