Work in the US

Are you a nurse looking to come work in the US? Here are the steps for getting started.

Qualifications

You’re eligible to work in the US if you’re a Registered Nurse in your home country. Contact the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) to see if you're qualified.

Contact CGFNS

The NCLEX-RN

When you know where in the US you’d like to work, you can apply to that state’s Board of Nursing and take the NCLEX-RN. This is a standardized test that’ll earn you a Registered Nurse license. It may include an English language proficiency test.

NCLEX-RN

Did you know

The nursing profession is growing twice as fast as the average occupation in the US.

Did you know

Jobs for Registered Nurses in the US will increase 15% by 2026.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Apr 2018

Did you know

Registered Nurses make up the largest segment of the US health workforce.

Find a job

Once you have your Registered Nurse license, you can look for a job through a nursing recruitment agency or US-based employer. When you have received a job offer, you can apply for a US visa.

Getting hired

Get a visa

The last step is to apply for a nonimmigrant visa that will allow you to work in the US. Citizens of Canada or Mexico can apply for a Trade National Visa (TN), which is a special arrangement that each of these countries have with the US.

Get tips on applying for jobs in the U.S.

Getting hired