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PN Immigrant Students

There are special considerations for immigrant students interested in the Practical Nurse program.

  • As part of the application process, each individual applying for licensure in Kansas who is a graduate of a foreign nursing school shall submit that individual’s education and licensure credentials for evaluation to the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) or some other credentialing agency approved by the board.
  • Any individual applying for licensure in Kansas who is a graduate of a foreign nursing school in which instruction was not in English may be granted a license if that individual meets all other requirements for licensure in effect at the time of application and shows proof of proficiency in English by passing any of the following:
    • The test of English as a foreign language and the test of spoken English; or
    • Similar examinations, as approved by the board.
  • Must be a graduate of a school for professional nursing that is approved by the board as defined in rules and regulations.
  • Have education transcripts and nursing license evaluated by an approved Credentialing Agency and have the report sent directly to the Kansas State Board of Nursing. The approved credentialing agency evaluates an applicant’s education and registration credentials to certify that the applicant is a first-level general nurse and meets all of the registration requirements to be licensed as a professional in that field.
  • KSBN requires a CGFNS Professional Report

Approved Accrediting Agency

Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)
3600 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-2651
(215) 349-8767
cgfns.org

All applicants must show proficiency in oral and written English if their primary language was not English or if their nursing education was not in English.

Complete the TOEFL exam. It is an internet-based exam. A paper-based version of the exam is available in areas where internet-based testing is not possible.

The Board has approved the following sub-scores for the TOEFL exam:

Minimum Scores:

Writing      – 20
Speaking –   20
Reading    – 19
Listening   –   20

Each area must meet the minimum requirement.

TOEFL Publications
P.O. Box 6154
Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6154.
609-771-7100
toefl.org

The test is given in several locations in Kansas and in many locations in the United States.

Request the results to be sent to the Kansas State Board of Nursing by using the code number 9149 in the results reporting list. Results will not be accepted if directly submitted by individuals/applicants.