Nursing professionals who have obtained their degrees outside the United States and are in the advanced or intermediate process of learning English have several alternatives to successfully pass the 2024 National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) that opens the door to practice this in-demand profession in New York.
Starting in 2024, nurses who complete the English Learner (ELL) training program sponsored by the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and subsequently pass the exam can expect to earn more than double the their pre-licensure earnings, with average salaries over $100,000.
Passing the NCLEX-RN exam is of immense importance for immigrant nurses seeking to practice in the city, as it significantly improves their earning potential.
Graduates of these programs often receive job offers from prominent New York City hospitals, where the current demand for registered nurses exceeds 4,000 openings.
Both LaGuardia Community College and Lehman College host NCLEX-RN training programs funded by SBS, which extends logistical support through its 18 New York City Workforce1 career centers.
These free programs include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) bridging courses and both online and in-person hybrid programming. The program funds the fee for the first NCLEX-RN exam and participants receive free textbooks and test preparation software.
Continuously
LaGuardia Community College offers part-time evening courses, while Lehman College offers a full-time morning and afternoon program. Both programs are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis, according to a statement shared by the City.
“Immigrants are the backbone of our city, our neighborhoods and our economy. Through the NCLEX-RN program, we are promoting career advancement and wealth creation opportunities for a new generation of immigrant New Yorkers while meeting the demand for one of the fastest growing occupations in the city,” he estimated.
New York City since 2022 has committed more than $2.9 million to the ELL NCLEX-RN training program, showing tangible results with the promise of supporting 30,000 current and aspiring nurses over the next five years.
According to data from the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL), pre-pandemic trends suggested that New York City’s more than 75,000 registered nurses would grow 24% over the next decade, nearly triple the rate of Projected growth of 9% of the profession nationally.
“Do not be afraid”
Dr Arístides Restituyo, president of the Hispanic Association of Health Workers (AHPSI), who is responsible for connecting health professionals to join the hospital workforce in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area, describes that Given the new migratory reality, it is observed that many doctors who graduated from prestigious Latin American universities choose to obtain their nursing licenses, as a shorter path to start their career in the field of health.
“As we well know, for a doctor, all the certifications and studies to practice this profession are much more complicated. For this reason, nursing emerges as a shorter and extremely useful option for the country. At this time, we channel information with hundreds of professionals, who first of all motivate them not to be afraid of English. There are options. “They should propose it,” commented Restituyo.
Currently AHPSI also offers support to Spanish-speaking health sciences professionals who are seeking opportunities in the extensive hospital and clinical services of the tri-state area.
What are the requirements for SBS programs?
- Have an equivalent degree in nursing from a country outside the United States.
- Read at an intermediate to advanced level in English.
- Be an English student
- Have authorization to work within the United States.
- Be a full-time resident of New York City
- Earn less than $40,000 a year
- Be authorized to take the NCLEX-RN exam or have recently submitted an application to CGFNS International and the New York State Department of Education.
Minimum requirements to work as a nurse in NY:
- It is essential to be a graduate of a nursing program accepted by New York State.
- It is ideal to speak English with some fluency, with a command of medical language.
- Passing the NCLEX-RN exam is required.
- New York State licensing required. In the country there is no federal license that serves the entire country.
- In New York, there are four types of licenses for these professionals: Registered Professional Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Licensed Practical Nurse, and Nurse Practitioner.
- Through the website of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) you can have the details of how to obtain a license to work in NY health centers. The fact that you have permits granted by other states does not mean that are valid here.
- In New York, midwifery is not considered a profession equivalent to nursing. This is an independently licensed profession.
- To obtain a license in New York State, you must be of good moral character, at least seventeen years old, a graduate of a NYSED-acceptable nursing education program, and complete required infection control courses.