1975
Company Milestones
How the Story Began
In the late 1960s, the United States experienced an increase in nurse migration from other countries. A high proportion of these nurses could not pass the U.S. nurse licensure exam, resulting in isolation and exploitation in lower paying jobs. Key policymakers were assembled to review two national studies recommending the creation of a screening examination for foreign-educated nurses preceding migration.
1977
Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) Created
Founded by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the National League for Nursing (NLN), with primary funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), Inc. was created to evaluate, test, and certify foreign-educated nurses. CGFNS continues to operate as an independent, non-profit, immigration neutral organization in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
1977
Founding Executive Director Adele Herwitz, MSN, RN, Appointed
Adele Herwitz, MSN, RN, and Executive Director of the International Council of Nurses, returned to the U.S. to lead CGFNS in the groundbreaking development of an assessment program for foreign-educated nurses migrating to practice in the U.S. Ms. Herwitz retired in 1987.
1978
Certification Program for Foreign-Educated Nurses Developed
CGFNS created a three-part Certification Program (credentials review and primary source verification; a test of nursing knowledge—the CGFNS Qualifying Exam®; and English language proficiency) for first-level, general, foreign-educated nurses. The first CGFNS Qualifying Exam® tested 1,200 nurses in 31 locations around the world. Since then, over 500,000 nurses educated in 160 countries have taken the CGFNS Qualifying Exam®.
1982
Validity of CGFNS Qualifying Exam® Demonstrated
The CGFNS Validity Study validated the CGFNS Qualifying Exam® as a predictor of success for the NCLEX-RN® examination. Nurses who pass the Qualifying Exam® on the first try continue to have an 85-92% likelihood of passing the NCLEX-RN® examination.
1988
Executive Director Virginia M. Maroun, MSN, RN, Appointed
Virginia M. Maroun, MSN, RN served as Executive Director from 1988 through 1997. During her tenure, the organization experienced significant growth with over 30,000 applicants taking the CGFNS Qualifying Exam® in a given year.
1993
Credentials Evaluation Service® Established
The Credentials Evaluation Service® (CES) was established to analyze the education and licensure of an applicant earned outside of the U.S.in terms of comparability to U.S. standards.
1994
Trade NAFTA Opportunities Probed in Trilateral Initiative for North American Nursing
CGFNS coordinated a coalition of nursing leaders from across Canada, Mexico and the U.S. to assess North American nursing under the Trilateral Initiative for North American Nursing. Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Initiative represented one of the first organized efforts by a healthcare profession to identify and examine the challenges and opportunities presented by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
1996
Federal Screening Program for Foreign-Educated Healthcare Professionals Authorized
CGFNS was authorized to screen and certify foreign-educated healthcare professionals seeking occupational visas under Section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA). CGFNS is the only organization currently authorized to screen and certify all healthcare professions covered under the Act.
1996
VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Program Created
CGFNS created a new division, the International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP), for the administration of its VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Program for foreign-born healthcare professionals seeking U.S. occupational visas.
1999
Executive Director and CEO Barbara L. Nichols, DHL, MS, Appointed
Barbara L. Nichols, DHL, MS, RN, FAAN was appointed Executive Director and CEO after serving on the CGFNS Board of Trustees, and as Board President. During her tenure, she instituted the VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment Program and launched the International Centre on Nurse Migration, a joint endeavor with the International Council of Nurses (ICN). She retired in 2011.
1999
Building Global Alliances and International Distinguished Leadership Award Initiated
CGFNS International, Inc. initiated its Building Global Alliances and International Distinguished Leadership Award Programs and created the Adele Herwitz Distinguished Scholars to honor the work of its Founding Executive Director. To date, 8 global nurse leaders have received the CGFNS International Distinguished Leadership Award and 35 global nurse leaders have been recognized as Adele Herwitz Distinguished Scholars.
2000
International Consultants of Delaware (ICD) Acquired
ICD became an independent division of CGFNS International. Founded in 1977 and a charter member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services® (NACES). ICD performs credentials evaluation services for academic admission, healthcare professional licensure, employment, and immigration.
2001
Credential Verification Service (CVS) for New York State Launched
CGFNS created a custom document verification program for foreign-educated nurses and other healthcare professionals for the New York State Education Department.
2002
Characteristics of Foreign Nurse Graduates Published
CGFNS published Characteristics of Foreign Nurse Graduates in the United States Workforce, 2000-2001 describing demographic, migration and employment trends of foreign nurse graduates (Registered Nurses) working in the United States.
2005
International Centre on Nurse Migration (ICNM) Initiated
CGFNS and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) created the International Centre on Nurse Migration (ICNM) to serve as a portal for policy, research and other information regarding global nurse migration trends and statistics.
2005
CES Connect® for State Boards of Nursing Instituted
CGFNS created CES Connect®, an online reporting service for U.S. and Territorial Boards of Nursing to provide direct access to Credential Evaluation Service (CES) reports.
2005
Characteristics of Foreign Practical Nurses Published
CGFNS published Characteristics of Practical Nurses in the United States Workforce, 2003-2004 including demographic data, education and employment patterns, challenges related to language and culture and job satisfaction.
2007
Corporate Name Change Achieved
The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools became CGFNS International, Inc. to reflect its expanding global presence and breadth of healthcare professions served.
