New Zealand Nurse Registration Process Made Easier, Now Accept CGFNS Report

The New Zealand Nurse registration process for foreign trained Nurses has changed as the process has now been made easier and faster and accepting CGFNS verification report. Below is the message posted by the regulatory body on her page.

From 15 October 2019, the registration process for Internationally Qualified Nurses (IQN) now requires two steps:

    Step 1: IQN must first apply to CGFNS International, Inc (CGFNS), which will verify and authenticate all documents through its Credentials Verification Service;

    Step 2: IQN will then apply directly to the Nursing Council, which will assess them against New Zealand nursing standards and issue a decision to the IQN.

This change will offer a more efficient and timely service to IQNs. Below are the frequently asked questions.

What documents do I need to apply to CGFNS?

Please refer to the CGFNS Applicant Portal for more information – click here https://ncnz.cgfns.org/#documents

Do my documents need to be translated by CGFNS?

CGFNS requires your documents to be translated into English.

I do not have two years’ post registration experience. Can I still apply?

If you have not worked as a nurse for at least two of the last five years, you will still be able to apply to the CGFNS Credentials Verification Service, but the decision made by the Nursing Council may be affected, including your application being declined. 
If you have no nursing experience, you are not eligible to apply to the Nursing Council.

Why do I need to complete the CGFNS credentials verification process?

CGFNS International Inc specialises in verifying and authenticating documents.

Do I need to electronically upload my documents?

Yes, you will be required to electronically upload documents. This is all part of the credential verification process you must undertake with CGFNS.

How long will this process take?

Credentials verification will take approximately 30 days once all required documentation has been received by CGFNS. The Nursing Council assessment and registration process is then expected to take up to 30 days once you have responded to their invitation to apply.

Do I need to complete the CGFNS Qualifying Exam?

No.

How do I check the status of my CGFNS verification request?

Log in to your CGFNS Applicant Portal

Can I apply for an ELA waiver?

If you completed your nursing education and are registered as a nurse in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada or the United States of America, you can request a waiver of the English language standard. If you have registered and practised in one of the above countries and you had to complete an English language test to gain registration, you may also apply for a waiver of the English language standard.

As part of your request to CGFNS to have your credentials verified you will be able to request a waiver, and the Council will then make a decision.

How do I apply for registration?

Once your credentials have been verified and authenticated by CGFNS you will be invited to apply to the Nursing Council.

Do I need to submit my documents to Nursing Council?

CGFNS will send all the documents you have provided directly to the Nursing Council.

Do I need to complete a criminal record check?

Yes. The Nursing Council will tell you how and when to do this.

Can I withdraw my application?

You can withdraw your application at any stage. However, all fees you have paid are non-refundable.

Language Proficiency Requirement

    You will have to demonstrate your ability to read, write, listen and speak in the English language through the submission of language proficiency test results from an approved testing vendor, barring certain exemption requests (see below).
    If you are not exempt, you must schedule yourself for approved English language proficiency tests with approved testing vendors. The approved testing vendors are:
        Occupational English Test (OET)
        International English Language Testing System (IELTS)-Academic Module Only
    Non-exempt IQNs must successfully complete an approved test no more than two years and 11 months prior to the submission of the Credentials Verification Service report to NCNZ. Because of the time it may take to complete your CVS-NCNZ, we recommend you avoid sending test results that are over one year old.
    The required minimum scores for the approved tests are:
        Occupational English Test (OET)
            For results prior to August 2018: you must achieve a minimum score of a ‘B’ for each band: reading, writing, listening and speaking. A ‘C+’ is not considered a pass.
            For results after September 2018: you must achieve a minimum score of 350 for each band: reading, writing, listening and speaking. A ‘C+’ (300 – 340) is not considered a pass.
        International English Language Testing System (IELTS)-Academic Module
            You must achieve a minimum score of 7 for each band: reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Passing scores on the individual sections of the tests can be combined if taken within 12 months of each other. Passing sections from different testing vendors cannot combine. For more information, view the complete standards on the NCNZ website.

Exemption Rules

You may request a waiver of language testing if:

    Your nursing education was conducted in and you are registered to practice in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada or the United States of America; or
    You registered and practiced in the UK, Ireland, Canada and the USA, AND you were required to pass an English language test to gain registration

IQNs who meet waiver criteria will be given the ability to request a waiver of English Language Proficiency Requirements electronically. CGFNS will submit the waiver request to NCNZ with the Credentials Verification Service program report and NCNZ will decide whether to grant the waiver or not.