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NCLEX-RN for Indian nurses: the complete pathway

If you trained as a nurse in India and are thinking about working in the United States, the NCLEX-RN is the licensing exam you will almost certainly need to pass. This guide explains the whole journey in plain language: who decides whether you can sit the exam, what TruMerit (formerly CGFNS) does, what it costs, where you can test in India, and how to prepare for a style of exam that is very different from most Indian nursing exams.

Every factual statement about fees, eligibility, test centres, English requirements and pass rates links to an official source, listed at the end with the date we checked it. Where we could not confirm something from an official source, we say so rather than guess.

This page is not immigration or legal advice. Requirements change and differ between US states. Always confirm with the board of nursing you apply to, TruMerit, and the official NCLEX website before paying for anything.

The short answer

  • Yes, Indian-educated nurses take the NCLEX-RN. In 2025, 4,866 first-time candidates educated in India took it for US licensure.[1]
  • There is no single national eligibility rule. Each US state or territory board of nursing sets its own requirements for internationally educated nurses.[2]
  • You usually deal with three organisations: a US board of nursing (eligibility and licence), a credentials service such as TruMerit if your board requires it, and Pearson VUE (exam registration and scheduling).
  • You can take the exam in India. NCSBN's April 2026 list shows Pearson VUE centres in 15 Indian cities.[3]
  • The exam fee is US$200 until 31 January 2027, then US$350. Testing outside the US adds a US$150 international scheduling fee.[4][5][6]
  • Passing is hard but achievable with the right preparation. India-educated first-time candidates passed at 33.3% in 2025, compared with 47.3% for all internationally educated first-time candidates.[1][7]

What the NCLEX-RN is, and what it is not

The NCLEX-RN is the licensing exam used by US boards of nursing. It is also required to register as an RN everywhere in Canada except Quebec,[8] and it is the multiple-choice stage of Australia's outcomes-based assessment for internationally qualified nurses.[9]

It is not:

  • A UK exam. Nurses trained outside the UK join the NMC register through the NMC Test of Competence (a computer-based test plus an OSCE), not the NCLEX.[10]
  • A work visa. Passing the NCLEX is part of licensure. A US occupational visa is a separate process. For nurses it involves a VisaScreen certificate, which itself requires passing the NCLEX-RN (or TruMerit's qualifying exam) and meeting English-test requirements.[11][12]
  • A recall test. Since April 2023 the Next Generation NCLEX has been designed to measure clinical judgment and decision-making.[13] You will not pass by memorising facts alone.

The exam has between 85 and 150 questions, with a five-hour time limit that includes the tutorial and optional breaks.[14]

Who decides whether you are eligible

This is the most important point to understand, and the one most often oversimplified online: the US board of nursing you apply to decides your eligibility, not NCSBN, not Pearson VUE, and not an agency. Each board sets its own requirements, and they vary between states.[2]

Pearson VUE only issues your Authorization to Test (ATT) after your board has declared you eligible.[2]

Example: New York

New York is a board many internationally educated nurses research, so here is what its official requirements say. These are New York rules only, not US-wide rules. For foreign-educated RN applicants, NYSED lists:[15]

  1. A general nursing education program of at least two academic years that is acceptable to NYSED and certified by your country's licensing authority as preparing registered nurses.
  2. NYSED-approved coursework in infection control and child-abuse reporting (or an exemption).
  3. Application Form 1 and a fee of US$143 for licence and first registration.[16]
  4. Verified education credentials, either through TruMerit's Credentials Verification Service for New York (which NYSED describes as optional) or by having your school send Form 2F directly.
  5. A passing result on the NCLEX-RN.

New York asks every applicant for a US Social Security Number, but gives applicants who do not have one a nine-digit identifier instead.[17] We have not verified SSN policies for other boards, so do not assume the same rule applies elsewhere.

GNM diploma or B.Sc. Nursing?

Many GNM-qualified nurses want a clear yes or no, and the honest answer is more useful than a yes or a no: the question is not your qualification's level, it is whether your transcript covers what the board requires.

