NCLEX Test Sites For Filipinos

NCLEX® Test Sites : Guam and Saipan Test Sites Changeover of Interest to Philippine nurses.

By Meladee M. Stankus, RN MS

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing has selected the Pearson Professional Testing Company (VUE) to manage all NCLEX® test sites. The Chauncey Group will be transitioning over in the next few weeks, in preparation for ending their NCLEX® contract. The Chauncey Group will accept NCLEX® examination registrations up to the close of business on August 15^th, 2002 . Any mail registrations received after August 15^th will be returned to the candidate. Candidates attempting to register by phone after the 15^th, will be directed to contact Pearson for more information. Pearson will begin accepting and processing registrations on August 16^th, via the mail, phone and the Internet.

During my July 02 trip to the Philippines, many nurses who attended the nurse meetings were under the belief that the Saipan Test Site for NCLEX® would be closed. After checking with both the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and the Pearson Company, both centers will remain open, under new management. Casey Marks, PhD, Director of Testing for the National Council State Boards of Nursing indicated that the Prometric Centers will continue testing until September 27^th and then Pearson will begin to manage test centers on October 1, 2002. Please note the new test centers in Guam, open on 07/01/02 and Saipan on 10/01/02.

Pearson Professional Center - UIU Building

267 South Marine Drive, Suite 2E

Tamuning, Guam 96913

671-649-2286

Capacity – 8 Seats For schedule of testing call toll free 1 (866) 895 9016

Pearson Professional Center- Del Sol Building

Suite 102

PO Box 500027

Garapan, Saipan 96950

670 233 0216

Capacity – 4 Seats For schedule of testing - toll call +61-2-9320-5454

Many nurses in the Philippines take the NCLEX® in Guam or Saipan. For travel to Saipan, Philippine nurses do not require a US Tourist Visa. For travel to Guam, Philippine nurses are required to obtain a US Travel Visa. Nurses who have the NCLEX® paperwork should not have difficulty in obtaining the needed visa for NCLEX® testing in Guam. It does however require, fees and paperwork and therefore, Saipan may be more attractive to some nurses, as travel package costs are very similar. Philippine nurses can usually find a package that includes airfare, airport transfers, hotel, breakfast and transportation to NCLEX® test site for about $500 US, from Manila.

The larger Philippine travel agencies provide processing for the US Travel Visa at a cost of about 1000 PhP. http://www.rajahtours.com/rgc/rajah_group_of_companies.htm

http://www.vue.com/NCLEX®/ NCS Pearson VUE web site

http://www.ncsbn.org/ National Council State Boards of Nursing web site

http://usembassy.state.gov/manila/wwwh3024.html web page for US Embassy Manila pages on tourist visa, downloadable forms.

Reference: http://www.nurseimmigrationusa.com