Glossary for nurses moving abroad: exams, regulators and documents
Plain-English meanings of the names and abbreviations nurses meet on the way abroad, from NCLEX and OSCE to VisaScreen, DataFlow and Anerkennung, each with its official website.
यह पेज फ़िलहाल अंग्रेज़ी में है।
Last checked . Fees and minimum scores are on each country and exam page, with their sources.
Anerkennung (recognition)
The German process that compares your nursing qualification with German nurse training. The result says whether your qualification is equal or which gaps you must close.
Official website: anerkennung-in-deutschland.de · More on NurseFlyAbroad
Authorization to Test (ATT)
The confirmation a nursing regulator sends once you are eligible to sit the NCLEX. You need it before you can book an exam date.
B2 Pflege
A German language exam at level B2 with nursing content, such as telc Deutsch B1-B2 Pflege. It shows you can use German on the ward.
Official website: telc.net · More on NurseFlyAbroad
CEFR levels (A1 to C2)
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which describes language ability in six levels from A1 (beginner) to C2. German nursing roles usually ask for B1 or B2.
Official website: coe.int
Certificate of Sponsorship
A reference number a UK employer with a sponsor licence gives you so that you can apply for a work visa such as the Health and Care Worker visa.
Official website: gov.uk
CGFNS International
A US organisation that reviews nursing education and licences from other countries. It also issues the VisaScreen certificate.
Official website: cgfns.org
DataFlow
A company that carries out primary source verification of documents for several Gulf health regulators.
Official website: dataflowgroup.com
DHA
The Dubai Health Authority, which licenses healthcare workers in Dubai.
Official website: dha.gov.ae · More on NurseFlyAbroad
DOH Abu Dhabi
The Department of Health Abu Dhabi, which licenses healthcare workers in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Official website: doh.gov.ae · More on NurseFlyAbroad
Express Entry
Canada's online system for managing applications for permanent residence from skilled workers, including nurses.
Official website: canada.ca
Health and Care Worker visa
A UK work visa for eligible healthcare workers, including registered nurses, with a job offer from an approved employer.
Official website: gov.uk · More on NurseFlyAbroad
IELTS Academic
The academic version of the International English Language Testing System. Many nursing regulators accept it as proof of English, each with its own minimum scores.
Official website: ielts.org · More on NurseFlyAbroad
Kenntnisprüfung
A knowledge exam in Germany for nurses whose recognition found gaps. Passing it, or completing an adaptation course instead, leads to full recognition.
Official website: anerkennung-in-deutschland.de · More on NurseFlyAbroad
MOHAP
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, which licenses healthcare workers mainly in the northern emirates (outside Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which have their own health authorities).
Official website: mohap.gov.ae · More on NurseFlyAbroad
NCLEX-RN
The licensing exam for registered nurses in the United States and Canada (except Quebec). It is developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and taken on a computer at a test centre.
Official website: nclex.com · More on NurseFlyAbroad
NCSBN
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the US body that develops the NCLEX exams. Each US state's board of nursing decides who gets a licence.
Official website: ncsbn.org
NMBA and Ahpra
In Australia, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) sets the standards and Ahpra handles registration for nurses and midwives.
Official website: nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au · More on NurseFlyAbroad
NMBI
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, which registers nurses and midwives in Ireland, including those trained abroad.
Official website: nmbi.ie · More on NurseFlyAbroad
NMC
The Nursing and Midwifery Council, the regulator for nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom. Nurses trained outside the UK must register with the NMC before they can work as registered nurses there.
Official website: nmc.org.uk · More on NurseFlyAbroad
NNAS
The National Nursing Assessment Service, the first step for nurses trained abroad who want to register in most Canadian provinces. It assesses your documents before you apply to a provincial regulator.
Official website: nnas.ca · More on NurseFlyAbroad
Nursing Council of New Zealand
The regulator that registers nurses in New Zealand, including nurses trained abroad.
Official website: nursingcouncil.org.nz · More on NurseFlyAbroad
OET
The Occupational English Test, an English test for healthcare workers with a version for nurses. It tests listening, reading, writing and speaking using healthcare situations.
Official website: oet.com · More on NurseFlyAbroad
OSCE
Objective Structured Clinical Examination: a practical exam in which you move through stations and show clinical skills to examiners. Several regulators use one, including the NMC in the UK.
Pearson VUE
A company that runs computer-based test centres around the world. It delivers exams such as the NCLEX, the NMC computer-based test and PTE Academic.
Official website: home.pearsonvue.com
Primary source verification
A check in which a regulator, or a company it appoints, confirms your degree, licence and experience directly with the place that issued them. Gulf regulators require it.
Prometric
A company that runs computer-based test centres. Several Gulf health regulators deliver their licensing exams through it.
Official website: prometric.com
PTE Academic
The Pearson Test of English Academic, a computer-based English test. Some nursing regulators accept it; check the destination's own list before you book.
Official website: pearsonpte.com
Recruitment fee
Money an agent or employer asks a worker to pay to get a job. Fair-recruitment principles say workers should not pay recruitment fees. A request for one is a warning sign.
SCFHS
The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, which classifies and registers healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia and runs its licensing exams.
Official website: scfhs.org.sa · More on NurseFlyAbroad
SNLE
The Saudi Nursing Licensure Exam, the licensing exam for nurses run by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.
Official website: scfhs.org.sa · More on NurseFlyAbroad
Test of Competence (CBT and OSCE)
The NMC's two-part test for nurses trained outside the UK: a computer-based test (CBT) of nursing knowledge, usually taken in your home country, and a practical exam (OSCE) taken in the UK.
Official website: nmc.org.uk · More on NurseFlyAbroad
VisaScreen
A certificate from CGFNS International that US immigration requires for nurses educated abroad. It confirms your education, licence and English.
Official website: cgfns.org · More on NurseFlyAbroad
WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List
A World Health Organization list of countries with the most pressing health workforce needs. Under the WHO Global Code of Practice, countries are asked not to actively recruit health workers from them.