  • No board we checked excludes diploma education. Across California, Texas, New York, Illinois and Florida, none publishes a rule that shuts out a diploma or three-year programme. California's own international questionnaire asks whether your programme was "two year, three year" and whether you received a "certificate or diploma", and New York's education law asks for a diploma or a degree.[18]
  • California is the one board you can partly check yourself in advance, because it publishes the actual standard: at least 58 semester units, including 18 units of nursing theory and 18 of clinical practice, 6 units of communication and 16 units of behavioural and natural sciences, with theory and clinical practice taken concurrently in medical, surgical, obstetric, paediatric and psychiatric nursing.[19] Map your transcript to that list before you pay anyone.
  • Texas, Illinois and Florida publish no hour or content standard at all. They decide from a course-by-course credential evaluation, so nobody, including us, can tell you the answer in advance.[18]
  • New York's stated minimum is a general nursing programme of at least two academic years acceptable to NYSED, and "acceptable" is not defined publicly.[15] New York law also requires registered nurses to obtain a bachelor's degree or higher within 10 years of licensure unless an exemption applies.[20]
  • The Indian Nursing Council lists GNM as a three-year programme (three and a half years before 2015–16) and B.Sc. Nursing (Basic) as a four-year programme.[21]
  • GNM has not been withdrawn. We found no official notification discontinuing it; the Council's own circulars discontinue the vocational ANM course, not GNM.[22]

What is still genuinely unknown: no board publishes a comparability threshold that tells a GNM holder in advance whether their specific transcript will pass, except California.[unconfirmed]

What to do: compare your transcript with the California list above, because it is the clearest published standard anywhere. Then ask your chosen board in writing about diploma-level education from India, and keep the reply. If an agency says GNM is "definitely accepted" or "definitely rejected", ask for the official source.

TruMerit (formerly CGFNS): what it does

CGFNS International now operates as TruMerit. Its old website redirects to the new name.[24] Many US boards use TruMerit services to check education and licences from outside the US. Which service a board wants varies by state:[24]

TruMerit service What it is for Fee (checked 15 Sep 2026)
Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report A detailed comparison of your nursing education and licences with US standards, used by many boards US$485[24]
Credentials Verification Service for New York State Verification of your credentials for NYSED (optional under NYSED's own rules) US$425[25]
VisaScreen The healthcare-worker certificate needed for a US occupational visa (not for your licence) US$740[11]

Your nursing registration in India

In India, your licence to practise comes from your State Nursing Registration Council, not the Indian Nursing Council. The INC's NRTS/NUID enrolment is not a licence or a registration.[26]

This matters because US processes ask for licence verification from the body that issued your licence:

  • TruMerit's CES asks for every licence and registration you have held to be sent directly by the issuing authority, with a validation signature dated within the last three years.[27]
  • TruMerit's Certification Program requires a current, unrestricted RN licence from your country of education.[27]
  • New York needs verification of a foreign nursing licence if you hold one.[27]

How the verification actually travels. Both ends of the chain are documented, and the gap is in the middle:

  • TruMerit sends two different forms out: a Transcript Validation Form to your school and a License Validation Form to your licensing authority. Neither can be downloaded before you place an order, and TruMerit's own guidance says primary-source documents take about 14 weeks to arrive.[28]
  • Boards ask for the same thing in their own way: California has an international licence-verification form, New York's Form 3 states it will not be accepted if the applicant submits it, and Texas wants a sealed verification.[29]
  • The Indian Nursing Council publishes no outbound verification service at all, so the request goes to your State Nursing Council, not to the INC.[30]
  • Delhi Nursing Council publishes a complete procedure: a fee of Rs 4,000 plus 18% GST plus postal charges, 15 to 30 days to process, a document slot for an overseas council's own form, and delivery to the overseas body by email.[31] Tamil Nadu publishes a procedure without a fee. Kerala, Karnataka and Punjab publish nothing we could reach, and the Council's own directory links to a parked or non-existent domain for two of them.

What is still unknown: how a council's emailed "good standing" letter satisfies an evaluator that asks for sealed, posted, primary-source documents.[unconfirmed] Ask your State Nursing Council what format they send, and ask TruMerit whether they accept it, before you pay for an evaluation.

One more thing worth knowing: TruMerit's state pages and a board's own rules can disagree. TruMerit's page says California requires a CES Professional Report, while the California board's own guideline says a CGFNS evaluation is not required and the school sends transcripts directly. When the two conflict, the board's own published rule is the one that governs your application.[33]

The step-by-step pathway

The order below is typical. Some steps run in parallel, and your board may require more.

