Perspectives on Credential Evaluation: Future Trends and Regulatory Implications

With the broadening diversity of internationally educated nurses seeking to practice in the United States, state boards of nursing have turned to credential evaluation to determine if these nurses meet regulatory requirements.This article provides a critical analysis of the components of credential evaluation and discusses current issues and future trends. Examples are drawn from different countries to illustrate divergent approaches to preparing nurses for practice and the challenge in harmonizing these differences. Credential evaluation can assist regulatory authorities in determining the eligibility of these nurses for entry to practice.