Nursing Career In The UK: The Ultimate Guide!

You have the will to be proactive and turn your nursing career around. You have chosen a noble profession and are looking for a position that goes above and beyond the limitations of your career in terms of helping humanity. What next? 

We have compiled a detailed manual on how you can realize your dream of a magnificent nursing career in the UK!

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the statutory body that regulates the standards for education, training, performance and conduct of those eligible to pursue a nursing career in the UK. We will divide the application process into 7 parts:

Part 1. The NMC Eligibility Route Assessment:

You will be asked basic questions regarding your nationality, education and professional training in order to determine the correct route to get on the NMC Register. 

• Academic Criteria: at least 10 years school education before starting Nursing Program.
• Professional training Requirement: at least 1 year post-registration clinical experience.
• Language Requirement: IELTS band score of at least 7 in each area.

Note: make sure you provide accurate information about your educational institute so that once your details are shared with NMC, they can cross-verify the provided information with your institute. For registered nurses, NMC tends to contact the regulator (PRC) for verification purposes. If you haven’t passed the board exam, the NMC will contact both your Educational Institute and regulator to verify that you are eligible for registration in the UK as a nurse. Here’s what you must keep handy:

1. Identity Proof

You will need the following:

• Valid Passport.
• Proof of name (if your current name is different from your passport).
• Upload scanned copies but present the original documents during in-person verification. 

2. Qualification Certificate

• You must have a graduation certificate equivalent to a foundational degree in the UK.
• You must have at least 10 years of school education before starting a Nursing Program.

3. Professional Registration Certificate: this is only required if you are a board passer.

4. Pay The (non-refundable) Evaluation Fee of £140.

5. Obtain a Stateboard Verification (SBV) from PRC and submit to NMC for verification.

You will need to  present:

• PRC Board Certificate,
• Copy of your valid PRC license 
• CRM    number from the NMC confirmation email and pay 200 pesos.

Note: While you are already at PRC for your SBV, you can also ask for a Certificate of Good Standing (COGS) which you will need to submit as you go along the application process.

6. Submit the above mentioned to NMC and wait for an eligibility decision.

Part 2. Take a recognized English Language Proficiency Test

While you wait for the eligibility decision, you may decide upon the right English proficiency test to prepare for. You may choose between IELTS or OET as both the tests are time sensitive and have a validity of two years. It is best to start preparing for the test as early as possible, especially if English is not your native language. We will further discuss the eligibility criteria and preparation tactics for these tests in another blog post so we request you to stay tuned!

Part 3. Take the CBT

Once you’ve passed the eligibility assessment, you have to take the Test of Competence and the Registration application. However, in order to allow enough flexibility to candidates, taking the CBT is not a linear requirement anymore. This means that you can take the CBT while you are completing your registration requirements.

Part 4. Complete the registration application

Even though you have a time span of two years to complete the registration application, we highly recommend completing it all within the same time frame. You will be required to provide the following evidence:

1. Character Evidence: 

You must declare any chargers, convictions and offenses filed against you. Provide all the information and evidence asked for to gain enough insight in favour of your character. Upload police clearance or DBS.

2. Health Evidence:

It is important to declare any condition/disability that you are experiencing along with the details of a qualified medical professional to verify this information as well as your eligibility. 

3. Registered/ Registered in the last 3 years

Your regulator and current employer will provide a supportive declaration along with your self declaration.

4. Previously Registered (but not in the last 3 years)

Your previous regulator and a nominated person will provide a supportive declaration. 

5. No registration

A nominated person will make a supportive declaration.

6. Language Evidence:

Give proof of your English Proficiency through your IELTS/OET scores. You are also required to submit your transcripts and Registered Practice Certificate in Majority English speaking country.

7. Confirm indemnity arrangement

If a claim is made against you while you are a practicing nurse in the UK, this will help cover it. 

8. Pay for your registration fee - £153.

Part 5. Attempt OSCE

After you are done with your English Proficiency exam, employers grant a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS). This is important in order to attain a Tier 2 Working Visa that will help you move to the UK and complete your Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). At this point, you are legally a employed, per-registered nurse. You will be asked to present a valid passport on the day of the OSCE test.

Part 6. NMC Assessment

This is the period you are required to wait out patiently while NMC reaches out to your referees and verifies all the information you’ve provided.

Part 7. Registration

Once you have received a confirmation from NMC, your records will be registered so you can practice as a Band 5 in the hospital/trust you were employed by. 

Congratulations! You are now a registered nurse in the UK!