National health system (NHS) in the UK is heavily dependent on overseas medical professionals. NHS recruitment agencies constantly looking for talented individuals all over the world to fulfil the ongoing national shortage of trained medical staff. Above all nursing jobs have the highest demand and the biggest shortage. If you are an experienced registered nurse in your country, you will have a very good chance to get a nursing job in the UK as an overseas trained nurse.
Apart from the great quality of life in a developed country, A lucrative package of other benefits will be offered to candidates who are interested in working as nurses in one of the best health systems in the world.
Anyone who is willing to work in the UK as a nurse or midwife needs to get themselves registered in Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) which is the regulatory body for nurses and midwives in the UK
The registration process differs for nursed trained in the UK, Nurses trained in UA /EEA and nurses trained Outside EEA.
This article is focusing on international nurses trained out side UK.
Process of getting a nursing job in the UK for foreign nurses trained outside EEA
The process in a nutshell
- Complete at least one-year experience as a registered nurse in your country.
- Fulfil English language requirement (IELTS/OET)
- Get through computer-based multiple-choice question test(CBT)
- Register with an NHS international nursing recruitment agency and find a job.
- Get down the certificate of sponsorship and job offer letter.
- Apply for tier2 visa with leave to remain
- Come to the UK
- Start working as a preregistration candidate
- Get through OSCE within the required time period.
- .Go for identification test and get NMC registration with PIN
NMC registration for International nurses outside EEA
NMC registration involves lots of paperwork and the process itself can be time-consuming. At the same time, certain steps in the NMC registration process can be time sensitive so it is advised that you initiate the registration process once you acquire all the necessary requirements.
Prerequisites for NMC registration
- One-year work experience as a registered nurse
- Proof of English proficiency
There are few ways you can prove your English proficiency for NMC registration
- IELTS You need to get an overall score of 7 with at least 6.5 for writing and at least 7 for reading, listening and speaking components. You can combine two IELTS scores to achieve above results provided both tests were done within 6 months of each other, sit for all four components in both sittings and you scored above 6.5 in both sittings for all components
- OET You need at least C+ for writing and b for all other components. You can combine two tests to achieve these results provided you sit for both tests within 6 months from each other, sit four all four components on both occasions and achieve c+ for all components on both occasions
- Trained in English ( for candidates coming from native English speaking countries)
- Registered and practised in English ( for candidates coming from native English speaking countries)
NMC registration-two-part application process.
1.Multiple choice exam. This is a computer-based (CBT)exam and can be done in centres in most of the countries. There are 140 multiple-choice questions. You must get overall 60% and 80% for critical questions about patient and public safety to pass the test
2.Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)- You need to come to UK to Complete this
OSCE centers
- oxford Brookes university
- university of Northampton
- oxford Brookes university
Finding a job
If you have the qualifications, finding a job is not difficult. You can directly apply for the nursing jobs advertise by the hospitals and trusts. But the most convenient approach is applying through an international recruitment agency. Advantage of going through a recruitment agency is that they will help you through the application process and you can get most of the expenses refunded including your Air ticket. IELTS, OET, VISA fees, health surcharge and OSCE fee.
All these recruitment services are free for the candidate so make sure you don’t pay anything in advance to the agency to avoid scammers.
Once you find the job. Your employer will issue you a JOB offer letter which contains the details about your job role salary etc. and you will be given a certificate of sponsorship which is necessary for your Visa application
Get work permit and visa
NMC registration doesn’t necessarily mean that you can work in the UK. To start working you need a UK VISA with a work permit. The application process can be tricky so be cautious when you are making the application.
VISA category – For international nurses starting work in the UK the visa category will be Tier 2 leave to remain. ( Read more on different types of UK visa)
You need the following for your VISA application process
1.Certificate of sponsorship (COS)
You employer will issue the COs through the home office. Before issuing the Cos they will Make sure you have passed the part one of the NMC, achieved the required level of English competency and you have a job offer letter. Cos is an electronic record and you need the Cos number for your VISA application
2. job offer letter
read complete guide on uk visa application process.
Start working
After you come to the UK You can start working as a pre-registration candidate. You have to sit for the OSCE within three months of job start date mentioned in your certificate of sponsorship. Candidates have three attempts to get through OSCE as part of one application and they should pass OSCE within 8 months from their visa starting date.
Anyone who had 2 unsuccessful attempts in two OSCE tests needs to wait for 10 working days before taking the third attempt.
You only have to sits for the parts you previously failed
If you failed to complete the OSCE within the required number attempts Your employer will stop sponsoring you and you leave to remain will be shortened.
Identification test
You will be invited for an Id test on the same day of passing your OSCE. You should provide all the original document which you presented as copies for the application process. In the end, you will be offered a NMC registration and NMC pin which you need to start working as a nurse in NHS.
Life after NMC registration must read before coming to UK
Nursing jobs in the UK for international nurses trained in EEA
The process is not as difficult as for non-EEA nurses. You need to fulfill following requirements
Recognition of your nursing qualification by NMC
NMC will assess your qualification to see whether you are eligible for automatic recognition. If your experience is not sufficient for automatic recognition you will have to undergo an adaptation program or aptitude test to fulfil any shortfalls
English language proficiency
Read the section under non EEA nurses. This is same to all the non UK citizens
Once you fulfil the requirements you will be called for an ID check and you get the NMC registration. Then you can apply for desired NHS nursing posts
Obtaining NMC registration and commencing your job is just a part of your journey. There is a lot more to settle outside work to make your settlement in the UK is smooth. check out our guide to life in the UK from day one
FAQs
What is the average salary of a nurse in UK
NHS nurses salary depends on the banding. Newly qualified NHS nurse starts at Band 5 and starting salary is £24907 per annum. average nurse earns around £33000- £35000 per year. Salary increase with banding and experience
Is it possible to get citizenship in uk as a overseas nurse
When you stay in Uk under tie 2 visa for 5 years you can apply for citizenship through neutralization. Read more details on how to apply for UK citizenship
How do nursing recruitment agencies earn money
Don’t think that nursing recruitment agencies are charity organizations. That doesn’t mean that you have to pay them. These agencies work for your employers. They get paid whenever they fill a vacancy. The amount is usually equal 15-20% of your annual salary. this can rise up to 30% for vacancies which are hard to fill.
I’m an international nurse already in the United Kingdom and has passed my cbt do I have to go through the same procedure