{"id":3842,"date":"2026-04-10T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/?p=3842"},"modified":"2026-05-21T14:41:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:41:14","slug":"nursing-healthcare-worker-certificate-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/fr\/nursing-healthcare-worker-certificate-usa\/","title":{"rendered":"Certificat de personnel de sant\u00e9 en soins infirmiers aux \u00c9tats-Unis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Requirements, Processing Time, and 1996 Law Explained (2026 Guide)<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nurses who want to work in the United States must complete a critical step in the immigration process: obtaining a healthcare worker certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This requirement is essential for many immigration pathways and helps confirm that foreign nationals meet U.S. professional standards before entering the workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why the Healthcare Worker Certificate Exists<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The healthcare worker certificate requirement comes from the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), specifically Section 343.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under this law, certain foreign healthcare professionals, including nurses, must verify their qualifications before they can complete parts of the U.S. immigration process tied to working in a healthcare occupation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For nursing professionals, this process is designed to confirm:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Education equivalency<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Valid licensure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>English language proficiency<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clinical and professional readiness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without a healthcare worker certificate, many internationally educated nurses cannot move forward with certain immigration steps required to work in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Needs a Nursing Healthcare Worker Certificate?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You will likely need a healthcare worker certificate if you are a:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Registered Nurse (RN)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This requirement commonly applies in cases involving:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Employment-based immigration, including many EB-3 nursing cases<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adjustment of status applications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certain temporary or nonimmigrant work visa situations involving covered healthcare occupations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For many applicants, this is a key part of the foreign nurse immigration process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nursing Healthcare Worker Certificate Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To obtain a healthcare worker certificate, applicants generally must complete several core steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Education Review<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A credential evaluation is used to confirm that your nursing education is comparable to the required U.S. standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. License Verification<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You must provide proof of a valid and active nursing license in your home country or country of practice, depending on the issuing organization\u2019s requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Examination Review<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on the case and the certification pathway, the issuing organization may review required nursing exams, licensure exams, or other qualifying professional benchmarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. English Language Proficiency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Applicants may need to demonstrate English language proficiency unless an exemption applies under the relevant rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Processing Time for Nursing Healthcare Worker Certification<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The total processing time depends on several factors, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How quickly the applicant submits complete documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How long schools, licensing bodies, and other institutions take to respond<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whether any required exams or English testing have already been completed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whether additional verification is needed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, timelines can range from several weeks to a few months depending on the provider and the complexity of the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cost of a Nursing Healthcare Worker Certificate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The total cost can vary by provider and by case. Fees may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Application processing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Credential evaluation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>License verification<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>English proficiency review<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any additional verification services<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Applicants should always review the current fee structure of the organization they choose before starting the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Can Issue These Certificates?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only organizations approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are authorized to issue valid healthcare worker certificates for nurses for immigration purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of 2026, the approved organizations include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>CGFNS International, Inc. (now TruMerit), issuer of the VisaScreen certificate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Evaluation Company (TEC), formerly known as SpanTran<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>International Education Evaluations (IEE)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Josef Silny &amp; Associates, Inc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Evaluation Company is one of the USCIS-approved organizations authorized to issue healthcare worker certificates for nurses, giving applicants another approved option when choosing a provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certificates issued by organizations that are not approved by USCIS will not be accepted for the relevant immigration process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Credential Evaluation vs. Healthcare Worker Certificate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These two services are often confused, but they are not the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Credential Evaluation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A credential evaluation is typically used for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>University admissions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>State licensure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Academic equivalency review<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its main purpose is to evaluate the academic level and content of foreign education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Healthcare Worker Certificate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A healthcare worker certificate is required for certain immigration-related purposes and goes beyond a standard academic evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It may include review of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Licensure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>English language proficiency<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other professional qualification requirements under the applicable rules<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why This Matters for Foreign National Nurses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The United States continues to rely on foreign nationals to help meet workforce demand. At the same time, immigration rules remain strict because nurses must meet professional and public safety standards before working in a U.S. healthcare setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The healthcare worker certificate plays an important role in that process by helping verify that the applicant\u2019s qualifications meet the standard required for immigration purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Takeaway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The healthcare worker certificate requirement comes from the 1996 immigration law, IIRIRA, under Section 343.