The NHS offers a range of exciting opportunities for clinicians across all grades and specialties – including for nurses. We recently expanded our recruitment service offering to include recruitment for nurses – read on to find out how to begin your journey to the NHS with NMC registration.
What does NMC stand for and what does it do?
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) plays a crucial role in regulating and overseeing the nursing, midwifery, and nursing professions in the United Kingdom. With a core focus on maintaining exceptional educational and professional standards, the NMC implements rigorous entry requirements for registration. Before beginning to work in the UK, nurses and midwives must be approved by the NMC in order to safeguard both healthcare professionals and the public.
What do I require to be able to register with the NMC?
Educational Requirements
Meeting the educational prerequisites is essential before embarking on your NMC registration journey. Before beginning the registration process with the NMC, you must have completed medical training and have qualified as a nurse in your country of training. These programs typically cover essential topics such as human biology, pharmacology, and health assessment, ensuring you are well-equipped to provide safe and effective care.
Language Requirements
Proficiency in the English language is a crucial aspect of the NMC registration. The NMC accepts the IELTS Academic and OET exams as proof of language proficiency. To meet the criteria, you must achieve a minimum score of 7 in speaking, reading, and listening for IELTS, a minimum B grade in reading, listening, and speaking, and a C+ grade in writing for OET.
Health & Character Declaration
The NMC places great emphasis on the health and character of healthcare professionals. Therefore, you must meet specific health and character requirements during registration. This may involve disclosing any criminal proceedings or misconduct and making a self-declaration of good health and character. In addition, the NMC also provides support for applicants with disabilities or health conditions, ensuring equal opportunities for all.
How do I register with the NMC?
Step 1: Application Process
The first step is creating an online NMC account, which will provide you with real-time updates on your application progress.
Step 2: Providing Identity and Qualification Proofs
You must provide valid proof of identity and qualifications to proceed with your application. Accepted documents include passports, national identity cards, or biometric residence permits. The NMC also requires proof of education. The NMC may also verify these documents with your place of education to ensure authenticity.
Step 3: Application Evaluation
You must pay the £140 qualification evaluation fee upon submitting your application. The NMC will verify your registration with the relevant regulatory bodies and institutions. Evaluation occurs once all necessary documents are obtained, and you can expect to receive an outcome within 14 days.
Step 4: Test of Competence
The NMC conducts the Test of Competence (ToC) to assess the skills and knowledge of overseas-trained nurses and midwives. The ToC includes a computer-based multiple-choice exam (CBT) to evaluate theoretical knowledge, and a practical Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) to assess practical skills. Both the CBT and OSCE must be successfully completed within a two-year time-frame.
Step 5: Submission and Registration
Once you have filled in all the necessary details, it’s time to submit your application. To complete the process, you will be required to pay a registration fee of £153. It’s important to note that this fee is refundable in the event of withdrawal or if you fail to provide the required evidence.
At Remedium, we are dedicated to candidate care – we know that moving overseas to work in the NHS is daunting, which is why we are with you every step of the way. If you are a nurse looking to make the move to the UK to work in the NHS, get in touch today!
