The Philadelphia-based Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools on Tuesday announced the opening of an examination centre in New Delhi. The first examination in Delhi (centre number 852) will be conducted on November 12.

CGFNS, an immigration-neutral, private not-for-profit organisation established in 1977, has two such centres in Bangalore and Cochin.

In addition, the CGFNS is also accepting applications for a special examination scheduled for September 10 in Bangalore (centre number 850) and Cochin (centre number 851).

The special examination is in response to numerous requests for an additional opportunity to take the examination, the CGFNS said. The deadline for submission of applications for the September 10th examination is June 11.

The organisation administers the examinations three times a year for nurses educated outside the United States and who wish to practise nursing here. The exams are held at over 40 locations worldwide in March, July and November.

CGFNS received approval from the Indian government to administer its examinations in India two years ago and the first exam was at Bangalore on March 13, 2002.

It is mandatory in 40 US states that nurses educated outside the country pass the CGFNS Qualifying Exam before being authorised for the NCLEX-RNšexamination, the US national licensure exam for registered nurses.

After passing the CGFNS examination, the nurses have to pass an English proficiency test before they can get a Visa Screen Certificate from the CGFNS.

More information: www.cgfns.org