Nurses Outside of the EU/EEA

For nurses outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), there are specific processes to follow to register as a nurse in the UK.

In addition to the IELTS language test, you will have to adhere to the following requirements:

• Education requirements

• Practice requirements

• Registration requirements, including a test of competence

• Face-to-face identity check.

Education requirements

To register, you must have completed at least ten years of school education before starting your post-secondary education in nursing.

Practice requirements

Before applying for a role within the UK, you must have practised as a registered nurse for at least 12 months (full or part-time equivalent). The experience should be relevant to the vacancy you are applying for.

If you have been registered as a nurse for over 12 months, you must also be able to evidence that you have worked as a nurse for 450 hours or more within the last three years.

If you do not meet the above requirements, you can either check with a Medacs Healthcare consultant or the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to discuss the options available to you.

Registration requirements

To register as a nurse in the UK, you must first hold a current registration license in the country where you are living, have been practising in or where you qualified.

If you completed comprehensive or general nurse training in your home country, you will only be able to apply for registration as a general adult nurse in the UK.

Submitting your application

You will need to submit your application on the NMC website. Firstly, complete a self-assessment of your eligibility and declare that you meet the minimum requirements, including good health and good character. 

Following the eligibility assessment, you will need to undertake a competency test which is split into two parts.

Part one – is a computer-based test to check your theoretical practice-based knowledge. It is multiple choice and you will have two attempts at passing the test. To complete this section of the assessment you will need to evidence documents including a passport, birth certificate, qualifications and registration certificates. Please check with the NMC for the full list of documents.

Part two – this section assesses your clinical knowledge and can only be taken in the UK. The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) will simulate a clinical environment and common patient scenario.

Face-to-face identity-check

Relevant Links

• NMC Registration Process
• Do You Have Right of Abode?
• Applying for a Visa
• Nurses Who Have Relocated to the UK
• Language Tests