ISPN Nursing Practice Test 2025
What is the ISPN?
The ISPN curriculum is designed for globally trained nurses wanting to validate their nursing education against global standards. It is intended for first-level nurses or nurses who earned local certification and wish to work as professional nurses abroad. Nurses who apply must live in the country to which the program is being offered (presently China, Indonesia, and South Korea).
The ISPN tests the nursing skills of licensed first-level nurses (RNs) against global standards. The ISPN Program comprises of two components: 1) an initial verification of first-level, general nurse status; and 2) passing the CGFNS Qualifying Exam.
What does ISPN stand for?
ISPN stands for International Standards for Professional Nurses, which measures the nursing knowledge of first-level registered nurses against international standards.
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What is CGFNS Qualifying Exam?
In some states, the CGFNS Qualifying Exam is a requirement for licensing. It also meets one of the immigration requirements for securing a work visa in the United States.
The CGFNS Qualifying Exam is an objective-format, internet-based examination. Questions use a multiple-choice or a multiple-choice method developed by nursing industry experts. The exam takes 3 hours (approximately one minute per question). The test seeks to test the basic knowledge and principles of nursing.
The CGFNS Qualifying Test is given four times a year in a five-day examination period. Examination windows contain specific dates, locations, and times for candidates to take the exam. Typically, the dates of the tests are during March, July, September, and November.
The exam includes common clinical fields of CGFNS nursing practice:
    ‥ Adult health nursing
    ‥ Nursing of children
    ‥ Psychiatric/mental health nursing
    ‥ Maternal/infant nursing
The CGFNS Qualifying Examination tests:
    ‥ Safe and effective nursing care, with an emphasis on nursing services
   ‥ Improvement and maintenance of health, focusing on lifelong growth and development and early detection, prevention, and treatment
    ‥ Health services pertaining to the need for psychosocial integrity
    ‥ Physiological reliability focusing on the proper functioning of the structure of the body
How to apply for CGFNS?
To register for the CGFNS exam, one must meet the following eligibility criteria:
    ‥ be a nurse, licensed to practice within the People’s Republic of China
    ‥ reside in and be a citizen of the People’s Republic of China
    ‥ have graduated from a government-approved nursing school
    ‥ have your status as a first-level, general nurse verified
Aside from the eligibility criteria mentioned above, candidates must also meet the following CGFNS requirements:
    ‥ One copy of nursing school diploma
    ‥ One copy of government-issued nurse registration document
    ‥ One copy of the China Health Information Form
          Login to CGFNS Connect to download and print this required form. Provide your Ministry of Health                  password for license verification and the Ministry of Education password for transcript verification.
    ‥ One copy of personal identification card
    ‥ A passport-style photo
          Must be in JPG file type, less than 5 MB, square, and in full color. Read more information about                     submitting a passport photo at www.cgfns.org/services/certification/ispn-program/.
         If you choose to mail your documents, you may send it to:
            China Health
            Room No.123, 1st Floor, Block A, Minghu Mansion, Yard No.24, Huangsi Street, Xicheng District,
            Beijing, 100120
            People’s Republic of China
Once you have successfully completed your CGFNS registration and credential review, an email will be sent to you, which will serve as your Test Authorization (ATT). You will be given two test windows and pick only one test period with a particular date, time, and location for the Qualifying Exam. If you choose more than one testing window, your application will be canceled, and you’ll be informed that you are required to choose a single test window.
You can access your CGFNS test results via the CGFNS Connect system approximately two weeks after you take the examination. Your CGFNS exam results will include a diagnostic profile with an assessment and an explanation of four topic areas, identified as Client Need categories:
    ‥ Safe, effective care environment
    ‥ Health promotion and maintenance
    ‥ Psychosocial integrity and
    ‥ Physiological integrity
CGFNS International will carry out a final review, following the successful passing of the CGFNS Qualifying Exam. Your CGFNS ISPN Program Certificate will be issued once the final review has been completed. Should you not pass the exam, you should wait for China Health to inform you about the next steps.
Note: The information provided above is based on China’s CGFNS State Requirement. The documents submitted for the examination are the property of CGFNS International Inc. and will not be returned even if you failed the examination
CGFNS Exam Dates 2025
Exam Dates:
- March 8-12, 2025
- July 12-16, 2025
- September 13-17, 2025
- November 8-12, 2025
If you decide to change the date of your examination, you have to do so at least 72 hours before your initial scheduled exam. You might not be able to change to date outside of the two test periods that you have been provided. If you do not make an appearance on your scheduled test, you will never be able to get a refund, and your fee could not be used for a future exam.
CGFNS Exam Fee
CGFNS fees costs $350 USD and includes:
- License and transcript documents verification
- CGFNS Qualifying Exam
- ISPN certificate for exam passers
You can pay ISPN online using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover) or contact China Health for assistance.
ISPN & CGFNS Questions and Answers
Assessment review can take weeks. The complexity of your file and your country of education determine the time it takes CGFNS to compile your report.
You must first create a free account on the CGFNS Connect platform in order to apply.
