Filipino Nurse DIY Application for NCLEX-RN in New York State: UpdatesAlmost a Year Later

UPDATE: I took my NCLEX-RN just this Wednesday, October 16, 2013, 9:00 am Philippine Standard Time, at Pearson Professional Center, Trident Tower Makati, Metro Manila. I tried the Pearson Vue Trick about 3 hours later, got a good pop up, and last night, October 18, I found out through my unofficial quick results posted on my Pearson Vue account that I passed! I will create a separate post to share my NCLEX-RN experience soon! :)

For the first post regarding the how-to apply:
http://hernameisninanicole.blogspot.com/2012/09/applying-and-taking-nclex-new-york.html?showComment=1380925124411#c7972998261034786132

Hello everyone who stumbled into this blog! I believe you are here for the obvious reason. You are maybe trying to apply for NCLEX-RN in New York, already applied but experiencing some problems or difficulties, most likely a Filipino Nurse with the same case like me, or maybe you are just as confused as I am when I was trying to figure it all out when I started.

Lucky for me, I have friends who helped me figure it out. I thought that paying an agency (name withheld) to process the application for me is just futile and a big waste of money I should be using to pay for review materials instead. Because, truth be told, you can do it on your own without aid whatsoever from a company. I did it and so can you. And because I am grateful for the help that I got, I am happy to be a be of help to anyone. So to give you a little background as to how to apply, here’s the steps I took when I was applying with some connotations and commentaries. I warn you though that since I did it my way and on my own, this may not be the best or most correct way to do it. But it worked for me and it is valid.

Step 1: Where do I want to be licensed at?

I originally planned taking the NCLEX-RN exam and get licensed at the State of California where my family is relocating this year. However, I am in the Philippines, not an immigrant, thus, I have no valid Social Security Number that is required. Also, they have become too strict in applying alone that I know many people having problems there. So there was New York, among other states that do not require SSN, and my dilemma is solved. However, if the time frame is your utmost concern and you would like to take the exam the soonest possible time, New York may not be for you. Vermont used to have the no SSN requirement but they amended that last year and I was late in applying so not luck there, it would have been nice applying there because it just takes 4 months to have everything at hand to sit the exam.

Step 2: Download the application form or application packet in the website of your Board of Nursing of choice.

In my case, it’s http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/nurseforms.htm where I had it printed and I handwritten almost all the answer to then I had it notarized, sealed, and signed, and mailed to Mail the duly accomplished Application Forms with the application fee to:

New York State Education Department, 

Office of the Professions, 

PO Box 22063, Albany, NY 12201

-I am probably not the best person to ask regarding the mode of payment because my parents processed it for me because it is their account that I used. If my memory serves me right, you can pay using a bank draft or a check that is paid in US dollars, so a dollar account is needed for that. When I had the check addressed to NYSED and paid for in $143, I mailed the check along with my application. I used PNB and I heard BDO and Metrobank processes the payment too.

-Go to a valid, good Notary Public. It will cost roughly Php 150-200. The seal must be placed where it is supposed to be as indicated in the form. Your signature must be in your full name and not the traditional signature you can’t make the characters off. Save time and money and do it properly. I send my application twice because of that.

- I used DHL as courier and it cost me Php 1400 each mail I sent. That’s the fastest service for 3-4 days.

-NYSED did not inform me nor they answered my query when I asked if they received my application already. I based it on the tracking of the package on my courier’s website.

-NYSED will not process your papers too until your other requirements such as the CVS has been issued or submitted.

Step 3: CGFNS Credential Verification Service

You can log on to http://cgfns.org/sections/programs/cvs for the application. As for myself, I used the online application which cost $390 then, and that is a big cheaper than the application form that gets sent to you. Do not be confused though, the only difference is you fill out your information on your online account compared to writing it in the forms where you need to mail it back t them again. When you use the online service for CVS, you will be printing a few pages too including your mode of payment, a proof that you paid via credit card. Have this notarized and signed and mailed it to Mail the duly accomplished Application Forms to: 

PO Box 8628, Philadelphia, PA 19101- 8628.

-The courier guy from DHL sent this to another address that is not a PO box. He said they never deliver to PO boxes where no one is going to receive and sign for it. I relied on his discretion because he said he’s been doing this for years and not a single package got lost.

-This is an office to office transaction. No need to pass anything to anywhere. CGFNS will contact PRC to authenticate your license and your school for your Transcript of Records. Check the status of your service in your CGFNS account and rely on that so you can call PRC or your school for follow up. All has been paid for the $390. You will not be paying a cent to PRC or to your school for mailing fee.

-This service takes 4-12 months, I’ve been told. I sent mine alongside the New York application form around first week of August 2012 and with the delays I experience due to the wrong signature and such, I got my Report Issued around December 2012 and NYSED made me eligible early March 2013. That makes 7 months processing of NY Application for me.

Step 4: By this time I am confused! I already have my eligibility but I have not completed my requirements yet!

I have yet to take the NY Mandated Courses Online (since I answered ‘Yes’ in the application) at http://www.elearnonline.net/statemandate.aspx?x=44 for the Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse in NYS 3.25 hrs ($20) and New York State Mandated Infection Control Training 4 hrs ($25). I might take it sooner or later though regardless if I already got my license of not and even if I will not be working there in NY anytime soon.

-I was told the eligibility in NY is for 5 years. They have our files for that long.

-The mandated courses may not be taken if you are not going to work in NY (Verification needed, I am not sure, help!)

Step 5: Eligibility

Step 7: Register at Pearson Vue 

Once you received the correspondence that you are already eligible (completed the requirements) to sit the exam, you may now register at Pearson Vue at http://www.pearsonvue.com and wait for your ATT or Authorization to Take the Test and that’s the time you can schedule your exam at your preferred site and date.

-I haven’t registered at Pearson Vue yet as I am still assessing myself if I am already ready to take the exam. Last April 2013, they raised the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN and that makes the exam even for difficult so you cannot just take it when you feel like you want to.

Step 6: Wait for your ATT and Schedule the exam

-I have not made up my mind yet as to when I will be taking the exam because I need time to….

Step 7: Review and Prepare for the exam (whichever comes first for you.).

This is pretty much what I’ve been doing seriously since June 6. I enrolled myself in a review class which is pretty much elf review too only you get to use their resources and you get a structure and you condition yourself to study and read and review and answer questions almost 9 hours a day. My style is I read every chapter first then take the post test per chapter then when I finished max 3 chapters a day, I answer questions using the QBank or the Q&A CDs I’ve acquired since college. 250 Q&As max in a day. Minimum 50. Minimum 1 chapter a day.

I do not force myself to study when I don’t want to. Heck, I even skip class when I feel like I’m just going to sleep there. I watch TV and I go out. I do not limit. I study when I am happy and I study happily and that seems to be working. I cannot share yet my study guides or my study tips and whatsnot until I have proven it to be effective and that’s not until I pass the test.

In summary:

NY Application + CGFNS CVS Application + Issued CVS Report + NY Eligibility + Register at Pearson Vue + Get ATT + Schedule the Exam + Take the Exam + Pass The Exam = NY License

*Insert Study and Preparation and Mandated Courses in between

If you have questions, feel free to comment.  I would love to hear from you. I might write about review when I am in a void. Thank you!

-N