2005 News

CGFNS Designates Five Nursing Schools in Quebec, Canada, as "English-Language Schools"

PHILADELPHIA, PA — JULY 14, 2005 — The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) today designated five nursing schools in the province of Quebec, Canada, as offering "nursing programs in which the language of instruction is English," as authorized by section 212(r) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and its related regulations. This designation enables graduates of nursing programs at McGill University in Montreal, Vanier College in St. Laurent, John Abbott College in Sainte Anne de Bellevue, Dawson College in Montreal, and Heritage College in Gatineau who have a valid, unrestricted license in one of five U.S. states and who intend to be employed in that state to be eligible for issuance of a certified statement, provided they meet other requirements of section 212(r). The five U.S. states are: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan and New York.

CGFNS has determined that these five nursing programs provide instruction in English and believes the designation of the schools is in keeping with the regulatory intent to make available the benefits of section 212(r) to those Canadian graduates of "nursing programs in which the language of instruction was English."

"The ability to designate five additional Canadian nursing schools who meet the English instruction requirements of 212(r) will enable CGFNS to more efficiently serve the needs of foreign-educated nurses seeking U.S.-based employment, while still maintaining the high standards for nursing care and practice that we are charged to protect," said Barbara L. Nichols, CGFNS Chief Executive Officer.