Many applications are processed in less than 12 weeks after all relevant documents have been received and approved.
The Certificate from the CGFNS Certification Program is valid for life.
You must have completed a 2-year, government-approved general nursing program to be eligible for CGFNS certification. You must also have a current license to practice general nursing in the nation where you received your education.
Complete the CGFNS Purchase Wizard in CGFNS Connect to apply for the Credential Verification Service for New York State. Send a notarized and signed attestation to us by Contact Us, NotaryCam, or postal mail.
Download the form for forwarding IELTS results. Send the completed form to [email protected]. Type Additional TRF Request in the subject line of your email. Following receipt of your email, you will get additional instructions by e-mail within 48 hours.
CGFNS, International Consultants of Delaware is still a member of NACES and provides independent credential review services. Graduation from an Equivalent Nursing Program In order to verify that an IEN’s education and training are comparable to the norms within the industry, they must have completed a comparable nursing program.
Nurses seeking a New York license must obtain transcripts directly from overseas nursing schools via the CGFNS Verification of Authenticity of Education Credentials. New York licensing authorities will be notified by CGFNS.
The CGFNS Qualifying Exam is an objective-format, internet-based examination. Questions use a multiple-choice or a multiple-choice method developed by nursing industry experts. The exam takes 3 hours (approximately one minute per question). The test seeks to test the basic knowledge and principles of nursing.
CGFNS can be reached through our Contact Wizard, by phone, or through the purchase of a virtual consultation.
You can contact them by emailing them at www.cgfns.org and providing your cgfns id number, birthday, and email address. Please email them during their business hours.
Approximately two-thirds of state boards of nursing need or recognize the CGFNS Certification Program® as a requirement for approval to take the NCLEX-RN® exam. In the United States and Canada, the NCLEX-RN® exam is required for licensure.
CGFNS stands for Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.
ISPN stands for International Standards for Professional Nurses, which measures the nursing knowledge of first-level registered nurses against international standards.
The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) is a non-profit organization established in Philadelphia that is immigration-neutral. CGFNS screens and tests foreign-educated registered nurses (RNs) to determine their suitability for practice in the United States.
A credentials review, an English language competency exam, and a CGFNS qualifying exam make up the CGFNS Certification Program. Nursing knowledge and awareness of how nursing is taught and performed in the United States are tested on the qualifying exam.
CGFNS International is an immigration-neutral nonprofit organization that assesses and validates foreign-educated healthcare professionals’ academic and professional credentials so they can live and work in their preferred country.
The ISPN curriculum is designed for globally trained nurses wanting to validate their nursing education against global standards. It is intended for first-level nurses or nurses who earned local certification and wish to work as professional nurses abroad. Nurses who apply must live in the country to which the program is being offered (presently China, Indonesia, and South Korea).
The remaining eight states (Arizona, California, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Utah) either require some but not all components of the CGFNS program, such as a credentials check, or have no requirements at all.
California does not need CGFNS certification or the passing of the CGFNS qualifying exam for foreign educated nurses.
CGFNS Prep Guide
While there appear to be a number of candidates who thrive on last-minute cramming, this isn’t the best way to get to the test. Set a schedule for your studies to help you sort out your time management. Write down how many days you have to sit for the exam. Then organize your study appropriately.
CGFNS has established a study guide to help you recognize your weaknesses and strengths in your nursing skills. It is not a replacement for basic education or for an in-depth review of nursing CGFNS books. Using it does not ensure a passing outcome on the CGFNS Qualifying Exam. The CGFNS practice test questions used were once actual examination questions but will not appear on the examination you are taking.
By preparing and using study guides and practice tests, you help yourself familiarize with the test you are about to take. It is important to know that every question and person is different. No particular tactic works on every question, and no single strategy will work for every individual. Below are surefire strategies you can apply for every exam you will take.
Strategy #1
If you get stuck in a difficult question, don’t waste time and move on. Before you totally give up, at least try eliminating obviously incorrect answer choices and then guess from the remaining choices before moving to the next question.
Strategy #2
Don’t miss any questions through careless mistakes. If possible, try taking a second look at your answers and make sure you have chosen the correct answer. A quick double-check will prevent you from falling into the pit of costly mistakes, such as marking a choice of answer that you are not supposed to make.
Strategy #3
It is easy to be overwhelmed when you’re looking at a page full of questions. Your mind may get confused and get distracted with random thoughts. Calm down and keep the speed you set for yourself. Particularly when you get to the last minutes of the exam, never let small numbers on the clock cause you to panic. As long as you keep track of your pace, you will certainly have time for each question.
Strategy #4
It’s very easy to make mistakes when you’re in a rush. Keeping a fast tempo in answering your question is useless if it makes you miss questions that you could have answered correctly otherwise. Taking a little more time to avoid silly mistakes will make a difference in your score. Set a pace that will allow you to be confident in the answers you choose.
Strategy #5
Panicking isn’t going to help you pass a test, so do your best to remain calm and keep going. Taking deep breaths and working through the answer reduction step you’ve practiced will help you get through the stress barrier and maintain your speed.