Before nurses who wish to work in the USA have to go to Saipan, Hong Kong, or other Asian countries to take the required National Council of Licensure Examination (NCLEX). This makes the deployment of Filipino nurses to the USA longer and more expensive.

Fortunately, the Philippines was recently granted permission by the US National Council of State Boards of Nursing to be a testing center for NCLEX. This is good new for all nurses who want to work in America. Because of this development, Filipino nurses no longer need to travel abroad just to take the licensure exams.

According to Presidential Spokesperson, Ignacio Bunye, President Arroyo said that this is very good news for Filipino nurses, nursing students and the nursing profession. The President also added that this is a landmark in the history of the Filipino nursing profession.

“Manila as a testing center for licensing exams would mean "huge savings and great convenience" for Filipino nurses hoping to land a job in the US,” Bunye said.

This will greatly help as majority of foreign nurses employed in the USA came from the Philippines. From 1998 to May of 2006, an estimate of 25,518 Filipino nurses with immigrant visas and work permits traveled to the United States to work.