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California Board of Registered Nursing: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language
Yes: California BRN accepts certified translations from professional services such as eVerbary.
Who may translate: Independent professional translator, not a relative
- $24.95 per page
- Usually 24 h for 1–3 pages
- Signed certificate of accuracy, PDF
- See the price before you pay
How we know · policy checked on October 21, 2026
The California Board of Registered Nursing requires transcripts that are not in English to be translated by a certified translator or translation service: an independent, professional translator not related to you, who signs the BRN's "Certified English Translation" declaration.
The BRN accepts certified translations from professional services such as eVerbary, and it refers applicants to ATA-accredited translators, whom eVerbary assigns on request.
California evaluates international nursing transcripts itself and does not require CGFNS; the original transcript must still come from your school by mail.
California BRN at a glance
Does it accept eVerbary? Yes
The BRN says a transcript in another language needs an English translation "by a certified translator or translation service," made by an independent professional not related to the applicant (application instructions), so a certified translation from a professional service such as eVerbary meets it. Policy checked on October 21, 2026.
- Translation
- Certified translation plus BRN declaration form
- Who may translate
- Independent professional translator, not a relative
- Credential evaluation
- None; BRN reviews transcripts itself
- Price
- $24.95 per pageUp to 250 words, certification included
- Delivery
- 24 hoursStandard for one to three pages
- Grades
- As recordedNever converted to a US GPA
Checked on October 21, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page. Policies change: confirm on California BRN's own page before you submit.
Worth knowing about California BRN
BRN declaration form
The translator signs the BRN form under penalty of perjury.
No CGFNS required
The BRN evaluates international transcripts itself.
Both versions to the BRN
Original-language transcript and translation both go to the board.
California BRN requirements in detail
Translation
Transcripts received from the school in a foreign language need an English translation by a certified translator or translation service (Application for licensure by examination and instructions; EDP-I-35).
Who may translate
An independent, professional translator who is not related to you. The BRN refers applicants to ATA-accredited translators or certified or registered court interpreters (Application for licensure by examination and instructions).
Declaration
Each translator provides an original declaration of fluency and accuracy, under penalty of perjury; the BRN's "Certified English Translation" form lists the documents, the translator's qualifications and the agency (Licensure by examination, form).
Original or copy
Original-language transcripts come directly from the school of nursing; photocopies are not accepted. International programs send them by mail (Application for licensure by examination and instructions, exam page).
Notarization
ATA-accredited translators and court interpreters sign before a notary, unless a known translation agency affixes its own official seal (Application for licensure by examination and instructions).
Evaluation
No credential evaluation and no CGFNS exam required; the BRN accepts official copies of transcripts from CGFNS if you have them (EDP-I-35: licensure qualifications for graduates of international programs).
School forms
The school completes the Request for Transcript and the Breakdown of Educational Program for International Nursing Programs (breakdown form).
How the BRN reads your transcript
California does not use an evaluation agency: BRN staff compare your theory and clinical hours with California's curriculum rules, using the transcript, the school's breakdown form and, if needed, course materials (EDP-I-35: licensure qualifications for graduates of international programs).
That makes the translation the document the board actually reads.
It must render every course, every hour and every grade as recorded, and the BRN wants both the original-language transcript and the English translation (Application for licensure by examination and instructions).
If the school is in a country where English is an official language, the BRN suggests asking the school for an English-language version instead; the original-language transcript must still accompany it (Application for licensure by examination and instructions).
The BRN declaration and notarization
The BRN does not accept a bare translation: the translator completes its "Certified English Translation" form, declaring under the laws of California that the translation is true, accurate and complete, and listing qualifications and the agency's name, telephone and website (form).
When you order from eVerbary, ask for a free quote, attach the BRN form and say in the notes that the translation is for the California BRN; we confirm before you pay.
The instructions add that ATA-accredited translators sign before a notary unless the translation comes from a known agency with its own seal, and court interpreters always sign before a notary (Application for licensure by examination and instructions).
If you want the signature notarized, notarization is $34.90 per order.
