Choose a state before choosing an exam plan
US registered nurses need a licence from the state where they work, and additional licensing requirements vary by state. Ask that board how it evaluates your Philippine training and documents before buying a credential or recruitment package.
Use current NCLEX materials
NCSBN’s NCLEX preparation page links the 2026 Candidate Bulletin and test plans. Use those materials for registration and exam arrangements. The older question-count and pass-rate claims have been removed; this article does not invent a Philippine-specific result or exam-centre list.
Keep immigration certification separate
8 CFR 212.15 includes registered nurses among covered foreign healthcare occupations and sets certificate requirements and exceptions. Check the provision for your immigration category. Passing an examination does not itself grant a visa, a job or permission to practise.
Use the salary figure correctly
BLS reports a US registered-nurse median annual wage of USD 97,550 for May 2025. This is a national occupational observation, not a 2026 starting offer or a salary promised to Filipino nurses. Ask your employer for base pay, paid hours, overtime rules, deductions and location-specific living costs.
Check an employment package before signing
Obtain the state, facility, job title, shift pattern, pay basis, licence conditions and immigration process in writing. Ask who pays examination, certification, travel and relocation costs. Read repayment clauses and what happens if licensing or immigration is delayed. This review does not validate a recruitment agency, guarantee a visa date or provide a net-savings estimate.
Questions before acting
Is USD 97,550 a starting salary for Filipino nurses?
No. It is the BLS national median for registered nurses in May 2025; use your employer’s actual offer.
Can I work after passing NCLEX alone?
Check state licensing, the employment agreement and the applicable immigration permission and certification separately.
Corrections in this revision
The previous version included statements without sufficient direct support. This revision removes or corrects:
- Obsolete 75–145 NCLEX question count and unsupported Filipino pass rate
- USD 89,000 labelled as 2026 median; migrant salary multipliers and state pay tables
- Guaranteed EB-3 processing and unverified recruitment recommendations
Review scope: legal and financial statements in this revised article. Recheck on a provider, professional, immigration or tax-rule change; reuse of dated figures requires a new check.
See recorded sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics — registered nurses — United States. May 2025 wage observation, not a 2026 offer or migrant-specific salary
- NCSBN — NCLEX preparation and 2026 Candidate Bulletin — United States. 2026 Candidate Bulletin linked; no obsolete question-count claim retained
- eCFR — certificates for foreign healthcare workers — United States. Current eCFR presentation checked 26 September 2026
These primary references have the jurisdiction, product and scope stated above. A source link is not proof of personalised eligibility.
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About the author
António Mira is the founder of whereTOemigrate. For over a decade he has worked at the intersection of Portuguese real estate and overseas business, helping international clients navigate the cross-border decisions that come with relocating. He sits on the board of CCIAP (Portuguese-Arab Chamber of Commerce), the Portuguese-Saudi Business Council, and the Portugal-Hong Kong Business Association — always with one focus: enabling overseas business and human mobility into and out of Portugal.
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