Credential Evaluation Requirements

All applicants who are internationally educated, or attended a nursing program without an NCLEX code, are required to submit a credential evaluation with their license application.

Note: As of 2015, many Canadian nursing programs have an NCLEX code. These applicants are not required to submit a credential evaluation.

A credential evaluation verifies that your education is equivalent to U.S. standards and provides the documentation OSBN needs to review your application. OSBN can use a credential evaluation that was created for another licensing board or school, if it includes all the required information.

Credential Evaluations must include:

Confirmation of successful completion of a nursing education program authorized by the appropriate regulatory body of the country it resides in.
Details, including a course-by-course review, of theory and clinical hours completed
Verification that the education is comparable to a U.S. registered nurse or practical/vocational nurse education program
If applicable, licensure details from the country of origin including type of license held and any disciplinary action taken against the licensee.

Getting a Credential Evaluation:

Please note that OSBN staff cannot recommend or endorse specific credential evaluation agencies. The following options are commonly used by OSBN applicants:

Nursing or healthcare-specific evaluation services:
TruMerit | Care Anywhere | Nursing Credentials Evaluation
3600 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651
Phone: 215-222-8454

General academic credential evaluation services:
The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is an association of independent credential evaluation agencies that assess international education for U.S. academic equivalency. OSBN has previously accepted evaluations from the following NACES-member agencies:

Many credential evaluation agencies offer a range of options to choose from, please ensure that you select one that will meet OSBN's requirements. While a credential evaluation is necessary, OSBN makes the final determination on whether your education meets Oregon's licensure requirements.

Choosing a Credential Evaluation Service

When selecting an evaluation service, applicants should consider:

Can the agency provide an evaluation which meets OSBN standards?
Does the agency have experience evaluating nursing or healthcare education?
Does the agency follow best practices for document verification?
Are there clear processing times, fees, and submission instructions?

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing has developed a short list of Credential Evaluation Best Practices to consider.