Where the BRN's pages differ
The exam page and the forms say a "certified translator" (exam page); the instructions say an independent professional translator and list ATA-accredited translators and court interpreters as the sources the BRN refers applicants to (Application for licensure by examination and instructions).
The referral list reads as guidance, not as the only option. If you want to follow it exactly, eVerbary can assign an ATA-certified translator.
Need a certified translation for California BRN?
$24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages. See the price before you pay.
Documents applicants usually translate
- Nursing school transcript (theory and clinical)
- Breakdown of Educational Program, if the school completes it in another language
- Nursing diploma or degree certificate
- Nursing license from the country of education
- Midwifery or other professional certificates
What an eVerbary translation includes
- A complete English translation of every page, stamps, seals and handwritten notes included, laid out like the original so each line can be matched.
- Grades, hours and credits exactly as recorded, with the grading scale the document prints. We never convert marks to a US GPA or equivalency.
- A signed certificate of translation accuracy on letterhead, with our contact details, delivered as a PDF you can upload or print.
- $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included; 24 hours for one to three pages as standard. Regular clients who need it can get delivery in as little as 30 minutes, on request.
- Notarization added at checkout ($34.90 per order) when the office asks for a notarized translation.
Submitting the translation to California BRN
The original-language transcript and its English translation must both reach the Board of Registered Nursing; original transcripts come directly from the school, by mail for international programs (Application for licensure by examination and instructions, Licensure by examination).
The translation goes with the BRN's "Certified English Translation" form signed by the translator (Licensure by examination); confirm with the BRN whether it should travel with the school's envelope or separately.
If you need a translator certified by ATA
Some offices accept only a translator who is personally certified by the American Translators Association (ATA). eVerbary assigns one on request, for the languages ATA certifies into English:
$34.95 per page
Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and Ukrainian
$44.95 per page
Japanese, Korean, Polish, Dutch, Swedish, Croatian, Danish and Persian
To order it, ask for a free quote and write in the notes that the translation is for California BRN, what it is for, and that you need a translator individually certified by ATA, plus anything else the office asks for (notarization, delivery by email to the office).
We confirm the price and the translator before you pay. ATA does not certify other languages into English, so no translator anywhere holds ATA certification for them.
For those languages we provide a notarized certified translation instead, at $44.95 per page plus notarization ($34.90 per order); ask the office to confirm it accepts that, and write its answer in the quote notes.
What we do not do
eVerbary is a translation service, not a credential evaluation service or a licensing agency: we do not issue evaluations, US equivalencies or GPA conversions, we cannot send documents on behalf of the school or authority that issued them, and we do not file the license application.
For the California BRN that means we translate your transcript and other records; the official transcript and the breakdown form must come from your school, and the BRN itself decides whether your program meets California requirements.
How to order
- Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
- Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
- Receive the PDF, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages, and submit it with the copy of the original wherever the office asks for it.
Frequently asked questions
Who can translate my nursing transcript for the California BRN?
An independent, professional translator who is not related to you, or a certified translation service (Application for licensure by examination and instructions). A certified translation from eVerbary qualifies.
Do I need CGFNS for a California RN license?
No. The BRN says passing the CGFNS exam is not required; it accepts official copies of transcripts from CGFNS if you have them (EDP-I-35: licensure qualifications for graduates of international programs).
What is the Certified English Translation form?
A BRN form the translator signs under penalty of perjury, listing the documents translated and the translator's qualifications (Application for licensure by examination and instructions).
Does the translation have to be notarized?
The instructions ask ATA-accredited translators and court interpreters to sign before a notary, except when a known translation agency seals the document (Application for licensure by examination and instructions). Notarization is available for $34.90 per order.
Can my school send an English transcript instead?
If English is an official language in the school's country, the school may issue an English version; the original-language transcript must accompany it (Application for licensure by examination and instructions).
Sources
California Board of Registered Nursing's own pages, read on October 21, 2026.
Translating documents for California BRN?
Upload a scan of your diploma, transcript or license and see the price and delivery time before you pay.