Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL)

Back to profile

Rep. Noor visits nursing exam site in Kenya, highlights staffing solutions via global partnerships

Thursday, January 18, 2024

The new Pearson Professional Center in Nairobi will help respond to the critical global need for licensed and trained healthcare professionals  

St. Paul, MN - This week, as part of a delegation from Minnesota, State Representative Mohamud Noor (DFL - Minneapolis), who serves as Chair of the House Human Services Finance Committee, attended the opening of the Pearson Professional Center in Nairobi. The new location will offer the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), capitalizing on the surge in foreign-educated nursing candidates and answering the demand for more qualified healthcare professionals.

“Minnesota is not alone in our need for more registered nurses. The shortage we and our nation face was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, with an aging population and increased healthcare needs, the demand continues to grow,” said Rep Noor. “Last year, we passed historic investments in Minnesota’s healthcare system, and as legislative efforts continue to address our healthcare workforce shortage, collaborating with foreign-trained nurses like those who will come from this new test center can be a strategic approach in supporting our local workforce.”

The Nairobi test center is the second international Pearson Professional Center in Africa, reflecting the global nature of the healthcare workforce. The expansion not only demonstrates the international demand for nursing professionals, but also underscores the importance of a diverse and globally collaborative healthcare sector. Testing is expected to begin at this facility in the second quarter of the year.  

“With the addition of the new Pearson Professional Center in Nairobi to our extensive global test center network, we aim to provide even greater accessibility and convenience to nurses in the region who aspire to pursue careers in Kenya and around the world,” says Corey Hoesley, Senior Vice President - Global Operations, Pearson VUE.    

Pearson VUE delivers more than 19 million certification and licensure exams annually in every industry from academia and admissions to IT and healthcare, developing and delivering high-stakes exams via a comprehensive network of nearly 20,000 highly secure test centers as well as online testing in over 180 countries. 

Photo: Rep. Noor attends the opening of the Pearson Professional Center in Nairobi

 

###