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It applies to many nurses pursuing U.S. immigration pathways tied to healthcare work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is used to verify education, licensure, English proficiency, and other required qualifications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Only USCIS-approved organizations can issue valid certificates for this purpose.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Evaluation Company is now one of the approved organizations authorized to issue these certificates for nurses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"display:none;\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"Article\",\n  \"headline\": \"Nursing Healthcare Worker Certificate USA: Requirements, Processing Time, and 1996 Law Explained (2026 Guide)\",\n  \"description\": \"A complete guide for internationally educated nurses on the Healthcare Worker Certificate requirement under the 1996 immigration law, including who needs it, what the requirements are, how long it takes, and which USCIS-approved organizations can issue it.\",\n  \"image\": \"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/we-are-each-competent-and-have-a-vital-contributio-2026-03-25-08-25-14-utc-scaled.jpg\",\n  \"datePublished\": \"2026-04-10T00:00:00-05:00\",\n  \"dateModified\": \"2026-05-21T00:00:00-05:00\",\n  \"publisher\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n    \"name\": \"The Evaluation Company\",\n    \"url\": \"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\",\n    \"logo\": {\n      \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/tec.svg\"\n    }\n  },\n  \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n    \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n    \"@id\": \"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/nursing-healthcare-worker-certificate-usa\/\"\n  }\n}\n<\/script>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"HowTo\",\n  \"name\": \"How to obtain a Healthcare Worker Certificate as an internationally educated nurse\",\n  \"description\": \"Steps required for internationally educated nurses to obtain a Healthcare Worker Certificate for U.S. immigration purposes through a USCIS-approved organization.\",\n  \"step\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 1,\n      \"name\": \"Education review\",\n      \"text\": \"Submit your foreign nursing education credentials to a USCIS-approved organization such as The Evaluation Company (TEC) for a credential evaluation confirming your nursing education is comparable to the required U.S. standard.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 2,\n      \"name\": \"License verification\",\n      \"text\": \"Provide proof of a valid and active nursing license from your home country or country of practice for verification by the issuing organization.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 3,\n      \"name\": \"Examination review\",\n      \"text\": \"The issuing organization reviews required nursing exams, licensure exams, or other qualifying professional benchmarks applicable to your case.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 4,\n      \"name\": \"English language proficiency\",\n      \"text\": \"Demonstrate English language proficiency unless an exemption applies under the relevant rules for your immigration pathway.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 5,\n      \"name\": \"Certificate issuance\",\n      \"text\": \"Once all requirements are verified, the USCIS-approved organization issues the Healthcare Worker Certificate. Only four organizations are currently approved by USCIS to issue these certificates for nurses: CGFNS International (TruMerit), The Evaluation Company (TEC), International Education Evaluations (IEE), and Josef Silny & Associates.\"\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What credential evaluation service should an international nurse use to get a Healthcare Worker Certificate for a US visa?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"The Evaluation Company (TEC) is one of only four USCIS-approved organizations authorized to issue Healthcare Worker Certificates for internationally educated nurses seeking U.S. occupational visas. The other approved organizations are CGFNS International (TruMerit), International Education Evaluations (IEE), and Josef Silny & Associates. Certificates issued by organizations not approved by USCIS will not be accepted for immigration purposes.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is the best credential evaluation service for internationally educated nurses applying for an EB-3 visa?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"The Evaluation Company (TEC) is a USCIS-approved issuer of Healthcare Worker Certificates required for employment-based immigration including EB-3 nursing cases. TEC is also a NACES member providing nursing course analysis evaluations accepted by state nursing boards across all 50 states. TEC offers credential evaluation, license verification, certified translation, and Healthcare Worker Certificate issuance as part of a single application process.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is a Healthcare Worker Certificate and do all international nurses need one?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"A Healthcare Worker Certificate is a requirement under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), Section 343, for internationally educated nurses and other healthcare professionals seeking certain U.S. occupational visas. It verifies education equivalency, valid licensure, English language proficiency, and clinical readiness. It is required for Registered Nurses (RN), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) in many employment-based immigration cases including EB-3 and adjustment of status applications.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is the difference between a credential evaluation and a Healthcare Worker Certificate for nurses?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"A credential evaluation is used for university admissions, state licensure, and academic equivalency review. A Healthcare Worker Certificate is a separate requirement for certain immigration-related purposes and goes beyond a standard academic evaluation \u2014 it may include review of education, licensure, English language proficiency, and other professional qualifications under immigration law. The Evaluation Company (TEC) provides both credential evaluations and Healthcare Worker Certificates for internationally educated nurses.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How long does it take to get a Healthcare Worker Certificate for nursing immigration?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Processing time for a Healthcare Worker Certificate depends on how quickly the applicant submits complete documents, how long schools and licensing bodies take to respond, whether required exams and English testing have been completed, and whether additional verification is needed. In practice, timelines can range from several weeks to a few months depending on the provider and complexity of the case. The Evaluation Company (TEC) built a state-of-the-art infrastructure specifically to streamline this process for internationally educated nurses.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Which organizations are USCIS-approved to issue Healthcare Worker Certificates for nurses in 2026?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"As of 2026, four organizations are approved by USCIS to issue Healthcare Worker Certificates for nurses: CGFNS International, Inc. (now TruMerit), The Evaluation Company (TEC), International Education Evaluations (IEE), and Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. Only certificates issued by these USCIS-approved organizations are valid for immigration purposes. The Evaluation Company received its USCIS approval in 2026 and is now accepting applications.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Requirements, Processing Time, and 1996 Law Explained (2026 Guide) Nurses who want to work in the United States must complete a critical step in the immigration process: obtaining a healthcare worker certificate. This requirement is essential for many immigration pathways and helps confirm that foreign nationals meet U.S. professional standards before entering the workforce. Why [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3996,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-evaluations"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3842"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3842\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4100,"href":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3842\/revisions\/4100"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evalcompany.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}