Registering as a Nurse in the UK β the NMC Pathway, Explained
Trained as a nurse outside the UK and want to know how to practise here? This is a clear, honest walkthrough of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration pathway β the English requirement, the CBT and OSCE exams, the visa route, and what you would actually earn on the NHS pay scale.
To work as a nurse in the UK, you must join the NMC register. If you trained overseas, the route is the NMC Test of Competence: evidence your English (usually IELTS Academic or OET), pass the computer-based test (CBT), submit your qualifications, and pass the practical OSCE at a UK test centre. Once registered you receive an NMC PIN and typically start on NHS Band 5. Source: NMC (nmc.org.uk), NHS Employers (nhsemployers.org). Information current as of 2026-07.
The six stages, at a glance
Every internationally-educated nurse follows the same core route. Here is the whole pathway in one view; each stage has its own detailed guide.
- 1
Create an NMC account and check eligibility
You begin by opening an account on the NMC online portal and completing an eligibility self-assessment. The NMC checks that your nursing qualification and clinical experience map to a UK part of the register (for example, Registered Nurse β Adult). You will need your qualification certificates, transcripts, and proof of registration with the nursing regulator in your country of training.
- 2
Provide evidence of English language competence
You must show the NMC that your English meets the required standard β normally an IELTS Academic or OET result, unless you qualify for an exemption (for example, a nursing qualification that was taught and examined in English, or recent registration/practice in a majority English-speaking country). The exact accepted routes and scores are published by the NMC and are summarised on our English requirements page.
- 3
Pass the Computer Based Test (CBT) β Test of Competence Part 1
The CBT is the first part of the NMC Test of Competence. It is a multiple-choice exam delivered at Pearson VUE test centres in many countries (and, for some parts, remotely). It has a numeracy section and a clinical section based on the standards expected of a UK-registered nurse. You can sit the CBT from your home country before travelling to the UK.
- 4
Submit your registration application and supporting documents
You complete the full NMC application, upload your qualifications, and arrange for your training institution and regulator to verify your records and provide references. The NMC assesses your documents, identity, health and character declarations. This is the stage where most timelines vary, so keep your paperwork complete and responsive.
- 5
Pass the OSCE β Test of Competence Part 2
The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is taken in person at an approved test centre in the UK. It assesses whether you can apply nursing knowledge safely across assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation, plus practical clinical skills. Many internationally-educated nurses arrive in the UK on a role that supports OSCE preparation and sit the OSCE within their first weeks.
- 6
Pay the registration fee and receive your NMC PIN
Once every requirement is met, you pay the NMC annual registration fee and are entered on the register. You receive an NMC PIN, which is the number that confirms you are a registered nurse in the UK and can practise. Registration is then renewed each year, with revalidation every three years.
Detailed guides
Dig into the part you need next.
NMC registration pathway
The full six-stage Test of Competence route, indicative fees, and timelines.
English requirements (IELTS / OET)
Which test, the exemption routes, and how to evidence your English to the NMC.
The OSCE exam
What the practical exam involves, its stations, and where it is taken in the UK.
NHS pay bands for nurses
Agenda for Change bands, indicative salaries, London weighting, and progression.
Country-specific information
We publish corridor pages only for source countries that are not on the WHO 2023 Safeguards List or the UK amber list. If your country is not listed, the general pathway above still applies and you can always apply to a UK employer directly, on your own account.
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Tell us your email and we send a step-by-step checklist you can tick off β English test, CBT, application documents, OSCE prep and registration β plus updates when NMC fees or requirements change. No spam, no fee, unsubscribe anytime.
We are not a recruitment agency and never charge nurses a placement fee. The checklist is general information, not immigration advice.
What you would earn
Newly registered nurses in England normally start on Agenda for Change Band 5. These figures are indicative for 2024/25 and are set nationally each year.
| Band | Typical role | Indicative annual pay (England) |
|---|---|---|
| Band 5 | Newly registered nurse | Β£29,970 β Β£36,483 |
| Band 6 | Senior / specialist nurse, deputy ward manager | Β£37,338 β Β£44,962 |
| Band 7 | Advanced nurse practitioner, ward / department manager | Β£46,148 β Β£52,809 |
| Band 8a | Matron, nurse consultant, senior nurse manager | Β£53,755 β Β£60,504 |
Source: NHS Agenda for Change pay scales (England), 2024/25, published by NHS Employers (nhsemployers.org). Indicative full-time figures β confirm the current year's scale, which is revised annually and differs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Full pay-band breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
Can an internationally-educated nurse work in the UK?+
Yes. Nurses who trained outside the UK can practise once they join the register held by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The route is the NMC Test of Competence: you evidence your English, pass a computer-based test (CBT), submit your qualifications, and pass a practical exam (OSCE) in the UK. After that you receive an NMC PIN and can work as a registered nurse.
Is GeraClinic a nursing recruitment agency?+
No. GeraClinic and Gera do not recruit or place nurses, do not match you to specific NHS vacancies, and never charge a nurse a placement fee. This cluster is free, general pathway information for nurses who are exploring UK registration on their own. You apply directly, of your own accord, to NHS trusts and other licensed employers.
What are the main steps to register with the NMC?+
Open an NMC account and check eligibility; provide evidence of English competence (usually IELTS Academic or OET, unless exempt); pass the CBT; submit your full application and documents; pass the OSCE at a UK test centre; then pay the registration fee and receive your NMC PIN. The pathway page on this site walks through each step in detail.
How much do nurses earn in the NHS?+
NHS pay in England follows the Agenda for Change framework. A newly registered nurse is normally on Band 5, which for 2024/25 runs from about Β£29,970 to Β£36,483 per year (indicative β pay is set annually and differs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). London roles add a High Cost Area Supplement. See the NHS pay bands page for the full breakdown and sources.
Which countries can I get corridor-specific information for?+
We publish corridor pages only for source countries that are not on the WHO 2023 Safeguards List or the UK amber list β currently India, the Philippines, Egypt, Sri Lanka and nurses based in the UAE. Nurses from any country may always apply directly to a UK employer of their own accord; we simply do not build targeted recruitment funnels for restricted corridors.
How long does NMC registration take and what does it cost?+
Timelines vary widely depending on how quickly documents are verified and when you can sit each test, but many nurses complete the pathway within a few months once they start. Costs include the application, CBT, OSCE and the annual registration fee. All fees are set by the NMC and change over time β the NMC registration page on this site lists indicative amounts and links you to the current figures.
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Important β please read
This is general information to help internationally-educated nurses understand the UK registration pathway. It is not recruitment, immigration or legal advice. Gera is not a recruitment agency: we do not place nurses into NHS jobs, do not match candidates to specific vacancies, and never charge a nurse a placement fee. You apply on your own account, directly to NHS trusts and other licensed employers. Requirements, fees and pay scales change β always confirm the current position with the NMC (nmc.org.uk), UK Visas and Immigration (gov.uk) and NHS Employers (nhsemployers.org).