Side-by-side comparison

CGFNS vs NNAS: which credential service do you need?

CGFNS and NNAS sound similar but apply to different destinations. CGFNS is the dominant credential evaluator for the USA; NNAS handles credential evaluation for nurses moving to Canada (English provinces). Picking the wrong one is the most common money-loss for African nurses.

CGFNS

USA — Credential Evaluation Service (CES) Professional Report.

Open CGFNS guide

NNAS

Canada (English provinces) — National Nursing Assessment Service.

Open NNAS guide

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Side-by-side

CGFNS vs NNAS — every field that matters.

Country it applies to
CGFNS
USA (most state boards)
NNAS
Canada (English-language provinces)
Quebec uses OIIQ direct, not NNAS. Some US territories (e.g. Puerto Rico) differ.
Cost
CGFNS
$415 (CES Professional Report)
NNAS
CAD 685 (~$510 USD)
CGFNS is slightly cheaper. NNAS adds CAD 110+ per additional report copy.
Turnaround
CGFNS
12 – 16 weeks once your school responds
NNAS
12 – 16 weeks standard
Required by
CGFNS
Most US state boards (TX, NY, CA, FL, NJ, …)
NNAS
CNO Ontario, BCCNM, CRNA Alberta, NSCN Nova Scotia, …
Documents collected
CGFNS
Sealed transcript, licence verification, English test (where required)
NNAS
Sealed transcript, licence verification, ID, employment letters
Document delivery
CGFNS
Sealed direct from school + home regulator to CGFNS
NNAS
NNAS pulls from school + home regulator (you authorise)
Both require sealed documents — phone photos and PDFs are rejected.
African-nurse common pitfalls
CGFNS
Schools delaying transcript dispatch; wrong report type ordered
NNAS
Clinical-hour shortfalls flagged; transcripts misrouted
Both services match by file ID, not name — triple-check the ID before paying.
Refundable?
CGFNS
No — once filed, CGFNS does not refund
NNAS
No — fees non-refundable after submission
Confirm you need the service before paying. The wrong choice is unrecoverable cash.
Used for visa screening?
CGFNS
Yes — combined with VisaScreen ($740) for occupational visa
NNAS
No — credential only; visa is separate via IRCC

Field	CGFNS	NNAS
Country it applies to	USA (most state boards)	Canada (English-language provinces)
Quebec uses OIIQ direct, not NNAS. Some US territories (e.g. Puerto Rico) differ.
Cost	$415 (CES Professional Report)	CAD 685 (~$510 USD)
CGFNS is slightly cheaper. NNAS adds CAD 110+ per additional report copy.
Turnaround	12 – 16 weeks once your school responds	12 – 16 weeks standard
Required by	Most US state boards (TX, NY, CA, FL, NJ, …)	CNO Ontario, BCCNM, CRNA Alberta, NSCN Nova Scotia, …
Documents collected	Sealed transcript, licence verification, English test (where required)	Sealed transcript, licence verification, ID, employment letters
Document delivery	Sealed direct from school + home regulator to CGFNS	NNAS pulls from school + home regulator (you authorise)
Both require sealed documents — phone photos and PDFs are rejected.
African-nurse common pitfalls	Schools delaying transcript dispatch; wrong report type ordered	Clinical-hour shortfalls flagged; transcripts misrouted
Both services match by file ID, not name — triple-check the ID before paying.
Refundable?	No — once filed, CGFNS does not refund	No — fees non-refundable after submission
Confirm you need the service before paying. The wrong choice is unrecoverable cash.
Used for visa screening?	Yes — combined with VisaScreen ($740) for occupational visa	No — credential only; visa is separate via IRCC

Our recommendation

How to choose between CGFNS and NNAS.

You don't pick between CGFNS and NNAS — your destination picks for you. If you target the USA, you almost certainly need CGFNS. If you target Canada (English provinces), you need NNAS. Pay only after you have confirmed your destination — wrong-service applications are the single biggest money-loss for African nurses. Confirm with your destination regulator before clicking pay.

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Go deeper

Full guides for each option.

Full guide