The Credentials Verification Service for New York State® is used by healthcare professionals educated outside the United States who wish to practice in the state of New York and require licensure from the New York State Education Department.
CGFNS verifies and authenticates applicants’ foreign academic and professional credentials and delivers a verification report to the New York State Education Department, which will then evaluate the applicant’s credentials for licensure.
Applicants from Puerto Rico do not need this service because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and the State of New York deems education completed in Puerto Rico to have been completed within the United States.
The state of New York identified CGFNS as a trusted source for credentials verification of healthcare professionals educated outside the United States. With a long history of global credibility, CGFNS works closely with the state to achieve specified outcomes in credentials verification.
Signed & Notarized Attestation
CGFNS applicants can now use NotaryCam to notarize and submit documents from anywhere in the world. Visit: www.notarycam.com/cgfns.
Secondary Education Information (Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses only)
A secondary school diploma or an external exam certificate showing the highest level of secondary education received. Secondary education takes place between primary education and university and offers general, vocational or university-preparatory courses.
All documents must be in English. Secondary school diplomas can be translated by the applicant or someone chosen by the applicant. If you are unable to provide an English translation, then CGFNS can translate documents for an additional fee.
Licenses/Registrations/Diplomas
CGFNS validates and authenticates the applicant’s initial licenses/registrations for a Credentials Verification Service Report®.
Professional Education Information
An academic transcript from the educational institution where the applicant completed entry-level education in their profession. Physical Therapist (PT) and Occupational Therapist (OT) applicants must also have their educational institution where they have completed their PT or OT education submit a detailed course description directly to CGFNS.
With CGFNS’s Credentials Verification Service for New York State, you have one year—without having passed the NCLEX-RN exam—to practice nursing under direct RN supervision by obtaining a Limited Permit.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) issues Limited Permits to nursing school graduates who have obtained their CGFNS Credentials Verification and have met all the requirements for licensure as an RN in New York State except for taking the National Council License Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
A limited permit holder can temporarily practice nursing under direct RN supervision at the health care facility listed on their Limited Permit.
Limited Permits expire one year from their date of issuance.
Begin by creating a CGFNS Connect account. Complete an application for the Credentials Verification Service for New York State from the CGFNS Purchase Wizard within CGFNS Connect. Submit a signed and notarized attestation through Contact Us, NotaryCam or by postal mail. The attestation document can be found in the service application.
The application for CGFNS’ Credentials Verification Service for New York State is a separate process from the application to the New York State Education Department for licensure.
The fee for the Credentials Verification Service for New York State can be found on our Fee Schedule page.
After receiving documents from your schools and/or licensing bodies, CGFNS must verify their authenticity and ensure that all provided information is consistent. If there is a problem with the documentation, CGFNS will take steps with you and/or the school or licensing body to resolve the matter. CGFNS sends a report to the New York State Education Department, which then evaluates the documents.
The application for CGFNS’ Credentials Verification Service for New York State is a separate process from the application to the New York State Education Department for licensure. Applying for the Credentials Verification Service for New York does not include an application for licensure with the New York State Education Department.
CGFNS can issue a report to the New York State Education Department within weeks of receiving all the required documents or if it has been 180 days since the application was submitted (90 days for Canadian applicants). The length of time it takes CGFNS to generate your report is influenced by the complexity of your file and your country of education.
The precise amount of time may vary depending on how long it takes for schools and licensing authorities to respond to your request for documents.
180 days after you apply (90 days for Canadian applicants), your order status in CGFNS Connect will change to ‘Ready for Submission,’ regardless of what documentation CGFNS has received. This means that CGFNS will be preparing your report for the New York State Education Department with any documents received at this time.
