Migrate as a Nurse
Uniguru is a Healthcare Recruitment Specialist for supplying quality nurse staffing and other health care related work to the UK. We work in close connection with local NHS Trusts, Private Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Residential Homes and we are also a registered provider of specialist Complex Care Packages for vulnerable children & adults in the community.
We have nursing jobs available across England and Wales, the opportunities are endless. We have Nurse Jobs readily available both on a temporary and permanent basis. Whether you’re a Care Assistant, Registered Nurse or Support Worker, we want to talk to you and help you migrate to the UK.
Ten steps of how an international nurse or midwife can successfully obtain NMC registration and work within the UK
Nurses and midwives who have trained outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and want to work in the UK as a nurse or midwife must gain professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Step 1: Your Qualification
For nursing, the NMC requires your qualification to be equivalent to a UK Level 1 nurse. In the UK, a Level 1 nurse is a nurse who has completed a three-year programme of education leading to a nursing qualification/academic qualification (a degree or diploma).
For midwifery, you will need to hold a qualification capable of leading to registration as a midwife in the country of which you have trained.
Step 2: English Language Requirements
When you apply to register with The NMC we need to be satisfied you have the necessary knowledge of English to communicate clearly and effectively.
NMC accepts two language tests as evidence of your ability to communicate effectively in English:
- The International English Language Test System (IELTS) Academic
- The Occupational English Test (OET).
IELTS – an overall score of at least 7, and at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7 in the reading, listening and speaking sections.
NMC accepts both the paper based and computer based IELTS Academic test delivered at a test centre.
Occupational English Test – at least a grade C+ in the writing section, and at least a grade B in the reading, listening and speaking sections.
If you would like support with your English language training, we have partnered with ACBT in Colombo to support you with your learning. The course includes a benchmark test to allow you to assess your competency levels and select the right programme for yourself.
Step 3: Self-Eligibility
The next stage of the process is to complete an online self-assessment form, which confirms whether you’re eligible to apply for NMC Registration. As part of this, you’ll need to confirm that you meet the NMC’s health, good character and English Language requirements.
You’ll also need to confirm that you understand you will be asked to provide supporting documents to evidence this later in the application process.
Step 4: Competency Test
Once the NMC has confirmed that you are eligible, you’ll be asked to sit the CBT (Computed-Based Test). This online assessment is to test your theoretical practice-based knowledge. The test format is a multiple-choice test and it can be taken in test centres all around the world.
The NMC permits three attempts at the CBT as part of one application, with a minimum of ten days in between each sitting. You will need to pass your CBT test within six months of completing your eligibility.
The NMC test providers are named Pearson VUE, you will need to contact them directly to book and pay for your test. The current cost of the test (January 2022) is £83.
Step 5: Supporting Documents
After you’ve passed your CBT exam, you’ll be asked to provide your supporting documents for your application. You’ll need to provide the NMC with the following:
- Your current valid passport
- Your birth certificate
- Your formal qualification certificates from each country where you have practised and/or been registered
- A full police clearance certificate for every overseas country you have lived in or visited for more than three-months since the age of 18
- Registration verification from each country where you practised or where you have previously registered
- A completed form to accompany transcript of training (FATT) form and full transcript of your training
- A good health declaration from your General Practitioner or the Occupational Health Department at your workplace.
Please note, all of the relevant forms required are available to download from your online portal once you reach the assessment stage, but not before.
Step 6: Submit your evidence
Once the NMC has received all of the necessary documents, your application will be assessed by a member of the International Registrations Team. They usually aim to assess applications within 60 calendar days of receiving all of your supporting evidence.
Step 7: Eligibility to apply for Healthcare Nursing Posts
After you’ve completed the above steps, you’ll be eligible to apply for Band 5 Registered nurse role where you will initially have the status of pre-registered nurses and work as a Band 3 or 4 healthcare assistant until you have completed your OSCE.
‘Once you complete all the steps above we will find you a ‘sponsor’ from the UK’. Once we get you the sponsor , you will need to get through a formal interview and pass it for the vacancy in the UK. We will guide and prepare you for the interview in order to improve candidate support.
Once you have been offered a UK opportunity, you can apply for your Tier 2 visa, start your UK post and then, you must pass your OSCE within 3 months of arrival.
If you’re interested in applying for opportunities at this stage, please email your CV to us at srilanka@unigurus.co.uk.
Step 8: OSCE
Once you arrive in the UK, you’ll have three-months to pass your OSCE exam. The exam will assess your clinical knowledge and can only be completed in the UK. The OSCE simulates a clinical environment and patient scenarios which all registered nurses and midwives are likely to encounter when they assess, plan, implement and evaluate care.
The OSCE contains nursing or midwifery scenarios along with 6x separate skill stations. Each separate clinical examination is known as a ‘station’ and you will circulate through the stations within a set timeframe. You must pass all 6 x stations to become a registered nurse and in the event you fail any of these, then you will be required to retake and pass any failed stations before you can work as a registered nurse. Most NHS Trusts have a structured OSCE training programme that is delivered on arrival to prepare you for the exam and will only schedule the exam once they are confident you are ready to pass.
NMC registration has also implemented a range of changes to the CBT and OSCE test in order to improve candidate support. You can read through the changes here.
Step 9: ID Check
A face-to-face ID Check will then take place at the OSCE location on the same day as your OSCE exam. You’ll be required to bring all of the original documents that you uploaded as part of your application. This includes your passport, registration certificates, police clearances and UK DBS.
You’ll find a finalised list of documentation on the back of your OSCE letter, which is downloadable from your portal.
Step 10: Work as a Nurse in the UK
After all of your hard work and determination, you’ll now be ready to work as a Band 6 or 7 Nurse or Midwife, depending on your experience.
Please note, you will still need to apply for a higher-banded Nursing opportunity. We can, of course, help you with this.
If you’re a nurse or midwife who going to use Uniguru’s support in securing an NHS or Private hospital post, you’ll receive the following benefits:
- End to end support from starting your application to get to the UK and settling down.
- Tier 2 visa application and Immigration Health Surcharge fees covered.
- Free flight to the UK and transfer from the airport.
- Free accommodation on arrival.
- OSCE exam costs paid.
- Full OSCE training programme.
- All the jobs start from minimum £18 per hour to £50 per hour (£22k-55K per annum) as we can offer you work in NHS settings, Private Hospitals, Care Homes and Complex packages of care.
- We can get you a job all around the United Kingdom. We work closely with a number of prestigious private hospitals across England & Wales.
- Help with your dependents application , when they want to join you in the UK.
- We work around you and your availability. Tell us when it’s convenient for you to work and will get you a flxible sponsor according to that.
- Our partners will offer free mandatory and clinical training for as long as you’re part of our family.
- Once you are in the UK, our partners We’ll do your DBS check for free. It’s one less hassle for you to worry about.
- Will get you sponsors that could get you the best holiday packages, such as paid annual leave for 6 weeks and the public holidays.
- Accessibility to one of the best pensions in the country in the NHS and a wide range of attractive benefits.
- Find sponsors who help you to grow through the industry with options to offer you educational courses and workshops throughout your tenure.