Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language

Worth knowing about Massachusetts BORN

Massachusetts BORN requirements in detail

Which agency, and who translates for it

The choice of agency decides who may translate.

TruMerit's CES Professional Report asks for nursing transcripts in English, translated by the school you attended, and offers its own translation for a fee if the school cannot (TruMerit); only the secondary school diploma may be translated by you or someone you choose.

An outside translation of your nursing records does not fit that rule.

JS&A's application for boards of nursing, which lists Massachusetts, asks for "professional, certified English translations" (JS&A: application for boards of nursing), and its services page adds that outside translations made in the US must come from ATA-certified translators (JS&A: services and translations).

TEC, approved in Massachusetts for its Nursing Course Analysis (The Evaluation Company: nursing services), accepts an outside translator only if ATA-certified, or translates after your application is complete (The Evaluation Company: avoid delays).

The order of steps for an exam applicant

PCS's page for foreign-educated exam applicants sets the sequence: submit the Foreign Trained Pre-Approval Application in the state licensing portal, have the evaluation report released to Massachusetts, and wait for PCS to review it; if your education meets the Board's requirements you receive a Letter of Eligibility with directions for the license application (PCS: RN initial licensure by examination, foreign educated).

With JS&A or TEC, the translation is needed before the agency can evaluate records that are not in English, so order it first and send it with your agency application. Your school still mails or emails its records to the agency directly.

Where the Massachusetts pages differ

The instructions PDF that PCS still links, revised in 2016, lists only CGFNS documents: the Qualifying Examination Certificate, the VisaScreen certificate or the CES report (Instructions for graduates of programs outside the US, revised 2016).

The current mass.gov page and the PCS page name three agencies, TruMerit, JS&A and TEC (mass.gov, PCS). We follow the current pages; confirm with PCS if your evaluation is from before the change.

JS&A's own pages also differ: its FAQ says most translations by professional translators are acceptable, subject to review (JS&A: FAQ), while its services page requires ATA-certified translators for outside translations made in the US. An ATA-certified translator satisfies both.

Documents applicants usually translate

• Nursing school transcripts, with hours of instruction and grades
• Nursing diploma or degree certificate
• Course descriptions (syllabus) for the nursing and science courses
• Nursing license or registration from the country of education
• Secondary school diploma, which TruMerit also lets you have translated by anyone you choose

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 Massachusetts BORN

• For JS&A, the translation goes with your signed application, emailed to processing@jsilny.org or mailed, while your school sends its records directly (JS&A: application for boards of nursing).

  For TEC, provide the certified translations up front with your application (The Evaluation Company: avoid delays).

• The agency then releases its report to Massachusetts; PCS processes it, and the Board does not take translations from you separately (Information for nurses educated outside of the United States).

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:

To order it, ask for a free quote and write in the notes that the translation is for Massachusetts BORN, 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.

How to order

1. Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
2. Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
3. 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