  1. Choose a board of nursing and read its requirements for internationally educated nurses in full.[2]
  2. Gather documents from India: your State Nursing Council registration and verification, and transcripts from your college or university sent in the way your board or TruMerit requires.[27]
  3. Complete credential evaluation or verification if your board requires it (for example TruMerit CES, or for New York either TruMerit CVS or Form 2F).[15]
  4. Apply to the board and pay its fee (New York: US$143).[16]
  5. Register for the NCLEX with Pearson VUE and pay the registration fee. Your registration stays open for 365 days while the board decides your eligibility. The fee is non-refundable.[4]
  6. Receive your Authorization to Test (ATT). It is valid for a period set by your board, typically about 90 days, and cannot be extended.[34]
  7. Schedule and sit the exam, in India or elsewhere, before your ATT expires.[34]

After you pass, licensure is decided by your board. Working in the US also requires a separate immigration process, for which nurses need a VisaScreen certificate.[11]

What it costs

These are the official exam and credential fees we could verify. Your total will also include items we have not priced: English tests, document fees in India, courier costs, translations and preparation resources.

Fee Amount Applies
NCLEX registration (US licensure) US$200 Registrations until 31 January 2027[4]
NCLEX registration (US licensure) US$350 From 1 February 2027[5]
International scheduling fee (testing outside the US, e.g. India) US$150 plus VAT where applicable Unchanged in 2027[6]
TruMerit CES Professional Report US$485 If your board requires it[24]
TruMerit CVS for New York US$425 Optional route for New York[25]
New York licence and first registration US$143 New York applicants[16]
VisaScreen certificate US$740 Later, for the visa process[11]

About tax on the international scheduling fee: NCSBN says VAT is added "where applicable". Pearson VUE's general tax FAQ for India mentions GST, but it does not name the NCLEX, so we do not publish a rate.[6]

Estimate your official fees

Tick the fees that apply to you. Amounts are official US-dollar fees checked on 2026-09-15. English tests, documents, travel and preparation are not included.

Total: US$350

Your bank may add card or currency-conversion charges. Tax on the international scheduling fee is not included.

About timing: if you are planning to register around January 2027, check the date carefully. The registration fee rises by US$150 on 1 February 2027.[5]

Taking the NCLEX in India: test centres and ID

India is one of NCSBN's international testing locations.[35] NCSBN's April 2026 list shows 20 Pearson VUE centres in 15 cities:[3]

Ahmedabad · Amritsar · Bangalore · Chandigarh · Chennai · Gurugram · Hyderabad · Jalandhar · Ludhiana · Mohali · Mumbai · New Delhi · Noida · Pune · Surat

Things candidates often miss:

  • There is no centre in Kerala or Kolkata on the April 2026 list.[3] Nurses from Kerala, West Bengal and the North East should plan travel costs. Centres can change, so check Pearson VUE's locator when you book.
  • Your passport is the only accepted ID at international centres. It must be a physical, unexpired passport book or card, and your first and last names must match your registration exactly.[36] If they do not match, you can be turned away, and you lose the international scheduling fee.
  • The international scheduling fee is non-refundable. If you move your appointment from an international centre to a US centre, you forfeit it.[6]

English-language tests

Two different English requirements are often confused.

1. For a US work visa (VisaScreen). Nursing education in India does not qualify for VisaScreen's English-test exemption, which covers only entry-level nursing education in the UK, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Ireland and the US.[37] For tests taken on or after 12 May 2026, the minimum scores for registered nurses are:[12]

Test Minimum for RNs (tests from 12 May 2026)
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, 7 in Speaking
OET Speaking 360, Reading 340, Writing 350, Listening 320
PTE Academic 55 overall, 76 in Speaking, 62 in Reading, Writing and Listening
TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall, 4.5 in Speaking, 3.5 in Reading, Listening and Writing (on TOEFL's revised score scale)

At-home versions of these tests are not accepted, and TOEIC is no longer accepted.[12] Many guides still quote the old scores. Tests taken before 12 May 2026 are judged against the previous criteria.[12]

2. For your licence (board of nursing). Whether a board requires an English test varies. The New York pages we reviewed do not state one.[37] Check your own board.

