TruMerit (Formerly CGFNS) CES Professional Report for Indian Nurses
For many internationally educated nurses applying for U.S. nursing licensure, credential evaluation is an important step before a State Board of Nursing can determine eligibility.
The Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report is provided by TruMerit®, formerly CGFNS International. It evaluates nursing education and professional credentials earned outside the United States and provides the receiving authority with information about how those credentials compare with U.S. nursing standards.
Important: A CES Professional Report is not an NCLEX-RN application, ATT, nursing licence or VisaScreen certificate. The exact credential-evaluation requirement depends on the U.S. state or jurisdiction where the nurse applies.
What Is a CES Professional Report?
The CES Professional Report is a professional credential-evaluation report used by nurses educated outside the United States.
TruMerit reviews and validates relevant nursing education and professional credentials and provides an assessment that may include:
• Verification and authentication of nursing education credentials
• Verification of relevant professional licences and registrations
• Evaluation of nursing academic records and qualifications
• Comparison of the applicant’s nursing education with U.S. nursing education standards
• Preparation of a professional credential-evaluation report for the designated recipient
The final decision about NCLEX-RN examination eligibility and nursing licensure belongs to the receiving U.S. State Board of Nursing or other relevant licensing authority, not TruMerit.
Do All Indian Nurses Need a CES Report?
No.
Credential-evaluation requirements differ between U.S. nursing boards. An Indian nurse should first determine the state or jurisdiction where they intend to apply and then confirm which credential-evaluation service that board requires or accepts.
This is why U.S. Nursing Board selection should normally come before purchasing a credential-evaluation service.
Important New York Requirement
Nurses applying for licensure in New York should not automatically purchase a standard CES Professional Report.
New York State has a specific process for verifying foreign nursing education credentials. Foreign-educated nursing applicants generally have two pathways for submitting their education credentials to the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
Applicants may use TruMerit’s Credentials Verification Service for New York State (CVS-NY). Through this service, TruMerit verifies the relevant foreign credentials and sends a report to NYSED.
Alternatively, applicants who do not use TruMerit CVS-NY may follow NYSED’s direct foreign-education verification process using Form 2F, with the required documentation submitted directly by the nursing school according to NYSED requirements.
Use of TruMerit CVS-NY is therefore not mandatory for every New York applicant.
The final decision regarding eligibility for New York nursing licensure is made by the New York State Education Department.
Applicants should always verify the latest NYSED requirements before selecting or paying for a credential-verification service.
Documents Commonly Required for CES
Depending on the applicant and receiving nursing board, TruMerit may require documentation relating to:
- Secondary education
- Nursing diploma or degree
- Complete nursing academic records or transcripts
- Current and previous professional nursing registrations/licences
Professional education records and licence validations generally need to come from the appropriate educational institution or licensing authority according to TruMerit’s instructions.
Documents must meet TruMerit’s language, authentication and submission requirements.
Important: Follow TruMerit’s instructions for each document type. Certain academic, licence and registration records must be submitted directly by the issuing educational institution or licensing authority. Do not assume that applicant-uploaded copies will satisfy primary-source verification requirements.
CES Professional Report Fees in 2026
Current TruMerit fees include:
Fees can change. Applicants should verify the latest fee schedule directly with TruMerit before payment.
Expedited Review Service: TruMerit currently states that expedited review is performed within 10 business days after all required documents have been received and processed. Purchasing expedited review does not guarantee that the final report will be issued within 10 business days because additional information or documentation may still be required.
How the CES Process Works
1. Select the appropriate U.S. nursing board.
Confirm that board’s current credential-evaluation requirements.
2. Create a TruMerit Connect account.
Choose the correct credential-evaluation service for the intended purpose.
3. Submit the application and payment.
4. Arrange required primary-source documents.
Educational institutions and licensing authorities may need to send records directly to TruMerit.
5. TruMerit evaluates the credentials and issues the report to the designated recipient when requirements are satisfied.
A CES order generally has a 12-month completion period. Applicants who allow an application to expire may have limited reprocessing options and additional fees.
CES Professional Report vs VisaScreen vs NCLEX-RN
These three are different processes.
| Service | Main Purpose |
|---|---|
| CES Professional Report | Evaluation of international nursing credentials for professional/licensure purposes |
| VisaScreen® | Federal healthcare-worker credential screening associated with U.S. immigration requirements |
| NCLEX-RN | Nursing licensure examination used by U.S. nursing regulatory bodies |
Completing one does not automatically complete the others. For the separate NCLEX application, Pearson VUE and ATT process, read:
NCLEX-RN Application, ATT & Pearson VUE Guide for Indian Nurses
Common CES Mistakes Indian Nurses Should Avoid
Avoid purchasing a credential-evaluation service before confirming the receiving nursing board’s requirements.
Other common problems include incorrect document submission, outdated licence verification, incomplete academic records and confusing CES with VisaScreen or the NCLEX application itself.
The safest approach is to verify the current requirement directly with the relevant U.S. nursing board and TruMerit.
About Medline Academy®
Medline Academy® is an NCLEX-RN-focused nursing education institution in Kerala providing structured live NCLEX-RN preparation for Indian nurses in Malayalam and English.
Medline Academy provides NCLEX-RN academic preparation and exam-oriented training. TruMerit credential evaluations and U.S. nursing-board licensing decisions are independent processes administered by their respective organisations.
For nurses planning the U.S. pathway:
NCLEX-RN Coaching for USA – Indian Nurses
FAQ’s
Here Are the Answers to Common Questions
Is CGFNS now called TruMerit?
Yes. CGFNS International announced its transition to the TruMerit name in 2025. Nurses may therefore encounter both “CGFNS” and “TruMerit” terminology when researching credential evaluation.
Is a CES Professional Report compulsory for every Indian nurse taking NCLEX-RN?
No. Credential-evaluation requirements vary by U.S. state or jurisdiction. Check the requirements of the nursing board where you intend to apply.
Does getting a CES report guarantee NCLEX-RN eligibility?
No. TruMerit evaluates credentials, but the State Board of Nursing makes the licensure and examination-eligibility decision.
Is CES the same as VisaScreen?
No. CES is a credential-evaluation service. VisaScreen is a separate healthcare-worker screening service associated with U.S. immigration requirements.
Should a nurse applying to New York order the standard CES Professional Report?
Not automatically. New York uses the separate Credentials Verification Service for New York State through TruMerit. Applicants should follow the current New York State Education Department and TruMerit requirements.
Official Information Notice
Credential-evaluation requirements, nursing-board requirements, fees and policies can change. Information on this page is provided for educational purposes only. Applicants should verify current requirements directly with TruMerit and the relevant U.S. State Board of Nursing before submitting an application, documents or payment.