Requirements As Registered Nurse
To work as a registered nurse in the United Kingdom, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Hold a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing. Ko
- Have a nursing license in your country.
- Demonstrate English language competency
- Complete the NMC Application Assessment
- Take and pass the Computer
Based Test (CBT)1 - Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).2
Working as a nurse or midwife in the UK
All nurses and midwives who want to work in the UK must register with us. Our
register consists of four parts.
- Nurses
- Midwives
- Nursing associates
- specialist community public health nurses (SCPHN).
The nurse part of the register is divided into four fields of practice.
- Adult nursing
- Mental health nursing
- Learning disabilities nursing
- children’s nursing.
Eligibility and Qualification Requirements:
Your qualification must meet the eligibility criteria for the part of the register to
which you are applying for your application to be considered. For nursing, you’ll need to hold a qualification capable of leading to registration as the equivalent of a UK Level 1 nurse, in the country in which you trained. In the UK, a Level 1 nurse is a nurse who has completed a three-year programme of education leading to a nursing qualification and an academic qualification (a degree or diploma)
For midwifery, you’ll need to hold a qualification capable of leading to registration as a midwife in the country in which you’ve trained.
Self-Eligibility
This is the first stage of the application process. You’ll need to complete an online self-assessment, which will confirm if you’re eligible to apply. As part of this, you’ll be asked to confirm that you meet our health and good character and our English language requirements. You’ll also need to confirm that you understand you will be asked to provide us with supporting documents to evidence this later in the application process.
1. The Computer Based Test (CBT)
Once you’ve passed the eligibility stage, you’ll be asked to sit the CBT. This is a test of your theoretical practice-based knowledge. The test format is a multiple choice test and can be taken in test centres around the world. You’ll have three attempts at the CBT as part of one application, with a minimum of ten days in between each sitting. You’ll need to pass within six months of completing your eligibility.
2. Application Assessment
After you’ve passed the CBT, you’ll be asked to provide your supporting documents for your application. You’ll need to submit these within three months of the date of issue.
Once we’ve received all the necessary documents, your application will be assessed by a member of the International Registrations Team. We aim to assess applications within 60 calendar days of receiving all your supporting evidence.
If we need to ask you for more information following our assessment, we’ll assign you a case officer, who will be your point of contact going forwards. Once we confirmed you’ve met our registration requirements, your application will be progressed to the next stage, which is the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
3. Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
The OSCE will assess your clinical knowledge and can only be completed in the UK. The test will be administered by one of our approved university test centres who will administer their own test fee in agreement with us. You’ll need to contact the university directly to book and pay for your test. Everyone is assessed by a panel of examiners and will be filmed for quality assurance purposes.
4. Registration
Once we have received notification that you’ve successfully completed your OSCE and the ID check, you’ll be asked to complete your final declaration and make your registration payment via your portal. Once you’ve completed both, we’ll send you your registration number.
The Total Cost of Fees and Tests is £1,170
This includes the cost of the CBT Fee £83 and OSCE Exam fee £794 and Qualification Evaluation fee £140 and Registration fee £153. This doesn’t include the cost of your visa, flights to the UK and any accommodation and travel while in the UK.
After Registration A Nurse can work in a wide variety of capacities.
Adult Nurse
Children’s Nurse (Paediatric Nurse)
Mental Health Nurse
Learning Disability Nurse
Specialized Nursing Roles:
Within these core areas, numerous specializations exist, allowing nurses to focus on specific patient groups or conditions. Some examples include:
A&E (Accident & Emergency) Nurse: Providing immediate care to patients with acute illnesses and injuries.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse: Caring for critically ill patients requiring advanced monitoring and treatment.
Theatre Nurse: Working within operating theatres, assisting surgeons and providing care to patients before, during, and after surgery.
Neonatal Nurse: Caring for newborn babies, including those born prematurely or with health issues, often in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Cardiac Nurse: Specializing in the care of patients with heart conditions.
Oncology Nurse: Caring for patients with cancer, providing treatment and support.
District Nurse: Providing complex care for patients in their own homes and in residential care homes.
General Practice (GP) Nurse: Working in GP surgeries, involved in various aspects of patient care like vaccinations, wound management, and health checks.
Health Visitor: Working with families and young children (pre-school age) to promote health and well-being.
School Nurse: Promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness among school-aged children.
Prison Nurse: Providing healthcare services to inmates, including physical and mental health support.
Palliative Care Nurse: Focusing on improving the quality of life for patients and their families facing life-limiting illnesses.
Research Nurse: Involved in conducting clinical research trials.
Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP): With further education and training, nurses can take on more advanced roles, with increased autonomy in diagnosing and treating certain conditions, prescribing medications, and managing patient care.
Other Capacities:.Beyond direct patient care, registered nurses can also work in:
Management and Leadership: Progressing to roles such as ward manager, nurse manager, or lead nurse, overseeing teams and services.
Education: Teaching and mentoring student nurses or other healthcare professionals in universities or clinical settings.
Clinical Research: Designing and conducting research studies to improve healthcare practices.
Policy and Advisory Roles: Working with government bodies or healthcare organizations to develop and implement health policies.
The specific roles available to a registered nurse will depend on their qualifications, experience, and the needs of the healthcare system at the time.
CONTACT
Mahmood Saleem
Advocate High Court
Immigration Consultant
0321-4314001
0333-5769655