Pass rates: what the numbers mean for you

NCSBN publishes pass rates by country of education. For first-time candidates in 2025 taking the NCLEX-RN:

Group Candidates Pass rate
Educated in India (US licensure) 4,866 33.3%[1]
Educated in India (Canadian registration) 4,559 31.6%[1]
All internationally educated (US licensure) 52,827 47.3%[7]
US-educated (US licensure) 192,916 86.7%[38]

These numbers do not mean Indian nurses are less capable. They reflect how different the NCLEX is from the exams most Indian nursing programmes prepare you for, and how differently US practice is organised. They also mean preparation strategy matters more than hours of study. The next section explains where the gap usually is.

How the NCLEX differs from Indian nursing exams

Nobody publishes a validated breakdown of why internationally educated candidates fail, so treat the points below as the areas to check first, not as statistics.

  1. Clinical judgment, not recall. The Next Generation NCLEX measures clinical judgment and decision-making.[13] Questions ask what you would do first, what needs follow-up, or which findings matter, and several answers can look correct.
  2. US staffing and delegation. Questions assume US roles: registered nurses, licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/LVN) and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). What each may do is not the same as the ward roles you worked with in India. See prioritization and delegation.
  3. US drug names and units. You will see acetaminophen (not paracetamol), epinephrine (not adrenaline), pounds, and blood glucose in mg/dL. See the US nursing terminology guide and dosage calculations in US units.
  4. New question formats. Select-all-that-apply, matrix and case-study items need a different technique. See NGN question types.
  5. US legal and ethical frameworks. Consent, documentation and client-rights questions assume US law and hospital practice.

The fastest way to find your gaps is to measure them. Our free diagnostic flags these international-nurse gaps separately from clinical topics.

Common mistakes Indian candidates make

  • Treating agency advice as official. Only your board decides eligibility.[2] Ask for the official source behind any claim about your eligibility.
  • Using outdated English score requirements. The VisaScreen minimums changed for tests taken from 12 May 2026.[12]
  • Name mismatches. Your registration name must match your passport exactly, or you can be turned away.[36]
  • Missing the ATT window. The validity period cannot be extended.[34]
  • Forgetting the 2027 fee change when budgeting.[5]
  • Preparing by memorising. Question banks are useful, but volume without understanding why each answer is right or wrong rarely closes a clinical-judgment gap.
  • Trusting "real" or "recalled" NCLEX questions. Anyone selling recalled exam questions is offering material you should not use. Beyond the ethical problem, it trains you on unreliable content.

A practical plan for your next four weeks

  1. Week 1: choose one or two boards and read their full requirements for internationally educated nurses. Write down every document they ask for.
  2. Week 1: take the free diagnostic to see which clinical areas and US-practice gaps need the most work.
  3. Week 2: contact your State Nursing Council about licence verification for overseas regulators, and your college or university about official transcripts.
  4. Week 2: check whether your board requires a TruMerit service, and which one.
  5. Week 3: if you plan to work in the US, check the current VisaScreen English requirements and book the right test (not an at-home version).
  6. Weeks 1–4: study the areas your diagnostic flagged, starting with prioritization and delegation and US terminology.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the NCLEX-RN from India without going to the US?

Yes. India is an international testing location, and NCSBN's April 2026 list shows centres in 15 Indian cities.[3] Your board still has to make you eligible first.[2]

Is GNM accepted for the NCLEX?

No board we checked excludes diploma education outright, and the Indian GNM has not been withdrawn.[18][22] What decides it is whether your transcript matches the board's content requirements, which only California publishes in advance.[19] No board publishes a threshold you can test yourself otherwise, so ask the board in writing.[unconfirmed]

Do I need TruMerit (CGFNS)?

Only if your board requires one of its services, and the service varies by state.[24] For example, New York describes its TruMerit verification service as optional.[15]

How much does the NCLEX cost for Indian nurses?

US$200 registration until 31 January 2027 (US$350 from 1 February 2027), plus a US$150 international scheduling fee if you test in India.[4][5][6] Board, credential and visa costs are separate.

How many questions are on the NCLEX-RN?

Between 85 and 150, within a five-hour limit.[14]

What IELTS score do nurses need for the USA?

For VisaScreen, tests taken from 12 May 2026 need IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 7 in Speaking.[12] Board requirements, if any, are separate.

