UK Nurse Registration for Sri Lankan Nurses
Sri Lanka is an established source of internationally-educated nurses. If you trained in Sri Lanka and are registered with the Sri Lanka Nursing Council, the NMC pathway on this site applies.
Sri Lankan-trained nurses register to work in the UK through the same NMC Test of Competence as every other overseas nurse. You evidence your English, pass the CBT, have your Sri Lanka qualification and registration verified, and pass the OSCE in the UK. Sri Lanka is not on the WHO 2023 Safeguards List or the UK red or amber list. This page is general information for nurses who are independently exploring the pathway. Source: NMC (nmc.org.uk). Information as of 2026-07.
What this means for you
A few points that are specific to nurses trained in Sri Lanka.
Your regulator and qualification
The NMC assesses your registration with the Sri Lanka Nursing Council and your nursing qualification. Keep your certificates, transcripts and registration evidence organised — verification by your institution and regulator is often the stage that determines your timeline.
English language
Most Sri Lankan-trained nurses evidence English through IELTS Academic or OET, unless they meet an NMC exemption route such as a qualification taught and examined in English. Confirm the current criteria with the NMC.
How you apply for a role
You apply directly, on your own account, to NHS trusts and other licensed UK employers. Most overseas nurses come on a Health and Care Worker visa sponsored by that employer. Gera does not recruit, place, match or sponsor — this is information only, to help you approach the process yourself.
The NMC pathway, applied to you
The six-stage Test of Competence is the same route every internationally-educated nurse follows.
- 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 — 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 — 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) — 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 — 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.
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We are not a recruitment agency and never charge nurses a placement fee. The checklist is general information, not immigration advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Sri Lankan-trained nurse work in the UK?+
Yes. Nurses who trained in Sri Lanka can practise in the UK once they join the NMC register via the Test of Competence — evidencing English, passing the CBT and OSCE, and having qualifications verified. Sri Lanka is not on the WHO 2023 Safeguards List or the UK red or amber list. This page is general information for nurses who are independently exploring the pathway.
What English evidence do Sri Lankan-trained nurses need for the NMC?+
Most Sri Lankan-trained nurses evidence English through IELTS Academic or OET, unless they meet an NMC exemption route such as a qualification taught and examined in English. Confirm the current criteria with the NMC.
Which register and regulator do I come from?+
The NMC will look at your registration with the Sri Lanka Nursing Council and your nursing qualification when assessing eligibility. Have your certificates, transcripts and proof of registration ready, as your institution and regulator may need to verify your records directly with the NMC.
Does Gera place Sri Lankan-trained nurses into NHS jobs?+
No. Gera is not a recruitment agency. We do not place nurses, do not match you to specific vacancies, and never charge you a fee. This page is free information. You apply directly and on your own account to NHS trusts and other licensed employers, and any visa sponsorship comes from that employer.
What would I earn once registered?+
A newly registered nurse in England normally starts on NHS Agenda for Change Band 5 — indicatively £29,970 to £36,483 a year for 2024/25, plus a High Cost Area Supplement for London roles. See the NHS pay bands page for the full, sourced breakdown.
Pathway information for other countries
We publish country pages only for source countries that are not on the WHO 2023 Safeguards List or the UK amber list.
More UK nurse-registration guides
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Important — 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 — always confirm the current position with the NMC (nmc.org.uk), UK Visas and Immigration (gov.uk) and NHS Employers (nhsemployers.org).