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Philippine nurse to the United States: the exams and the steps

Philippine nurses need the NCLEX-RN (US$200, or US$350 from February 1, 2027), a state license, a VisaScreen (US$740) and an employer visa petition.

Checked November 10, 2026

Short answer: A nurse educated in the Philippines must pass the NCLEX-RN and get a license from one US state board of nursing. The NCLEX fee is US$200 (US$350 for registrations from February 1, 2027) plus US$150 to test in the Philippines, and to work in the United States you also need a health care worker certificate, such as the VisaScreen (US$740) from TruMerit (formerly CGFNS International), and a visa petition that a US employer files with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

This page is not immigration or legal advice.

The steps in order

  1. Choose one state (state board of nursing). The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) says each state licenses its own nurses and the rules vary. Every US board uses the NCLEX-RN.
  2. Have your education evaluated (a credentials evaluation agency). NCSBN says most boards use an agency to decide if a foreign nursing program is comparable to a US program. TruMerit says all 50 state boards accept its Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report. Some boards, such as Texas, list other providers too. Your school and your licensing authority send their documents directly to TruMerit.
  3. Show English proficiency if your board asks (state board). See the English section below.
  4. Apply for licensure (state board). You must meet the board's eligibility requirements.
  5. Register for the NCLEX and pay (Pearson VUE). A registration stays open for 365 days while it waits for the board. See How to register for the NCLEX.
  6. Receive your Authorization to Test (ATT) and schedule (Pearson VUE). The average ATT lasts 90 days and cannot be extended.
  7. Take the NCLEX-RN (Pearson VUE). NCSBN's October 2026 list shows two centers in the Philippines: Manila (the address is in Makati) and Muntinlupa City. A passport is the only ID accepted. See The NCLEX outside the United States.
  8. Get a health care worker certificate (TruMerit or International Education Evaluations). USCIS says a foreign health care worker is not admissible without a certificate from a USCIS-approved organization. TruMerit's certificate, the VisaScreen, checks education, licenses, English and a pass on the NCLEX-RN or the TruMerit Nurse Qualifying Exam.
  9. The visa (USCIS and the Department of State). USCIS says a US employer generally files Form I-140 for the nurse first. USCIS lists nurses as a Schedule A, Group I occupation, which the employer may file in the EB-3 category. The approved petition waits at the Department of State's National Visa Center until an immigrant visa number is available. Visa rules and waiting times are decided by the US government.

What it costs

The table lists only the fees that the official bodies publish. It leaves out travel, document, courier and immigration lawyer costs.

Fee Amount Who you pay Source
CES Professional Report application US$485 TruMerit TruMerit
English Language Proficiency Report, where a state requires it US$125 per report TruMerit TruMerit
State board application Set by each board. Examples: New York US$143, California US$750 for an international graduate Your state board The board
NCLEX registration US$200. US$350 for registrations from February 1, 2027 Pearson VUE NCSBN
International scheduling fee, for testing in the Philippines US$150, plus value added tax where it applies Pearson VUE NCSBN
VisaScreen application, certificate included US$740 TruMerit TruMerit

TruMerit's fee schedule prints a dollar sign without a currency code. TruMerit is a US body, so we show its prices as US$. NCSBN does not refund NCLEX fees, and the date you register decides which NCLEX fee you pay. See How much does the NCLEX cost?.

English language requirement

Your state board. NCSBN's uniform requirement is an English exam in reading, speaking, writing and listening. Each board sets its own rule and its own passing scores. Texas, for example, asks for a test only if your program was not conducted in English.

VisaScreen. TruMerit exempts only nurses educated in English in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Ireland or the United States. The Philippines is not on that list. USCIS says the US Department of Health and Human Services approves the tests and scores. For registered nurses, these minimum scores apply to tests taken on or after May 12, 2026:

Test Minimum scores
IELTS 6.5 overall, 7 speaking
OET 360 speaking, 340 reading, 350 writing, 320 listening
PTE 55 overall, 76 speaking, 62 in reading, writing and listening
TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall, 4.5 speaking, 3.5 in reading, listening and writing
MET 58 overall, 59 speaking
Cambridge (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2) 169 overall, 194 speaking

TruMerit does not accept at-home test versions. One text line on TruMerit's VisaScreen page still shows an older PTE speaking minimum of 63. Confirm with TruMerit before you book the PTE.

How long it takes

We found no official time for the whole route. These are the published times for single steps:

  • TruMerit CES report: 70% are issued within 7 business days after every document is received and validated. Documents take 14 weeks on average to reach TruMerit.
  • TruMerit VisaScreen: 90% are issued within 3.5 business days after every document is in.
  • State boards: each board differs. Texas reviews a file for the ATT within 15 business days after the last item arrives.
  • Visa: this page gives no waiting time. The US government decides it.

What to do next

  1. Pick your state and read its board's page for internationally educated nurses.
  2. Start your NCLEX-RN review while your documents move. See the NCLEX-RN guide.

Common questions

Do I need a US Social Security number to get a license?

It depends on the state. NCSBN says some boards require one before they issue a license, and these numbers are never issued outside the United States. Other boards accept a different identifier. NCSBN's list of states is dated, so confirm on the state board's own page.

Do I need the CGFNS Qualifying Exam?

TruMerit says some state boards require it before the NCLEX-RN. Check your board's page.

How long is the VisaScreen valid?

USCIS says the certificate is valid for five years. It is no longer required once you are a lawful permanent resident.

Prep from our team

NCLEXPace has NCLEX-RN practice questions with rationales, Next Generation NCLEX case studies, CAT Readiness Exams and a personal Study Plan. You can try 10 free questions without payment, and plans start from US$59 paid once, with nothing that renews. All Nursing Exams, NCLEXPace and NPractitioner are run by the same team. See https://www.nclexpace.com.

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