The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Monday, January 15, 2024, the opening of a new testing center to enable Kenyan nurses desiring to work in the United States and Canada.
Nurses will use this center to take the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) in the comfort of their own country.
“This is a significant milestone for Kenyan nurses who have dreams of working in the US and Canada,” stated Roseline Njogu, Principal Secretary of the State Department of Diaspora. “The Pearson VUE Test Centre will provide a vital opportunity for Kenyan nurses to take the NCLEX-RN exam without having to travel abroad.”
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) developed the NCLEX exam to test the competency of nursing school graduates in the United States and Canada. Pearson VUE, a global leader in computer-based testing services, will operate the test center in Kenya, making it only the second in Africa.
Erika Hughes, Senior Director at Pearson Education, confirmed the significant job opportunities for Kenyan nurses. “Every year they ask me to at least fill 250-260 nurses, so what we do is we recruit from agencies like Ready Care. If they want to come to the US, then we help with immigration papers,” Hughes explained.
The initiative is part of a broader effort by the Kenyan government to support its diaspora community and create employment opportunities for Kenyan nurses abroad.
The program will also collaborate with Kenyan universities to enhance the nursing program and integrate national nursing standards.
