The NHS is one of the most respected and well-regarded healthcare organisations in the entire world. As a result, jobs with the NHS are in huge demand. This is not just the case for home-based applicants, but also for overseas applicants too.
The process of applying for the NHS as an overseas nurse can be complex, and a little intimidating, if you aren’t aware of what steps to take. Well, fear not. In this blog we’ll run you through the process from start to finish, and show you how to apply for work as an NHS nurse if you’re from overseas. This is the ultimate guide to NHS overseas recruitment!
NMC Registration
The first thing you need to do in order to work as a nurse in the UK is to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The NMC is the official nursing and midwifery regulatory body for countries within the United Kingdom. They ensure that nursing professionals in the UK have the skills and ability to work in a safe and consistent manner, and to the highest possible standards. The NMC has approximately 700,000 medical professionals on their list, and are tasked with establishing the standards that medical professionals will need to meet in order to work in the UK. They play a vital role in NHS overseas recruitment, and all nurses and midwifes in the UK are expected to register with the NMC.
The council will examine the quality of the training from your country with origin, and compare this with the standards required for working as a nurse in the UK. However, the route varies depending on where you are from.
EEA Candidates
If you are not from the UK, but come from the European Economic Area (EEA) then you’ll be required to complete the following process:
- Complete the NMC online application form. Following this, you’ll be given a personal reference number.
- Pay the assessment fee. As of 2019, this costs £110.
As part of the application, you’ll need to complete several steps:
- First, you’ll be assessed to see if your current qualifications meet the criteria for automatic recognition. If not, you will have the option to take various tests or courses to meet these requirements.
- Secondly, you’ll need to prove that you can meet the English language requirements for NHS overseas recruitment. We’ve included more detail on this later in this blog.
- Finally, once the above criteria have been met, you will be able to declare as a medical professional in the UK. You will also need to pay an additional fee of £120.
Non EEA Candidates
If you are from outside the UK or the European Economic Area (EEA) then you’ll be required to take part in the following process:
- Complete the NMC online application form. Following this, you’ll be given a personal reference number.
- Pay the assessment fee. As of 2019, this costs £110.
- Next, you’ll need to take part in a computer-based assessment. This is a multiple-choice test, which can be taken at test centres around the world. During this test, you’ll be asked 120 multiple-choice questions, focusing on areas such as nursing, midwifery, knowledge which is essential to professional medical practice, and other nursing-based criteria. The purpose of the test is to exam your overall level of competence.
- Finally, you’ll need to take part in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). This is an examination which must be taken in the UK. During the exam, candidates will be required to take part in mock scenarios that nurses and midwives will encounter whilst employed in a professional capacity for the NHS. There are six simulation stations in total, four of which test your knowledge of care-related matters, and two of which test your clinical ability.
Language Assessments
Along with registering with NMC, you will also need to demonstrate that you can meet the English language requirements needed to work within the NHS. There are a variety of ways in which this can be done, including:
- Completing a language-based test such as IELTS, which is a recognised international assessment that measures English language skills. To learn more about IELTS, check out our IELTS study guide. In order to work for the NHS, you’ll need to achieve a minimum score of 7 in your IELTS assessment.
- Completing the OET. This is a language test which is designed purely for the healthcare sector, and assesses skills such as communication. You must be able to score at least a B in this exam to be successful. You can find out more about the OET via their official website.
Whichever NHS overseas recruitment test you take, the NHS will require you to demonstrate and provide evidence that your pre-registration nursing programme was performed in English, and that 50% of the clinical teaching was delivered using the English language.
What happens next?
Once you’ve registered with NMC, and completed all of the relevant qualifications, you will be in a perfect position to start applying for NHS jobs. You’ll need to pass a tough interview process though, so professional registration is not a guarantee of a job. With this in mind, we’ve created a fantastic NHS interview guide to better your chances of success. In this incredible course, we’ve included:
- What it takes to pass your NHS interview with the HIGHEST SCORES POSSIBLE!
- How the interviewers are likely to assess you during your NHS interview;
- The difference between someone who fails their interview, and someone who PASSES!
- How to make the best use of the NHS job description and the person
specification for your particular role! - A rock-solid ACTION PLAN for you to download and utilise during your interview preparation!
Wooow this site is so educating,will love to know more
This is interesting and educating I’ll like to know more. Thanks