Is the NCLEX the same as the UK CBT?

No. The UK uses the NMC Test of Competence (CBT and OSCE), not the NCLEX.[10]

About this guide

This guide was written for internationally educated nurses by our team, which is led by a founder who trained as a nurse in India and later registered as a nurse in the UK. It is educational information, not legal or immigration advice, and we are not affiliated with NCSBN, Pearson VUE, TruMerit or any board of nursing. Facts were checked against official sources on 15 September 2026 and are due for re-checking by 15 December 2026, and again when NCSBN publishes 2026 statistics. If you spot an error, please tell us through our corrections policy.

Sources and verification

Each numbered source supports the statements marked with that number. We re-check official sources on the date shown and whenever they change.

  1. In 2025, 4,866 first-time candidates educated in India took the NCLEX-RN for US licensure and 33.3% passed. Another 4,559 took it for Canadian registration, with a 31.6% pass rate. NCSBN - 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics, Tables 9, 11 and 15 (by country of education) · checked 2026-09-15
  2. No single national rule decides who can sit the NCLEX. Each US state or territory board of nursing sets its own eligibility and licensure requirements for internationally educated nurses. NCSBN (nclex.com); NCSBN · checked 2026-09-15
  3. As of NCSBN's April 2026 list, Indian NCLEX test centres are in Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Mumbai, New Delhi, Noida, Pune and Surat. NCSBN (nclex.com) - International Pearson Professional Center Sites and Addresses, Updated April 2026; NCSBN (nclex.com) · checked 2026-09-15
  4. The NCLEX-RN registration fee is US$200 for candidates seeking US licensure. It is paid to Pearson VUE, is non-refundable, and does not include the separate licensure fee charged by your nursing regulatory body. NCSBN (nclex.com); NCSBN / Pearson (2026 Candidate Bulletin, rev 04/2026) · checked 2026-09-15
  5. From 1 February 2027 the NCLEX registration fee rises to US$350 (US and Australia) and CAD 570 (Canada). International scheduling and change fees are not changing. NCSBN; NCSBN (nclex.com) · checked 2026-09-15
  6. If you book an NCLEX appointment at an international test centre (such as in India), you pay an extra non-refundable international scheduling fee of US$150, plus value-added tax where applicable. NCSBN (nclex.com); NCSBN / Pearson (2026 Candidate Bulletin); Pearson VUE · checked 2026-09-15
  7. In 2025, 47.3% of first-time, internationally educated candidates passed the NCLEX-RN for US licensure (24,999 of 52,827). NCSBN - 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics (published 2026), Table 1 and Table 2 · checked 2026-09-15
  8. Everywhere in Canada except Quebec, RN applicants must pass the NCLEX-RN. Internationally educated nurses usually start by applying to the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), which assesses credentials; the provincial regulator makes the licensing decision. Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR); National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS); NNAS · checked 2026-09-15
  9. In Australia, the NCLEX-RN is the multiple-choice exam for internationally qualified RNs who go through the NMBA outcomes-based assessment. It is followed by a clinical exam (OSCE). Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA); NCSBN (nclex.com) - Pathway to Practice flyer, updated 12/25; NMBA · checked 2026-09-15
  10. The UK does not use the NCLEX. Nurses trained overseas join the NMC register by passing the NMC Test of Competence: a multiple-choice computer-based test (CBT) and a practical clinical exam (OSCE). Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK); NMC; NMC - ToC 2021 Nursing Test Specification · checked 2026-09-15
  11. A VisaScreen application (the healthcare worker certificate needed for a US occupational visa) costs US$740. TruMerit (formerly CGFNS International) · checked 2026-09-15
  12. For English tests taken on or after 12 May 2026, VisaScreen minimum scores for registered nurses are: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 7 in Speaking; TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall, 4.5 Speaking and 3.5 in Reading, Listening and Writing; OET 360 Speaking, 340 Reading, 350 Writing and 320 Listening; PTE Academic 55 overall, 76 Speaking and 62 in Reading, Writing and Listening. At-home test versions are not accepted. TruMerit; US HRSA (HHS); TruMerit · checked 2026-09-15
  13. The Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) launched on 1 April 2023. NCSBN (nclex.com) · checked 2026-09-15
  14. The NCLEX-RN has between 85 and 150 questions, with a five-hour time limit that includes the tutorial and optional breaks. NCSBN / Pearson (2026 Candidate Bulletin); NCSBN - NCLEX-RN Test Plan Effective April 2026 · checked 2026-09-15
