NMC vs GMC: Nurse Route vs Doctor Route to UK Practice
The NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) regulates nurses, midwives and nursing associates in the UK; the GMC (General Medical Council) regulates doctors. If you are a nurse or midwife you register with the NMC; if you are a doctor you register with the GMC — you cannot substitute one for the other, and a nursing qualification does not lead to a medical licence or vice-versa. Both use a test-of-readiness model (the NMC’s Test of Competence — CBT then OSCE — for nurses and midwives; the GMC’s PLAB, or an accepted postgraduate qualification, for doctors) plus English evidence. This is general information; confirm current requirements on nmc.org.uk and gmc-uk.org.
NMC (nurses & midwives)
The UK regulator for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. You register with the NMC if your profession is nursing or midwifery.
GMC (doctors)
The UK regulator for doctors. You register with the GMC if you are medically qualified and want to practise medicine.
NMC (nurses & midwives) vs GMC (doctors), side by side
| Dimension | NMC (nurses & midwives) | GMC (doctors) |
|---|---|---|
| Who it regulates | Nurses, midwives and nursing associates. | Doctors (all specialties). |
| Main competence test | Test of Competence: CBT (computer-based test) then OSCE in the UK. | PLAB (Part 1 written + Part 2 OSCE), or an accepted postgraduate qualification in place of PLAB. |
| English evidence (headline) | IELTS Academic or OET at NMC level (broadly IELTS overall 7.0, with a writing concession) — confirm on nmc.org.uk. | IELTS Academic or OET at GMC level (broadly IELTS overall 7.5 / OET grade B) — confirm on gmc-uk.org. |
| Good-standing evidence | Verification from every nursing/midwifery regulator you have registered with. | Certificate of Good Standing from every medical regulator you have registered with. |
| What the licence lets you do | Practise as a registered nurse or midwife within your scope of practice. | Practise medicine with a licence to practise; specialty rights depend on further training/registration. |
| Specialist / advanced status | Advanced practice and specialisms are employer/curriculum-based; the NMC register records nurse/midwife/associate. | Specialist registration is reached via a recognised training programme (CCT) or the portfolio route. |
| Cross-over | A nursing qualification does not lead to GMC registration. | A medical qualification does not lead to NMC registration. |
They are not interchangeable — pick by your profession
The most important point is the simplest: your regulator is determined by your profession, not your preference. Nurses and midwives register with the NMC; doctors register with the GMC. A nursing degree does not qualify you for a medical licence, and a medical degree does not register you as a nurse. If you are unsure which applies, it is defined by the qualification you hold and the profession you are entitled to practise.
Everything downstream follows from that: the exam you sit, the English level you must reach, the good-standing evidence you gather, and the fees you pay are all set by whichever of the two regulators governs your profession.
Same idea, different exams and thresholds
Both regulators use the same underlying model — confirm identity and qualification, test readiness to practise, evidence English, and check good standing — but the specifics differ. Nurses and midwives take the NMC Test of Competence (a CBT you can usually sit in your home country, then an OSCE in the UK). Doctors take the GMC’s PLAB (Part 1 and Part 2), or use an accepted postgraduate qualification instead of PLAB.
The English thresholds differ too: the GMC’s headline bar is higher (broadly IELTS 7.5 overall or OET grade B) than the NMC’s (broadly IELTS 7.0 with a writing concession, or OET grade B). Because both regulators revise these figures periodically, treat them as pointers and confirm the current numbers on each regulator’s own site.
One thing they share: registration is not a job
Whether you register with the NMC or the GMC, the licence confirms you may practise — it does not place you in a post. You apply to employers separately and on your own account, and your immigration status is a separate track again (see the visa comparison). Gera is a telemedicine platform, not a recruitment agency: these pages are free information, and you deal with the regulators, employers and the Home Office directly.
Which is right for you?
Lean toward NMC (nurses & midwives) if…
You register with the NMC if you are a nurse, midwife or nursing associate — your route runs through the Test of Competence (CBT + OSCE) and NMC-level English.
Lean toward GMC (doctors) if…
You register with the GMC if you are a doctor — your route runs through PLAB (or an accepted postgraduate qualification) and GMC-level English.
Where to go next
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the NMC and the GMC?
The NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) regulates nurses, midwives and nursing associates; the GMC (General Medical Council) regulates doctors. You register with whichever governs your profession — they are not interchangeable, and one qualification does not lead to the other’s licence.
Is PLAB the same as the NMC Test of Competence?
No. PLAB is the GMC’s exam for doctors (a written Part 1 and a practical Part 2 OSCE). The Test of Competence is the NMC’s exam for nurses and midwives (a computer-based CBT and a practical OSCE). They are separate tests for separate professions, set by different regulators.
Do nurses and doctors need the same English score?
No. The GMC’s headline English bar for doctors is higher than the NMC’s for nurses and midwives (broadly IELTS 7.5 vs 7.0, both also accepting OET). Each regulator sets and periodically revises its own thresholds and alternative-evidence routes — confirm the current figures on gmc-uk.org and nmc.org.uk.
Can a nurse become GMC-registered, or a doctor NMC-registered?
Not by cross-over. GMC registration requires a medical qualification and the GMC’s route; NMC registration requires a nursing or midwifery qualification and the NMC’s route. Changing profession means qualifying in the new profession, not transferring a licence.
Sources
Every figure above is a headline from a primary source and may be revised — always confirm the current position on the official page before you act on it.
Related comparisons
This is free general information, not legal, immigration, financial or medical advice. GeraClinic is a telemedicine platform operated by Gera Services Ltd — it is not a recruitment agency, does not place clinicians into jobs, and does not market specific UK vacancies. Individuals apply to the regulators, employers and UK Visas and Immigration directly and of their own accord. Gera does not actively recruit from any country on the WHO 2023 Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List.