NMC licensing process for nurses
STAGE 1
Check your eligibility
Before you can begin the registration process, you have to show you have a recognised qualification and the right level of English language ability.
To work as a nurse in the UK, you must be fully registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council or NMC.
The NMC licence all overseas nurses and decide on the requirements for registration. To get started with the process, you will need to show:
You have good English language ability.
That means IELTS 7.0 (6.5 in writing) or three ‘B’s in OET (C+ in writing).
You have a degree or diploma in nursing, from a recognised nursing school.
Your degree of diploma was at least 3 years in duration.
Your degree or diploma included at least 500 hours of clinical practise
You have complete at least ten years of education.
You must be a registered as a nurse
in the country where you qualified, the country where you are working, or show your qualification would allow you to register.
You are in good health, have not committed a criminal offence, or been prevented from working as a nurse by a professional body.
Click here to check the current NMC requirements!
STAGE 2
Begin your application
The NMC registration process begins online with the submission of important documents to confirm you can practice as a nurse in the UK.
The first step to becoming registered is to have the NMC certify your qualifications and verify your identity.
Get your personalised pre-application checklist
Begin your application
Provide identity evidence
Provide qualification and registration information
Pay the evaluation fee (£140 - non-refundable)
Await the evaluation outcome.
STAGE 3
Take the CBT
Next, you’ll take the CBT to show your basic skills are up to date.
The CBT or Computer Based Test is an online test you must take before you come to work in the UK.
The CBT is the first part of the two-part Test of Competence. The second stage is the OSCE that you sit in person in the UK.
The CBT is taken at an approved Pearson Vue test centre and cost £83.
The CBT is a multiple choice test split into two parts.
You have 3 hours to complete the test.
Part A (30 mins) is 15 questions and tests your numeracy.
Part B (2h30 mins) is 100 questions and tests your clinical knowledge.
STAGE 4
Complete your application
Once you have passed the CBT, you submit a range of documents to confirm you are ready for OSCE.
The final step before you can come to the UK and complete your registration is submitting the remaining to documents that confirm your good standing and eligibility for the second part of the Test of Competence - the OSCE.
Provide health evidence
Provide character evidence
Provide language evidence
Confirm professional indemnity arrangement
Pay registration fee (£153)
When all the evidence has been received, the NMC will review it. If they can see you are ready for the next stage, they will invite you to sit the OSCE.
STAGE 5
Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
OSCE is the very last stage.
Successfully passing means getting your PIN and finally realising your dream of working as a nurse in the UK.
You’re almost there. You’ve shown you have the qualifications, the language skills and the clinical skills. There’s one thing left to do - pass OSCE.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll get your PIN and you can work as a nurse in the UK.
The OSCE is taken in person at a test centre in the UK so, by this time, you will probably have relocated to the UK, worked for a few months in your new job and had time to prepare for. Your employer will usually provide support too.
So how does the OSCE look?
The OSCE has 10 stations:
Four stations are linked together around a scenario: the APIE (one station for assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation)
Four stations to test skills (two pairs of two skills)
Two stations to assess the candidate's values and behaviours and evidence-based practice.