The Differences Between NCLEX and CGFNS

What is the difference between the NCLEX exam and the CGFNS exam? 

Jean: We have the credentialing agency here in the USA, it's the CGFNS. There are other agencies like the ERES, IERF, Josef Silny. So those are credentialing agencies.

But if you want to take the CGFNS qualifying exam, that is a different service of the CGFNS. Like there are states that require CGFNS qualifying exam like the Michigan so before you can take the NCLEX through Michigan Board of Nursing, you need to pass the CGFNS qualifying exam, you need to pass the English test like the IELTS. So you pay the CGFNS qualifying exam with the English language test, and then you get the CGFNS certificate.

So if you plan to take the NCLEX through Michigan Board of Nursing, you have to go through that process and submit also that CGFNS certificate, and also Wisconsin needs CGFNS qualifying exam for NCLEX. So the CGFNS qualifying exam is the exam that you will take for those states that need that CGFNS exam.

Tanya: I remember when I started doing this years ago, like almost 15 years ago, and nurses couldn't write the NCLEX. And outside of of the US, I had to fly to America to do it. And that's when many nurses were actually also taking the CGFNS exam. So, you know, things have also changed with as Jean says there are some states that will still require that for endorsement.

Jean: Like long time ago during my time like in 2005- 2006. Before you take the NCLEX you have to take the CGFNS qualifying exam, but now you don't need to take this qualifying exam just to take the NCLEX.

Tanya: Okay, great. So thank you for clarifying that because that's the question that we often get is what is the difference and why is it set up like that for the two different exams.