Become a nurse
in the UK

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Your Pathway to a Career in Healthcare
in the UK

The National Health Service (NHS) is one of the leading healthcare systems in the world, providing you with many opportunities for professional development.

Due to the size of the NHS, there are a lot of opportunities for career advancement in a wide variety of roles, and there is always a high demand for qualified medical professionals. Working as a nurse in the UK brings many benefits, including:

  • Permanent job opportunities with settlement options
  • Access to a wide range of employers and a vast employment opportunities
  • Eligibility for permanent UK residency upon completion of five years
  • Continual recruitment of nurses annually

Eligibility & Requirements

To practice as a nurse in the UK, you must register to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The NMC aims to raise the standard of nursing in the UK by ensuring all professionals meet the necessary requirements and qualifications in accordance with their set standards. To begin the registration process with the NMC, nurses will need to have met the following qualifications:

  • GNM/B.Sc/Post B.Sc/M.Sc (Nursing)
  • English Proficiency Certificate IELTS/UKVI IELTS (Academic)
    with minimum scores of 6.5 in writing and 7 in listening, reading, and speaking.
  • Occupational English Test with minimum scores of C+ in writing and B in listening, reading, and speaking.
  • Registration and practice for a minimum of one year in a country where English is the first and native language.
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Roadmap to becoming a UK registered nurse

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  • 1

    Basic Education Qualification

  • 2

    Registration with Osprey

  • 3

    NMC Pre Registration

  • 4

    OET Training

  • 5

    CBT Training

  • 6

    OSCE Training

  • 7

    Mediskills Training

  • 8

    Orientation

  • 9

    Overall Exam

  • 10

    UKNP Certification

  • 11

    NMC Verification & Approval

  • 12

    CBT Exam

  • 13

    Online Interview with the Employer

  • 14

    Fly to UK

  • 15

    OSCE Registration

  • 16

    Passing OSCE Exam

  • 17

    Get Your Pin & Practise as a registered nurse

Visas & UK Right to Work

To work as a nurse in the UK, you will need to hold a valid work visa or be sponsored by an employer. Employers will issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) confirming employment, and you will need to apply for entry clearance to the UK embassy in India. After five years of employment, there is the opportunity to apply for permanent residency. Further information on this can be accessed via the UK Home Office website.

Relocation Package

To support your relocation to the UK and joining the UK’s healthcare system, some NHS trusts and private healthcare institutions have unique relocation policies, provided you meet certain eligibility criteria. Factors that determine whether you’ll receive a relocation policy include: your employment type, employment duration and if the organisation has enough of a budget to offer a package. This support will cover various costs, which can often include:

  • Refund of OET, OSCE, CBT exam fees by the employer
  • Initial VISA costs
  • Air ticket reimbursement
  • Initial accommodation costs
  • Access to additional education and medical services
  • