CGFNS & TOEFL English Proficiency

Among the basic qualifications to work in the U.S. as a nurse, one must pass the CGFNS Exam and acquire a TOEFL score of at least 540, a minimum 4.0 score at Test of Written English (TWE) and a minimum score of 50 for Test of Spoken English (TSE)

The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) was established as a not-for-profit, immigration neutral organization with a commitment to protect the public by ensuring that nurses educated in countries other than the United States are eligible and qualified to meet licensure and other practice requirements in the U.S.

The CGFNS Certification Program is designed specifically for first-level, general nurses educated and licensed outside the United States who wish to assess their chances of passing the U.S. registered nurse licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN® examination, and attaining licensure to practice as registered nurses within the United States.

The program is comprised of three parts: A) a credentials review of the nurse's education, registration and licensure; B) the CGFNS Qualifying Exam, a one-day qualifying exam testing nursing knowledge; and C) an English language proficiency exam (both written and spoken English). Upon successful completion of all three elements of the program, the applicant is awarded a CGFNS Certificate.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to use and understand North American English as it is used in college and university settings. Scores on the test are required by more than 4,300 two- and four-year colleges and universities, professional schools, and sponsoring institutions.