United Kingdom · Licensing & Skills

NMC nursing registration

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) regulates nurses, midwives, and nursing associates in the UK. International candidates follow the Test of Competence pathway.

Who it suits

Who this pathway suits

Internationally qualified nurses and midwives seeking registration to practice in the NHS and UK healthcare sector.

Eligibility

Eligibility at a glance

  • Recognized qualification as a nurse or midwife in home country
  • English language proficiency: IELTS Academic (7.0 in Reading, Listening, Speaking; 6.5 in Writing) or OET (B in Reading, Listening, Speaking; C+ in Writing)
  • Pass the two-part Test of Competence: Part 1 Computer-Based Test (CBT) and Part 2 Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Process

How the process works

  1. Submit qualification details to NMC for eligibility check
  2. Pass the Test of Competence Part 1 (CBT) at a Pearson VUE centre
  3. Travel to the UK on a Health and Care visa and sit Part 2 (OSCE) at an approved university test site
  4. Registration PIN issued upon passing OSCE
Documents

Documents you will typically need

  • Nursing degree/diploma, transcript, certificate of good standing, police clearance, IELTS/OET scores
Good to know

What to keep in mind

Many NHS trusts offer fully funded sponsorship packages covering flights, visa fees, CBT, and OSCE examination costs.

Official source: Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Government authorities make all final decisions; no outcome is guaranteed.

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