Virginia Board of Nursing: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language

Worth knowing about Virginia BON

Virginia BON requirements in detail

Which agency, and who translates for it

The agency decides who may translate. TruMerit's CES Professional Report wants nursing transcripts translated by the school, and translates them itself for a fee if the school cannot (TruMerit).

IEE's nursing handbook asks that records from schools be in English or accompanied by a translation, offers its own translation for a fee, and does not accept translations directly from applicants (IEE).

JS&A's application for boards of nursing, the one Virginia links, 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, which lists Virginia among the boards that accept its Nursing Course Analysis (The Evaluation Company: nursing services), accepts an outside translator only if ATA-certified (The Evaluation Company: avoid delays).

Where the Virginia pages differ

Virginia's regulation for applicants educated in another country still asks for evidence from CGFNS (18VAC90-19-130, licensure of applicants from other countries), while the statute tells the Board to identify multiple approved agencies (Virginia Code 54.1-3017).

The International Applicants page lists four, in a table dated April 1, 2024 (International applicants), and the Registered Nurse application page mentions only CGFNS and JS&A reports (Apply for a license: Registered Nurse).

Besides TruMerit, JS&A is the only agency named on both the International Applicants page and the Registered Nurse page, so it is the safer choice if you want to use an outside translation.

JS&A's FAQ says most translations by professional translators are acceptable, subject to review (JS&A: FAQ); an ATA-certified translator also meets its stricter services-page rule.

Steps for a nurse educated abroad

If you have never been licensed by exam in a US state, apply for licensure by exam; if you have, apply by endorsement and request verification from the state where you took the NCLEX (Apply for a license: Registered Nurse). Either way, the credential evaluation comes first.

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

Documents applicants usually translate

• Nursing school transcripts, with theory and clinical hours
• Nursing diploma or degree certificate
• Course descriptions for nursing and science courses
• Nursing license or registration from the country of education
• Secondary school diploma, if the agency asks for it

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 Virginia BON

• For JS&A, the translation goes with your signed application to JS&A, while your school sends the transcript, degree, course descriptions and charts 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 sends its evaluation to the Virginia Board of Nursing, and your English test results go to the agency, not to the Board (International applicants).

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 Virginia BON, 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