20 CFR § 656.5 Schedule A Group I Direct-Hire Hub
50-State Nursing License Endorsement
& Schedule A Direct-Hire Hospital Directory
Fast-track your US Registered Nurse career without predatory agency lock-ins. Compare state Board of Nursing (BON) endorsement rules, CGFNS CES requirements, and apply directly to top academic hospital networks sponsoring EB-3 Green Cards.
Showing 16 state boards of nursingData Source: BLS OEWS 2026 & National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
New York
NYAvg: $105,650 / yr ($50.79/hr)
Single StateNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES Professional Report / FCVS
Processing Timeline: 6 - 10 weeks
English Standard: Required if education not in English (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE)
💡 Allows initial NCLEX registration without US SSN using Form 1.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
Illinois
ILAvg: $88,450 / yr ($42.52/hr)
Single StateNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: Continental Testing Services / CGFNS CES
Processing Timeline: 4 - 8 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL iBT (84) or IELTS (6.5 overall)
💡 Very popular initial testing state for international candidates.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
Texas
TXAvg: $86,900 / yr ($41.78/hr)
NLC CompactNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES / IERF / Josef Silny
Processing Timeline: 3 - 6 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL iBT (83) or IELTS (6.5) / OET (B)
💡 Full Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state. Rapid endorsement for initial passers.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
California
CAAvg: $137,690 / yr ($66.20/hr)
Single StateSSN Required
Credential Evaluation: Direct Evaluation by CA BRN / CGFNS
Processing Timeline: 10 - 16 weeks
English Standard: Required unless native English country
💡 Highest RN salaries in the world. Requires US SSN/ITIN at final license issuance.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
Florida
FLAvg: $81,200 / yr ($39.04/hr)
NLC CompactNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES / Josef Silny / IERF
Processing Timeline: 3 - 5 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL (80) or IELTS (6.5) or Pearson PTE
💡 NLC Compact State. Massive international nurse hiring demand across hospital systems.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
Massachusetts
MAAvg: $104,150 / yr ($50.07/hr)
Single StateNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES Professional Report
Processing Timeline: 4 - 8 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL (84) / IELTS (6.5) required
💡 World-renowned academic medical centers (Mass General, Brigham, Beth Israel).
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
Washington
WAAvg: $101,670 / yr ($48.88/hr)
NLC CompactNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES / Josef Silny / SpanTran
Processing Timeline: 3 - 6 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL / IELTS / OET
💡 No state personal income tax. Compact member.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
Ohio
OHAvg: $79,940 / yr ($38.43/hr)
NLC CompactNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES / IERF
Processing Timeline: 2 - 4 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL iBT (84) or IELTS (6.5)
💡 Fast endorsement processing (<3 weeks). Cleveland Clinic and Ohio State networks.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
Pennsylvania
PAAvg: $84,700 / yr ($40.72/hr)
NLC CompactNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES Professional Report
Processing Timeline: 4 - 7 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL iBT (84) / IELTS (6.5)
💡 UPMC and Penn Medicine international sponsorship hubs.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
North Carolina
NCAvg: $80,550 / yr ($38.73/hr)
NLC CompactNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES / Josef Silny
Processing Timeline: 3 - 5 weeks
English Standard: Standard CGFNS / TOEFL / IELTS
💡 Duke Health, UNC Health, and Atrium Health Schedule A pipelines.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
Georgia
GAAvg: $83,620 / yr ($40.20/hr)
NLC CompactSSN Required
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES / Josef Silny
Processing Timeline: 4 - 8 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL (80) / IELTS (6.5)
💡 Emory Healthcare & Piedmont networks. Requires SSN at final endorsement.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
Virginia
VAAvg: $84,100 / yr ($40.43/hr)
NLC CompactNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES / Josef Silny
Processing Timeline: 2 - 4 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL (83) / IELTS (6.5)
💡 Fastest endorsement in Mid-Atlantic region. Compact member.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
Minnesota
MNAvg: $93,300 / yr ($44.86/hr)
Single StateNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES / Josef Silny
Processing Timeline: 3 - 6 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL / IELTS
💡 Home of Mayo Clinic (Rochester). Direct-hire Schedule A powerhouse.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
New Mexico
NMAvg: $83,500 / yr ($40.14/hr)
NLC CompactNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES / Josef Silny
Processing Timeline: 2 - 4 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL (84) / IELTS (6.5)
💡 Famous for flexible foreign nurse initial exam registration.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
Arizona
AZAvg: $86,450 / yr ($41.56/hr)
NLC CompactNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES / Josef Silny
Processing Timeline: 3 - 5 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL / IELTS
💡 Banner Health and Mayo Clinic Phoenix campus.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement
Maryland
MDAvg: $89,900 / yr ($43.22/hr)
NLC CompactNo SSN Initial ✓
Credential Evaluation: CGFNS CES
Processing Timeline: 4 - 7 weeks
English Standard: TOEFL / IELTS
💡 Johns Hopkins Medicine and University of Maryland Medical System.
Official BON Portal Direct Endorsement