The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) regulates nurses and midwives in the UK. This page covers professional registration only, not immigration or employer sponsorship.

Who regulates nursing

The NMC maintains the professional register and sets entry requirements.

Application route

For applicants trained outside the UK, the NMC currently uses an eligibility/qualification stage followed by competence requirements where applicable and a registration application.

Qualification evidence

Applicants provide identity and qualification/registration information for NMC evaluation. Use the NMC's current checklist because evidence requirements can vary.

English language

The NMC requires evidence of English-language competence. Its current guidance recognizes specified forms of evidence, including accepted language tests and certain training/practice evidence. Always use the current NMC page for exact accepted routes and scores.

Test of Competence

The NMC uses a Test of Competence for many overseas applicants. Some qualifications can be treated differently under current recognition rules, so do not assume every applicant follows exactly the same route.

ID/health/character

Current registration steps include identity verification plus health and character evidence.

Registration

Registration is complete only after the NMC has evaluated the application and added the applicant to the relevant register.

Job search after eligibility

Employers may recruit candidates at different stages, but an employment offer is not itself NMC registration.

Sources