We are going to show you how to move from Singapore to the USA as a nurse in Singapore.
This Asian country operates as a massive hub for the global healthcare workforce, employing thousands of highly skilled local and foreign international nurses (predominantly from the Philippines, India, and Malaysia).
While it offers a world-class environment, many nurses eventually look toward the United States for higher long-term salary potential, flexible scheduling, and clear pathways to permanent residency (a Green Card).
If you are currently practicing in Singapore—whether as a Singaporean citizen or a foreign expatriate on an S-Pass or Employment Pass—moving to the US as a Registered Nurse (RN) is highly achievable.
However, it requires navigating a specific multi-step regulatory and immigration process.
This comprehensive guide outlines the exact roadmap to transition your nursing career from Singapore to the United States.
Photo credit: vecteezy.
The 6-Step Roadmap from Singapore to the US
Transitioning your license and obtaining an immigration visa involves several moving parts that run concurrently. See them illustrated below:
[1. Choose US State Board] ➔ [2. CGFNS Credentials Evaluation] ➔ [3. Pass NCLEX-RN in SG]
│
[6. Relocate to the USA] ◄─ [5. Visa Petition (EB-3) ◄─ [4. CGFNS VisaScreen & English]
Step 1: Choose a US State Board of Nursing (BON)
Unlike Singapore, which has a unified regulatory body (the Singapore Nursing Board), the United States regulates nursing at the state level. You must select the specific state where you intend to live and practice.
Each state board has distinct requirements for international applicants. Popular states for foreign-educated nurses include Texas, Illinois, New York, and New Mexico, as they typically have more streamlined pathways for validating foreign degrees and do not always require a Social Security Number (SSN) to sit for the licensing exam.
Before you can sit for the American nursing exam, you must prove that your education in Singapore (or your home country) is equivalent to a US nursing degree.
Most state boards utilize CGFNS International (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) to audit your academic history.
You will need to request your university or polytechnic (such as Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, or NUS) to send your official transcripts directly to CGFNS for a Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) report.
Step 3: Pass the NCLEX-RN in Singapore
Every nurse practicing in the US must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
This is a computerized, adaptive test that measures your clinical judgment and safety competencies.
Good News for Singapore Residents: You do not need to fly to the United States to take this exam. Pearson VUE operates an official professional testing center right in Singapore, allowing you to prepare and sit for the exam locally once you receive your Authorization to Test (ATT) from your chosen US State Board.
Step 4: Pass an English Proficiency Test & Secure a VisaScreen
Federal law in the US requires foreign-educated healthcare workers to obtain a VisaScreen Certificate through CGFNS before an immigration visa can be issued. The VisaScreen validates your education, active licenses, and English capabilities.
Unless you obtained your nursing degree from a tiny handful of exempt countries (such as the UK, Australia, or Canada), you must pass an approved English proficiency test, even if your nursing curriculum in Singapore was taught entirely in English. The standard requirements are:
IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least a 7.0 in the Speaking module.
TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 83, with at least a 26 in the Speaking module.
PTE Academic: Minimum overall score of 55, with at least a 63 in the speaking section.
Step 5: Secure employment and a visa sponsor.
Because nurses are classified under a chronic labor shortage in the United States (“Schedule A”), they are eligible for direct EB-3 permanent residency (green cards), bypassing the long temporary work visa stages.
However, you cannot sponsor yourself; you need an American employer to file the petition on your behalf.
Nurses in Singapore generally choose between two primary employment pathways:
Direct-Hire Staffing Agencies
You are hired directly by a specific US hospital. The agency handles your paperwork, but the hospital is your employer. The benefits include:
Higher starting wages, direct integration into a hospital culture.
International Staffing Agencies—The agency acts as your official employer, sponsoring your visa and assigning you to contract roles across various hospitals for 2–3 years. Maximum guidance through the relocation process, heavy transition support.
Once you sign a contract, your employer files an I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Step 6: Consular Processing and Relocation
After your I-140 petition is approved and your priority date becomes current according to the US Visa Bulletin, your case transfers to the National Visa Center (NVC).
Photo credit: iStock.
If you are residing in Singapore, you will attend your final green card interview at the Embassy of the United States in Singapore (located at Napier Road). Following a successful medical examination and interview, your EB-3 immigrant visa will be stamped into your passport.
Conclusion
Transitioning from Singapore’s healthcare ecosystem to the United States opens doors to unparalleled career mobility, competitive compensation packages, and a direct path to American permanent residency. By systemically tackling your credentials evaluation and clearing the NCLEX locally in Singapore, you lay the ultimate foundation for a successful global career move.
Should you have more questions or inquiries about this, don’t hesitate to drop your question in the comments section or visit the official Pearson Vue test center in Singapore here for more information.
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