  15. For New York, foreign-educated RN applicants need: a general nursing programme of at least two academic years acceptable to NYSED; NYSED-approved infection control and child abuse reporting coursework (or an exemption); Form 1 with the $143 fee; verified credentials; and a pass on the NCLEX-RN. Using TruMerit's CVS is optional but recommended. NYSED Office of the Professions (RN Pathway #5); NYSED Office of the Professions; NYSED Office of the Professions · checked 2026-09-15
  16. New York charges US$143 for RN licensure and first registration. A limited permit costs US$35. New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions; NYSED Office of the Professions · checked 2026-09-15
  17. In New York, you do not need a US Social Security Number to apply. NYSED asks all licensure applicants for an SSN but assigns a nine-digit identifier to anyone without one. NYSED Office of the Professions · checked 2026-09-15
  18. None of the five US boards we checked (California, Texas, New York, Illinois, Florida) publishes a rule excluding diploma-level international nursing programmes. New York expressly lists Diploma programmes as licence-qualifying and sets a minimum of two academic years for a foreign general nursing programme. California's own international forms ask whether the programme runs two or three years and whether it awards a certificate or a diploma. Texas's list of non-approved international schools names only two schools, both in the Philippines. NYSED Office of the Professions; California Board of Registered Nursing - General Nursing Program Overview Questionnaire and Components; Texas Board of Nursing - Non Approved International School(s) · checked 2026-09-16
  19. California is the one board we checked that publishes the curriculum an internationally educated applicant is measured against. Its guideline reproduces CCR 1426: not less than 58 semester units overall, including 18 semester units of nursing theory and 18 of nursing clinical, 6 units of communications and 16 units of behavioural and natural sciences; five content areas (medical-surgical, obstetrics, paediatrics, geriatrics, psychiatric-mental health); and theory and clinical practice in each content area must be completed concurrently. The board warns that applicants may be found not eligible for failing to meet this curriculum. California Board of Registered Nursing - EDP-I-35, 'CA RN Licensure Qualifications for Graduates of International Nursing Program'; California Board of Registered Nursing - Breakdown of International Nursing Educational Program · checked 2026-09-16
  20. New York law requires registered nurses to hold or obtain a baccalaureate (or higher) degree in nursing within 10 years of New York licensure unless exempt; a clarifying amendment to the Commissioner's regulations took effect on 29 April 2026. NYSED Office of the Professions; NYSED Office of the Professions · checked 2026-09-15
  21. The Indian Nursing Council lists GNM as a three-year programme (three and a half years before 2015–16) and B.Sc. Nursing (Basic) as a four-year programme; Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing is two years regular or three years distance. Indian Nursing Council · checked 2026-09-15
  22. The Indian Nursing Council still lists General Nursing and Midwifery as a current programme, and its published circulars and resolutions contain no notification discontinuing or phasing out GNM. The only discontinuation notice on that page concerns the vocational ANM course. Indian Nursing Council - Circulars and Resolutions; Indian Nursing Council - Nursing Programs · checked 2026-09-16
  23. Not confirmed by an official source: Whether an Indian GNM diploma satisfies a given board's education requirement. No board we checked names India or GNM, and only California publishes criteria an applicant could test a transcript against in advance. · not verified
  24. The TruMerit (formerly CGFNS) Credentials Evaluation Service Professional Report, which many US boards of nursing require, costs US$485. TruMerit (formerly CGFNS International); TruMerit · checked 2026-09-15
  25. TruMerit's Credentials Verification Service for New York State costs US$425. TruMerit (formerly CGFNS International) · checked 2026-09-15
  26. In India, nurses are registered and licensed by their State Nursing Registration Council, not by the Indian Nursing Council. The INC's NRTS/NUID enrolment is not itself a licence. Indian Nursing Council - FAQs on NRTS · checked 2026-09-15
  27. TruMerit's Certification Program requires a current, unrestricted RN licence from your country of education, verified directly by the licensing body. Board requirements vary: New York only requires foreign licence verification if you were licensed. TruMerit; TruMerit; NYSED Office of the Professions · checked 2026-09-15