2008
International Standards for Professional Nurses (ISPN®) Program® Introduced
CGFNS International, Inc. created the ISPN Program for countries desiring to measure their nursing education standards against an international benchmark. Qualified first-level, general nurses validated their nursing knowledge by taking the CGFNS Qualifying Exam® under the ISPN Program. The Program was initially offered in the People’s Republic of China.
2008
International Recruitment Code Developed
CGFNS International, Inc. contributed to the World Health Organization’s Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel, which was adopted by the 63rd World Health Assembly in 2010.
2009
CGFNS’s Role in Certifying Foreign-born Healthcare Professionals Reauthorized
CGFNS International, Inc. was reauthorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to continue certifying healthcare professionals under Section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA).
2009
Books for Foreign-Educated Nurses and Allied Health Professionals Published
The Official Guide for Foreign Educated Nurses: What You Need to Know About Nursing and Healthcare in the United States and 2) The Official Guide for Foreign Educated Allied Health Professionals: What You Need to Know About Health Care and the Allied Health Professions in the United States were provided as resources to VisaScreen® applicants to assist them in their migratory journeys.
2009
CGFNS Qualifying Exam® Under ISPN® Program Administered
The CGFNS Qualifying Exam® was administered for the first time under the International Standards for Professional Nurses (ISPN®) Program in the People’s Republic of China.
2009
Consultation Services for Jordan Provided
CGFNS International, Inc. conducted an item writing and clinical evaluation workshop for the Jordanian Nursing Council in support of elevating nursing status in that country.
2009
Services for Veterans Affairs Commenced
CGFNS International, Inc. and the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD) developed credentials evaluation services for foreign-educated registered nurses working for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
2010
CGFNS Contribution to the Future of Nursing Report Sought
CGFNS International, Inc. was commissioned to develop “International Models of Nursing” for inclusion in the “Future of Nursing” Report sponsored by the Institute of Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
2011
Chief Executive Officer Franklin A. Shaffer, EdD, RN, FAAN, FFNMRCSI Appointed
Franklin A. Shaffer, EdD, RN, FAAN, FFNMRCSI was appointed Chief Executive Officer by the CGFNS International, Inc. Board of Trustees. With over 40 years of progressive and varied nursing experience including administration, education, clinical and research, he also served on the Joint Commission’s Nursing Advisory Council.
2012
Credential Assessment Expertise Tapped
CGFNS International, Inc. signed a seven-year contract with the National Nursing Assessment Service in Canada to design a harmonized technology-based assessment system for evaluating internationally educated nurses seeking licensure across its provinces.
2013
eSAVED Service Commenced
CGFNS International, Inc. offered its applicants secure and extended storage of authenticated and verified documents under the eSAVED service.
2013
CGFNS Celebrates One Year Anniversary with NNAS
CGFNS International celebrates its one year anniversary with NNAS
2013
Comparative Nursing Education Study for International Labour Organization (ILO) Conducted
CGFNS International, Inc. conducted a comparative study of nursing education in the Philippines and that of Norway, Denmark, and Finland through funded research commissioned by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the Decent Work Across Borders (DWAB) Program.
2013
Inaugural ISPN Summer Institute for Nursing Faculty Held
CGFNS International launched the first International Standards for Professional Nurses (ISPN) Summer Institute for nursing faculty development in the People’s Republic of China.
2013
Document Authentication Service Initiated
CGFNS International, Inc. created eDas – eDocument Authentication Service–to emphasize the importance of primary source verification as a safeguard to rising fraudulent activity worldwide.
2014
eCoach Learning Services Launched
The CGFNS University launched the eCoach Learning Services Physical Therapy Remediation Program to assist applicants in developing education remediation plans to meet licensure and immigration requirements.
2014
Franklin A. Shaffer Featured in Nurse Leader Journal
Franklin A. Shaffer, EdD, RN, FAAN, FFNMRCSI is recognized as emerging leader in Nurse Leader journal.
2014
CGFNS International Acquires the Alliance
In September 2014, the Alliance was acquired by CGFNS International. The mission of the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices (Alliance) is to facilitate the adoption and compliance with voluntary standards to ensure ethical, responsible, and transparent recruitment practices of foreign-educated health professionals to the United States.
2015
CGFNS Granted NGO Consultative Status to the United Nations
On August 14, 2015, CGFNS International, Inc. (CGFNS) was notified that it has been approved by the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with consultative status to the United Nations. This status provides CGFNS with access to many high level meetings of the UN and a number of other important events that are by invitations only.
2015
Dr. Franklin A. Shaffer awarded Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
2018
CGFNS Participates in UN Conference to Adopt Global Compact on Migration
2018
CGFNS Named NGO Associate of UN Department of Global Communications
2019
CGFNS to Launch New Division Serving the Midwifery Profession
2019
CGFNS Launches Credentials Verification Service for the Nursing Council of New Zealand
2019
CGFNS Presents at WHO Headquarters on the Alliance Code and Recruiter Engagement
2020
CGFNS contributes to First State of the World’s Nursing Report
2020
CGFNS Expands Service Portfolio with International Background Check Forensics Capabilities
2021
CGFNS International and International Council of Nurses launch Certified Global Nurse Consultant to contribute to national and global nursing and healthcare policy
2021
CGFNS Receives ICN’s “Partners in Development” Award
2021
CGFNS International earned ISO Certification
CGFNS International, Inc. earned ISO 9001:2015 Certification. ISO Certification is the most highly regarded global standard for ensuring quality. CGFNS receiving this certification reaffirms the organization’s commitment to serving the needs of the global healthcare community.