Eligibility

Overseas nurses must be registered nurses in own country – previous experience is not required

  • Initial NMC assessment to confirm eligibility.
  • 1 year’s minimum experience as registered nurse.
  • IELTS – overall 7 , with 6.5 in writing and 7 in other sections.
  • OET – overall B .
  • Aggregate two test over a 6 month period . with no test scoring under 6.5 or C+ where the minimum standard has been met on previous test.
  • English standard can also be met by :- registration in native English speaking country, within 2 years of applying to NMC or trained and assessed in English , within 2 years of applying to NMC.
  • Online computer based test (CBT – can be taken in own country)
  • Full assessment of nurse training and education including transcripts/CV/ references etc.
  • OSCE assessment (only taken in UK)
  • 3 attempts – if not passed must wait 6 months and re – apply.

Applicants must complete an online self-assessment of their eligibility to apply before beginning the application process confirming that have registration in own country and meet the English requirements.

Overseas nurses must be registered nurses in own country and have undertaken minimum of three years’ nurse training.

  • Initial NMC assessment to confirm eligibility.
  • 1 year’s minimum experience as registered nurse.
  • IELTS – overall 7 . 6.5 writing and 7 in all other categories . Aggregation of two tests within 6 months allowed with nothing less than 6.5 when a 7 has been achieved on one of the tests.
  • OET – overall B , with B in all sections. Aggregation of two tests within 6 months allowed with nothing less than C+ when a B has been achieved on one of the tests
  • Online computer based test (CBT – can be taken in own country) . 3 attempts – if not achieved re-apply to NMC following a 6 month break
  • Full assessment of nurse training and education including transcripts/CV/ references etc.
  • OSCE assessment (only taken in UK)
  • 3 attempts ( if not achieved re-apply to NMC following a 6 month break).

Applicants must complete an online self-assessment of their eligibility to apply before beginning the application process.

All non-EU trained applicants to the nurses or midwives must confirm that have met the English requirements.

Two stage process

Stage-1

CBT (Computer Based Test)- In own country via Pearson VUE test centre

  • 120 Multiple choice question

Stage-2

OSCE (The Objective Structured Clinical Examination)

The second part of the test is the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). This will act out scenarios which nurses and midwives are likely to encounter when they assess, plan, carry out and evaluate care. Each separate clinical examination is known as a ‘station’ and candidates will visit all the stations within a set time.

Assessed via a standardized marking criteria against which all candidates are assessed. Candidates are assessed by a panel of examiners and will be filmed for quality assurance purposes.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate safe and effective practice. The test of competence is based on current UK pre-registration standards.

Immigration requirements for non-EEA nurses and midwives

If you trained outside the EU/EEA

All overseas trained nurses must meet UK immigration requirements to come in the UK to make sure that there are appropriate provisions for applicants taking the test of competence: part two – the objective structure clinical examination (OSCE).

  • For those sponsored by an employer, it is expected that the sponsorship will formally start from the date of the scheduled OSCE, with arrival permitted up to 14 days ahead of that date. The sponsor may choose to continue to offer sponsorship in cases where the individual needs to re-sit the OSCE.
  • For those without sponsorship who wish to travel to the UK to take the examination, a visitor visa provision is being put in place. This will allow nurses and midwives to enter the UK on a six-month visitor visa specifically to take the OSCE.

Find out more about visas and immigration on the UK government website.

Recruit2healthcare Ltd works closely with each employer in the UK and with the nurse ensure all the necessary visa regulations and professional regulations are met.

eligibility