  28. TruMerit uses two named forms and they go to two different places. You sign the first page of the Transcript Validation Form and send it to your nursing school, which completes it, attaches your transcripts and sends them straight to TruMerit. You sign the first page of the License Validation Form and send it to your licensing agency - in India, your State Nursing Registration Council - which completes it and sends it straight to TruMerit. TruMerit will not accept either document from you. Both forms are generated inside your paid TruMerit Connect order, so neither can be downloaded or shown to your school or council in advance. TruMerit - How to Submit Documents; TruMerit - Application Processing Times · checked 2026-09-16
  29. Where a US board or TruMerit needs your Indian registration verified, the verification travels from the licensing authority to them, never through you. California publishes a form you send to your licensing agency, which completes it and returns it to the board under a country seal. New York will not accept its licence verification form from the applicant at all. Texas requires the verification to come directly from the licensing authority bearing its official seal, valid for one year. TruMerit requires licences and registrations to be sent directly by the issuing authority and runs a Credential Transfer Portal for schools and regulators to submit them electronically. California Board of Registered Nursing - International License Verification; NYSED Office of the Professions - Form 3; Texas Board of Nursing - Licensure by Examination, Step 9 · checked 2026-09-16
  30. The Indian Nursing Council publishes no verification, good standing or certificate-for-abroad service for individual nurses. Its published services are institution-facing, plus NRTS enrolment, which its own FAQ says is neither a licence nor a registration. Its one credential-assessment service, Equivalency, runs the other way: it is for people with a foreign nursing qualification seeking registration in India. Indian Nursing Council - Equivalency; Indian Nursing Council - FAQs on NRTS; Indian Nursing Council - Notification-9 of 2023, F.NO.22-40/Web/2023-INC · checked 2026-09-16
  31. Of the five State Nursing Councils we checked, only the Delhi Nursing Council publishes a complete overseas verification procedure. It runs online, costs Rs 4,000 plus 18% GST and postal charges, takes fifteen to thirty days, and the document list includes a slot for the overseas council's own form. The Tamil Nadu council publishes a foreign verification and good standing service but not its fee. Kerala, Karnataka and Punjab publish no reachable procedure at all. Delhi Nursing Council - Overseas Verification Procedure; Delhi Nursing Council - Fee Structure; Tamil Nadu Nurses & Midwives Council - Online NOC / Foreign Verification Services · checked 2026-09-16
  32. Not confirmed by an official source: How verification of Indian nursing registration reaches TruMerit or a US board: which Indian body completes the validation, by what procedure, at what fee, and in what time. · not verified
  33. TruMerit's own state pages can say a service is required when the board's own documents do not. TruMerit's California page lists the Credentials Evaluation Service Professional Report as required for RN initial licensure, while the California Board of Registered Nursing's guideline says a CGFNS evaluation is not required and that the school sends the transcript and breakdown form directly to the board. The same mismatch already exists for New York. Follow the board. TruMerit - California Nursing Credentials Evaluation; California Board of Registered Nursing - EDP-I-35 · checked 2026-09-16
  34. Your Authorization to Test (ATT) is valid for a period set by your nursing regulatory body, typically about 90 days, and cannot be extended. You must test within those dates or re-register and pay again. NCSBN / Pearson (2026 Candidate Bulletin); NCSBN (nclex.com) · checked 2026-09-15
  35. India is one of the international locations where you can take the NCLEX. NCSBN (nclex.com); NCSBN (nclex.com) · checked 2026-09-15
  36. At international NCLEX test centres, including in India, the only accepted ID is a passport book or card. It must be physical, unexpired, government-issued, in Roman characters, with a recent photo and signature, and your name must exactly match your registration. NCSBN (nclex.com); NCSBN / Pearson (2026 Candidate Bulletin) · checked 2026-09-15
  37. Nursing education in India does not qualify for TruMerit's VisaScreen English-test exemption. The exemption only covers entry-level nursing education in the UK, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Ireland or the US, taught in English. TruMerit · checked 2026-09-15
  38. In 2025, 86.7% of first-time, US-educated candidates passed the NCLEX-RN (167,272 of 192,916). NCSBN - 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics, Table 1 · checked 2026-09-15