CGFNS located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and founded in 1977 , is an internationally recognized authority on credentials evaluation and verification pertaining to the education, registration and licensure of nurses and health care professionals across the world.

It administers the Certification Program which includes the qualifying examination that is required from graduates of nursing schools located outside of the United States of America who are interested in practicing as registered nurses in the United States. It tests candidates' nursing

Nursing

Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....

 knowledge and their understanding and use of English language

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 skills. The successful candidates are awarded a CGFNS Certificate when they have passed both the nursing section and the English language section of the examination.

CGFNS also offers the VisaScreen Program, a visa credentials assessment program, which must be successfully completed by any Registered Nurse

Registered nurse

A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...

, Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed practical nurse is the term used in much of the United States and most Canadian provinces to refer to a nurse who cares for "people who are sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled under the direction of registered nurses and physicians. The term licensed vocational nurses is used in...

, Audiologist, Speech Language Pathologist, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapist

An occupational therapist is trained in the practice of occupational therapy. The role of an occupational therapist is to work with a client to help them achieve a fulfilled and satisfied state in life through the use of "purposeful activity or interventions designed to achieve functional...

, Medical Laboratory Technician, Medical Laboratory Scientist, or Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioner

A Nurse Practitioner is an Advanced practice registered nurse who has completed graduate-level education . Additional APRN roles include the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist s, CNMs, and CNSs...

seeking to obtain an occupational visa to work in the United States.

Other programs include the Credential Evaluation Service and the New York State Verification Service.