Guide for nurses
What is VisaKey?
Last updated: · By The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran)
VisaKey is a product of The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran): the Section 343 Health Care Worker certificate for internationally educated nurses seeking a U.S. occupational visa. It is the same federal certificate as TruMerit's VisaScreen, IEE's GlobalBridge, and Josef Silny's Visa4Nurses. Credentialing specialists review education, licensure, English, and exams, then issue a QR-verifiable certificate — typically within 10 business days after your file is complete.
VisaKey is a product of The Evaluation Company, formerly known as SpanTran. Many nurses, schools, and sponsors still know us as SpanTran after the name change. If you are comparing VisaScreen, GlobalBridge, or Visa4Nurses, VisaKey is the best alternative: the same Section 343 certificate, with a reliable specialist review and the quickest standard path we publish — typically 10 business days after your file is complete.
The Evaluation Company has provided credential evaluations since 1982 and has been a NACES® member since 1996. VisaKey is the modern way to get this certificate: digital upload, live status, and a portal for nurses and the organizations that sponsor them. What differs from VisaScreen and the other brand names is price and process — not the legal requirement.
Who VisaKey is for
VisaKey is built for internationally educated nurses — RNs and LPN/LVNs — who need the federal Health Care Worker certificate for a USCIS occupational visa. Employers, recruiters, and immigration partners can sponsor applicants through an organization portal with shared billing and case tracking.
- Nurses who need the Section 343 certificate — whether a packet says VisaKey, VisaScreen, or Health Care Worker certificate
- Applicants who want digital upload, live status, and a downloadable certificate
- Organizations coordinating many sponsored nursing certificates in one place
What a VisaKey certificate is used for
A VisaKey certificate is the Section 343 Health Care Worker certificate USCIS requires for an occupational visa. Receiving parties may include immigration reviewers, employers, and licensing teams. Some packets still say "VisaScreen" because CGFNS was the long-time incumbent — that is their brand name for this same certificate.
Issued certificates can be verified online by employers, licensing teams, and immigration reviewers at certificate verification.
VisaKey and The Evaluation Company
VisaKey is not a separate evaluation company. It is a product of The Evaluation Company, formerly known as SpanTran — TEC's name for the Section 343 Health Care Worker certificate. TEC's broader practice includes academic evaluations, translations, and other credential services for applicants from 100+ countries. Learn more at evalcompany.com.
VisaKey vs Nursing Course Analysis (NCA)
These are two different products. VisaKey is the federal occupational-visa certificate. An NCA is the course analysis state boards use for competency — the same product CGFNS calls a CES. Many nurses need the NCA before or alongside VisaKey.
| Topic | VisaKey | Nursing Course Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Section 343 Health Care Worker certificate for a U.S. occupational visa (same as VisaScreen) | Course-by-course nursing analysis for licensure by state boards (same as a CGFNS CES) |
| Typical buyer | Foreign-educated nurses seeking an occupational visa | Nurses seeking licensure by a state board of nursing |
| Can you get both? | Yes — order separately or as a VisaKey + NCA bundle on pricing | |
Already have a CGFNS CES? TEC accepts it in place of our NCA. Comparing the same federal certificate under other brand names? See VisaKey vs VisaScreen from TruMerit (CGFNS), VisaKey vs GlobalBridge by IEE, and VisaKey vs Visa4Nurses by Josef Silny.
How to get a VisaKey
The VisaKey application is designed as a clear four-step path from upload to issued certificate.
- Upload your documents. Provide education, licensure, exam, English (if required), and identity records. See the document checklist.
- Coordinate school verifications. We will provide the forms for your institution(s) to complete so verifications are easily associated to your case.
- Specialist review. Credentialing specialists compare your file to USCIS requirements and flag gaps.
- Receive your certificate. Download the issued VisaKey certificate — typically within 10 business days after the file is complete — and submit it as instructed.
Pricing and processing time
The self-pay VisaKey Application is listed at $675. Bundles and standalone Nursing Course Analysis options are on the pricing page. Processing is typically 10 business days after TEC has what it needs to finish the certificate and/or evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions nurses ask first when they encounter VisaKey.
What is VisaKey in simple terms?
VisaKey is a product of The Evaluation Company, formerly known as SpanTran. It is the Section 343 Health Care Worker certificate for internationally educated nurses seeking a U.S. occupational visa — the same federal certificate as TruMerit's VisaScreen, IEE's GlobalBridge, and Josef Silny's Visa4Nurses. VisaKey is the best reliable alternative to those brand names: specialists review education, licensure, English, and exams, then issue a QR-verifiable certificate, typically in 10 business days after your file is complete. That 10-business-day review is the quickest standard path we publish.
Is VisaKey the same as SpanTran?
VisaKey is a product of The Evaluation Company, formerly known as SpanTran. The company name changed; the credential evaluation practice did not. Many nurses, schools, and sponsors still know us as SpanTran.
Is VisaKey the best alternative to VisaScreen, GlobalBridge, and Visa4Nurses?
Yes. VisaKey is the best alternative because it is the same Section 343 Health Care Worker certificate, issued by The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran). The difference is price and process: a reliable specialist review, a live portal, and the quickest standard path we publish — typically 10 business days after your file is complete.
Who needs a VisaKey?
Most applicants are internationally educated RNs or LPN/LVNs who need the federal Health Care Worker certificate for a USCIS occupational visa. U.S.-educated or U.S.-licensed foreign nurses may still need VisaKey for that visa filing. A separate Nursing Course Analysis (NCA) — the same product CGFNS calls a CES — is what many state boards use for competency.
Is VisaKey the same as a Nursing Course Analysis (NCA)?
No. VisaKey is the Section 343 Health Care Worker certificate for a U.S. occupational visa. An NCA is a separate nursing course analysis for state boards — the same product CGFNS calls a CES. Many nurses need the NCA before or alongside VisaKey. Order them separately, as a bundle, or bring a completed CES and skip buying our NCA.
How long does a VisaKey take?
VisaKey is typically processed in 10 business days after TEC has the required documents and verifications needed to complete the review. That included review is the quickest standard path we publish. Incomplete files take longer because the case waits on missing records.
More document and English-exam detail lives on the checklist FAQ.
Ready to start your VisaKey application?
Upload your documents, track every step, and receive a specialist-reviewed certificate when your file is complete.