India cleared as nurse testing centre

After two years of lobbying, India is cleared as a testing centre for nurses going to the US.

After two years of lobbying by the Kerala government, India has finally been cleared as a testing centre for nurses going to the US.

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The US-based National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is likely to zero in on Kerala to hold the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses as the state government has been vigorously presenting India's case.

NCSBN is a not-for-profit organisation, whose membership comprises the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five US territories -- American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

George Abraham, president of the Houston unit of the Non-Resident Keralite Affairs Department (Norka), said NCSBN had announced last week a list of new countries where the nursing test would now be held.

"The new testing sites will be located in Australia, India, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Germany and Taiwan. In India, it is certain that Kerala will be the testing centre," Abraham, who has been lobbying India's case, told IANS.

Outside the US, the NCLEX examinations are currently held only in London, Seoul and Hong Kong. The testing centre is likely to be located in the offices of the Root-Norka, which looks after the welfare of non-resident Keralites.

"The department is getting ready for the visit of the NCSBN team," Abraham said.

The move is expected to be a great boon for nurses going to the US and Canada.