USA FAQs

What is NCLEX?
Every Nurse in America must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to receive an RN licence. This exam is only given in the US and US territories. To be eligible to take the NCLEX, you must apply to the Board of Nursing of the state in which you are going to practice.

Do I have to be a registered General Nurse to qualify for an American nursing licence?
Yes. All nurses in America are trained to a general level. If you are a RMN, RSCN, Midwife etc, you will need to become Double Trained in order to qualify.

Is my English good enough?
You need to take the TOEFL/TSE test for the USA or the IELTS test for the USA unless you received your nursing education in Australia, Canada, Ireland, NZ or UK. We would recommend enrolling on an English language course as soon as possible, if you are unsure. We can also introduce you to English language schools which can help improve your English. You can check you English levels here for a quick, on-line test: Cambridge University English language test.

What English Language scores are required for the TOEFL/TSE or IELTS exams?
For the US you must get a TOEFL score of 207 and TSE of 50. Alternatively, for the US, you must have an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 with 7.0 speaking

What is the Update on retrogression for Schedule A (Registered Nurses and Physical Therapists) I-140 petitions?
While retrogression is still in place for Nurses and PT's wishing to enter the USA on a 'Green card' visa - HCL International works closely with both Immigration lawyers and US Hospitals (clients) to ensure that all the necessary documentation is in place to ensure you are in line for your application to be finalised. The process from job offer with HCL International and NCLEX mentorship through to 'USA Embassy interview' will take some time, so we will ensure that when the retrogression is 'lifted' you are well on your way through the requirements to your USA placement. HCL International clients are fully aware of all immigration issues surrounding foreign nurse migration. This will not effect your job offer with them! They are happy to wait for you until you have finished your studies and your visa is processed. Your consultant will of course update you throughout your journey - and you will receive regular updates through HCL International webpages and newsletters. Please email: usa@hcl-international.co.uk  for any further questions relating to the above.