https://idfpr.illinois.

gov

JB PRITZKER MARIO TRETO, JR. CECILIA ABUNDIS

Governor Secretary Director

REQUIREMENTS FOR AN INTERNATIONALLY EDUCATED NURSE:

PROOF OF LICENSURE IN COUNTRY FROM WHICH YOU RECEIVED YOUR NURSING

EDUCATION

For more information go to:

Rules for the Administration of The Nurse Practice Act:

Section 1300.300 Application for Examination or Licensure 4) A)

http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068013000C03000R.html

PROOF OF PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL LICENSING EXAMINATION:

 NCLEX - National Council Licensure Exam

The “National Council Licensure Exam” (NCLEX) state board application can be obtained by going to
the IDFPR website at http://continentaltestinginc.com/ .

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Help Line: 1 800 560 6420.

PROOF OF EDUCATION EQUIVALENCY

CHOOSE ONE :

 A Credential  An Original CGFNS  An Original CGFNS

Evaluation Service VisaScreen Certificate or Certificate
Report. Proof of JS&A Visa4Nurses
passing either the Certificate
TOEFL or IELTS if
your program was not
taught in English.

THE CES REPORT AND THE TOEFL / IELTS APPLIES TO ALL INTERNATIONALLY EDUCATED NURSES INCLUDING
U.S. CITIZENS AND VISA HOLDERS.

BECAUSE TRANSCRIPTS MAY BE HARD TO OBTAIN, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU

555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60601 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor Springfield, Illinois 62786 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
 GET YOUR CES REPORT PRIOR TO APPLYLING FOR THE NCLEX.

CES “Credential Evaluation Service” Report

CHOOSE A VENDOR :

The report must be obtained through one of the following credentialing service vendors. When complete the
Department (IDFPR) will download the CES Report from the respective vendor’s website.

Contact: Contact: Contact:

Commission on Graduates of Education Records Evaluation Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
Foreign Nursing Schools Service, Inc. International Education
(CGFNS) 601 University Avenue, Consultants
3600 Market Street, Suite 400 Suite 127 7101 SW 102 Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 Sacramento, CA 95825 Miami, FL 33173

Phone: 215.349.8767 Phone: 916.921.0790 Phone: 305-273-1616

Fax: 215.662.0452 Fax: 916.921.0793 Fax: 305-273-1338
Email: support@cgfns.org Email: edu@eres.com Email: info@jsilny.org
Web Site: http://www.cgfns.org Web Site: http://www.eres.com Web Site: www.jsilny.org

Request: Request: Request:

 The Professional  The Nursing Evaluation  Foreign Credential
Report and Course by Course Evaluation for
Report
Boards of Nursing

THE CES REPORT IS VALID FOR THE LIFE OF THE APPLICATION FOR LICENSURE OR THREE YEARS AT THE LONGEST

Language - If the applicant's program of instruction was not taught in English:

CHOOSE A VENDOR :

Certification of passing an English Exam must be obtained through one of the following credentialing service
vendors.

Results should be sent by the vendor directly to:

IDFPR, 320 W. Washington St. 3rd FL., Springfield IL 62786 Attn: Nursing Unit

Contact: Contact:
 Test of English as a Foreign Language  The International English Language
(TOEFL) Testing System (IELTS) Academic
Module
Web Site: http://www.ets.org/toefl/
Web Site: http://www.ielts.org/
The minimum passing score:
 Paper-based test is 560 The minimum passing score:
 Computer-based test is 220  6.5 (overall score) and 7.0 (spoken band)
 Internet-based test is 83

555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60601 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor Springfield, Illinois 62786 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
** TOEFL / IELTS may be waived by IDFPR if your CES report indicates your nursing education
program was conducted in English utilizing English Textbooks.

Fingerprints / Back-ground Checks

Individuals applying for licensure for professions that require fingerprints must submit to a criminal
back-ground check and provide evidence of fingerprint processing from a fingerprint vendor licensed by
the Department. Fingerprints must be taken within 60 days from the date that the application is
submitted to the Department or the Department’s testing vendor.

For more information see attached forms:

 IDENTITY VERIFICATION CERTIFYING STATEMENT / OOS-FP

 CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK INFORMATION

Social Security Number

APPLICANTS who state they cannot obtain a social security number must complete the attached
affidavit form:

 AFFIDAVIT SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Endorsement

Endorsing an active license from another state / requirements:

 Application by Endorsement :
Go to https://www.idfpr.com/profs/Nursing.asp
under License Information > RN & LPN Applications
 Choose One:
 Credential Evaluation Report
 CGFNS Certificate
 CGFNS Visa Screen Certificate
 JS&A Visa4Nurses Certificate

An English test is not required as long as you took and passed the NCLEX Exam.

CURRENT REVISION 1/2023

555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60601 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor Springfield, Illinois 62786 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949