How to work as a nurse in the UK: NMC Test of Competence and fees (2026)

Official fees: £1,226plus 1 that vary
Steps: 5from degree to licence
Language: English: an NMC-accepted test (IELTS or OET) at the NMC's scores
Planning time: About 6–12 months from the English test to registration
Our estimate, not official

Where did you qualify?

Outside the EU and English-speaking countries EU, EEA or Switzerland UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand

This is your route. Most international nurses take the OSCE after arriving in the UK with an employer's job offer.

Step by step

Each fee links to the page we took it from.

1

Pass an accepted English test
paid to IELTS or OET

IELTS or OET at the NMC's required scores. The fee goes to the test provider. Source
2

Eligibility and qualification evaluation
£167

Apply online; the NMC checks your identity, qualification and registration. Non-refundable. Source
3

Test of Competence part 1: CBT
£83

Computer-based test with a clinical and a numeracy part, at test centres in many countries. Source
4

Test of Competence part 2: OSCE
£794

Practical exam in the UK. A partial resit (seven stations or fewer) costs £397. Source
5

Register
£182

Pay the registration fee, complete the ID check and arrange indemnity cover before you practise. Source

Not included: courses, translations, travel, visas and living costs.

Practise with someone who passed

One-to-one online sessions with nurses who sat these exams themselves – they know what the examiners want.

NMC CBT (nurses) tutors →NMC OSCE (nurses) tutors →

Study materials

Official practice tests, books and courses for each exam, checked on the publisher's or exam body's own page.

NMC CBT (nurses) materials →NMC OSCE (nurses) materials →

Stories from people who took this route

No story here yet. Took this route yourself? Share your story – it helps the next person more than any brochure.

Choose where to live

Compare the United Kingdom's 12 regions and nations side by side: immigrant population, people from your country, recorded crime and, where official data exists, hate crime. Official figures only, no scores.

Compare regions of the United Kingdom →

Settling in the United Kingdom

Renting a home, using your driving licence and the paperwork of your first months – three short guides, every rule linked to the official page.

Renting a home →Driving licence →Everyday life →

Agencies that help with this route

No agency listed for this route yet.

Recruiter, school or consultant for nurses in the United Kingdom? List your agency.

Questions

Does the employer pay for the OSCE?

Many NHS employers pay for the OSCE and the visa as part of international recruitment – ask before you sign.

Sources

Last checked 19 October 2026. Fees and rules change – always confirm with the regulator before you pay. PassPeers is independent and not affiliated with any regulator or exam provider.