In order to get registered as a Nurse in the United Kingdom, you must first take the IELTS.

To schedule the exam, go to IELTS.org. You’ll click on Test takers. For the UK, you need to take the Academic Test. In the United States, the fee for the exam is $235.

After the exam, you will receive your results in 13 days.  Results must be sent to the NMC. You must score 7s on each part of the exam. The exam includes Listening Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, Writing, and Speaking.

Once scores have been received by NMC, you will receive an email from the NMC stating you are eligible to schedule Competency Test, Part 1.

This is a multiple-choice exam.  The study guide below is recommended for reviewing. I studied the night before the exam and simply reviewed the end of chapter questions. Continental TravelNurse recommends this edition, NOT the newest edition. 

Once I completed the exam, I returned home to find an email stating I was eligible for application. Once my fee was paid, I was given access to the online application.

Necessary for the application:

IELTS Scores (will be entered for you)

Certified Copy of Diploma from Nursing Program

Transcript from Nursing Program

Form to be filled out by Nursing Program Director

Training area reference form

Certified copy of current Registration (Licenses)

Police checks from countries you have lived in

Reference Form from current employer

Reference Form from previous employer

Declaration of Good Health

The application stays open and you can see if your documents have been received and added to the application.

After the application has been accepted, Part 2 of the competence exam must be scheduled.

Whilst all the other exams can be taken in the United States, you must go to the UK for Part 2. The exam takes place at University of Northampton.

Pass rates can be found on the NMC’s website.

After passing, you must pay the final fee to be added to the register.

When you are in the UK, you will have to stop at the office to have your IDs validated.

Costs are listed below.

IELTS $235

Application for nursing/midwifery £140

Part 1 test of competence (CBT) £130
Part 2 test of competence (OSCE) £992
Admission onto our register £153