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Accreditation means the certification, usually for a particular period of time, of a person, a body or an institution as having the capacity to fulfill a particular function in the quality assurance system. (ontheballcomputers.co.za/glossary.html)

Applying the assessment framework by International Educated Nurses (IENs) is complicated and cumbersome. The process is fraught with particular challenges, especially ones related to regulatory body approval, as it can take eighteen months or more just to review the applicant's foreign curriculum (Jeans, Hadley, Green, & Da Prat, 2005). In the end, they often find they must undergo difficult and complex system processes to obtain recognition for their home credentials. Regulatory bodies have been created to be responsible for the nursing profession. They have the authority to approve relevant educational programs and conduct their own assessment of IENs applications. The process of regulation relies heavily on several types of documents that are required from the prospective nurse which in turn are reviewed by different assessment services. One particular obstacle is the fact that IENs are responsible to find the appropriate credentials authority for their own individual assessment and the cost to them ranges from $100 to $350 or more if external assessment is required (Jeans et al, 2005). The assessment of documents frequently leads to inconsistent conclusions as cited in the report (Jeans et al, 2005). In the end, they may face difficulty and undergo complex system challenges in obtaining recognition for their home credentials. Most of the assessment, however, is a paper exercise, which may no longer reflect current and changing educational programs (Jeans et al, 2005). Half of the regulatory respondents claim that they are not aware whether the IENs have applied to other provinces or regulatory bodies (Jeans et al, 2005). This may result in unnecessary duplication and high costs for the foreign educated nurses not aware of the implications. Below are the required documentations for IENs prior to the taking of the nursing licensure:

• CAF - Completed application forms
• Lng - Proof of Language Proficiency
• Ver 1 - Verification of Original Registration in Home Country
• Ver 2 - Verification of Current Registration
• Mar - Marriage/Birth Certificate
• Tra - Course Transcript
• Pas - Passport, Photo ID
• Dip - Diplomas, Certificates from Programs of Study
• NPC - Nursing program confirmation
• Emt 1 - Employment references/Regulatory bodies request
• Emp 2 - Employment references/Application request
• Ver 3 - Verification of all Registrations
• Cri 1 - Criminal Record Check
• Cha1 - Character References
• Cri2 - Criminal Record Review (Jeans et al, 2005, pp.26-28).