Most CGFNS CES reviews finish 7–12 business days after all documents are received; waiting for schools and boards adds the longest delays.
Planning a nursing move across borders hinges on one date: when a Credentials Evaluation Service report lands. Most delay stems from transcripts, licensing validations, and courier queues. This guide lays out the moving parts, timelines, and steps you can take now.
CGFNS CES Review Timeline At A Glance
Here’s the short view of how files flow once your required items reach the evaluator. The clock below starts only after your portal shows every required document as received and matched to your order.
| Stage | What Happens | Typical Time |
|---|---|---|
| Intake | Documents are opened, imaged, and linked to your file. | 1–3 business days |
| Primary Source Check | Authenticity of transcripts, licenses, and diplomas is confirmed. | Varies; often same day once on hand |
| Evaluator Review | Education is mapped to U.S. standards and the report is drafted. | 7–12 business days in many cases |
| Quality Control | Second-level check before release to the board. | 1–3 business days |
| Report Issuance | Report posts to your portal and is sent to the receiving board. | Same day or next day |
CGFNS Review Time For CES Applications — What To Expect
Two clocks matter. The first is the wait for schools and regulators to send primary-source papers. The second is the review window once everything is in. The review window is often short; the document chase can be the long stretch.
Based on published guidance, a large share of reports are issued within one to two workweeks after the evaluator has all required materials in hand. Many applicants assume the review starts on the day they pay. It does not. The review starts when the last required document is received, imaged, and visible in your portal as “received.”
What slows the file? Paper transcripts sent by post, outdated signatures on license forms, name mismatches across documents, or schools that batch mail only once per month. Each item resets attention back to intake. That’s why small prep steps before you click “Apply” tend to save weeks later.
What The Official Sources Say
Current guidance lists a fast median once materials are in, with a broad average to gather documents. The processing-times page explains that the longest stretch is waiting for schools and regulators to send primary sources and shows that a large share of CES reports issue within one workweek once requirements are met. See the official application processing times.
Applicants who need a quicker decision can buy an expedited review for the CES report. That service moves your file to a faster review lane once your documents are already on file; it does not skip document receipt or promise a final report if something is missing. Details are listed in the evaluator’s fee schedule.
When The Clock Starts For You
Your portal shows each item’s status. The review clock begins only after every required item shows as received and matched: transcripts, license validations from every jurisdiction ever held, and the identity document. If any item is pending or flagged, the evaluator pauses the review and asks for fixes. That pause does not erase work already done, but it does extend the total time to issuance.
Typical Scenarios And Realistic Windows
Turnaround looks different by scenario. Use the table below to set expectations and plan your next steps with a receiving board or employer.
| Scenario | When The Clock Starts | Expected Review Window |
|---|---|---|
| All documents arrive electronically from school and regulators | As soon as portal marks every item “received” | About 7–12 business days to issuance |
| Mix of mailed and digital documents; name mismatch fixed once | After correction is uploaded and accepted | About 2–3 weeks from that point |
| Paper-only transcript outbound from school by post | When mail is received and imaged | Review itself 7–12 business days; total time longer due to shipping |
| License validation missing from a past jurisdiction | After that regulator sends its verification | Review resumes; issuance follows in the next workweek or two |
| Expedited review purchased after all items are on file | When portal shows order is eligible for expedite | Up to 10 business days for the review lane, per policy |
What You Can Do Now To Save Weeks
Line Up Primary Sources Before You Pay
Ask your school when and how they send transcripts for this evaluator. If they only post mail, get the exact mailing address and any unique coversheet your portal generates. For regulators, check whether they require their own online request. Many do, and they will not act on copies you upload yourself.
Match Every Name On Every Page
Use the same spelling across the application, passport, diploma, and licenses. If you have name changes, add proof up front. Mismatches trigger identity checks and stall intake.
Cover Every Jurisdiction You Ever Held
Order license validations from all countries, states, or provinces where you ever held a license, active or expired. Leaving out a past license nearly always creates a stop.
Choose Digital Where Possible
If your school can send secure electronic transcripts, pick that route. Couriers add handling time on both ends. Digital feeds usually attach to your file the same day they arrive.
Watch Your Portal And Respond Fast
Log in twice a week during the document phase. Open every new message. If the evaluator asks for a corrected form or a fresh signature date, send it the same day. Fast replies shrink idle gaps in the timeline.
What Expedited Review Really Means
Expedite changes the speed of the evaluator’s review work once your file is complete. It does not make schools or regulators move faster, and it does not promise report issuance by a fixed date if the evaluator finds gaps. The expedited lane aims for a 10-business-day review window after your order is eligible and in line.
When Expedited Review Helps
It helps when you face a board deadline and your portal shows every document on file. It also helps when your file was paused for a small fix and is now ready to return to review.
When Expedited Review Doesn’t Help
It doesn’t help if you are waiting on a transcript, a license validation, or an identity fix. In those cases, move those documents first. Only purchase the expedite once your portal says you are eligible.
Checklist Before You Submit
Identity And Name Proof
- Passport scan is clear and uncropped.
- All forms use the same spelling shown on the passport.
- Name-change records are uploaded in one PDF, labeled clearly.
Education Packet
- School knows your order number and any barcode sheet.
- Transcript request matches the evaluator’s format (sealed or digital feed).
- Registrar contact is confirmed, with an email and phone.
Portal Habits
- Turn on email alerts.
- Log in twice weekly during intake; daily once review starts.
- Reply to document-fix requests the same day.
What To Expect After Issuance
Once the report posts, the evaluator sends it to your selected board. In many cases, the receiving board takes it from there without further action from you. Some boards ask the applicant to submit a copy or pay a separate fee. If your next step is licensure, check the board’s checklist and finish any remaining items such as English testing or fingerprinting.
Troubleshooting Common Hold-Ups
School Says They Already Sent It
Ask for proof of dispatch and the exact address or electronic service used. If it was mailed, request the courier tracking number. Share that detail with Applicant Navigation so intake can watch for it.
Portal Shows “Received,” Then A New Requirement Appears
This can happen when authenticity checks reveal missing pages or a mismatch. Send what’s asked, then reply in the same message thread to keep context together.
I Bought The Expedited Review But Nothing Moved
Check eligibility. The expedite works only after every required document is received and processed. If intake is still working on a mailed transcript, the expedite will sit idle until that step finishes.
Bottom Line For Planning Your Timeline
Plan one long window for gathering documents and a short window for review. Many applicants see the review phase wrap in about one to two workweeks once the file is complete. The long pole is the paper chase. Tackle that first, keep your portal tidy, and you’ll keep the total time predictable.