CGFNS to Deny VisaScreen to Applicants Who Took Tainted Philippines Exam

The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) announced in February 2007 that those nurses who were sworn in as licensed nurses in the Philippines after passing the June 2006 Philippine Nurse Licensing exam are not eligible to receive a VisaScreen certificate.  While these nurses are allowed to practice nursing in the Philippines , without a VisaScreen certificate, they may not practice in the U.S.  

According to investigations conducted by both CGFNS and the Philippine government, it was discovered that at least 110 questions of the 500-question exam were known by large numbers of examinees and test-preparation operators in the June 2006 licensing exam.  

Under U.S. immigration law, CGFNS must determine that a nurse’s education, training and licensing abroad are equivalent to that in the U.S.   Due to reports of cheating and other irregularities on the June 2006 exam, CGFNS has determined that the exam is not equivalent to that required of American nurses, and the issuance of a VisaScreen certificate to a nurse who passed this version of the exam is prohibited under U.S. immigration law.  

Those who passed the June 2006 exam may qualify for issuance of a VisaScreen certificate by passing the equivalents on Tests 3 and 5 on a future Philippine nurse licensing exam.  

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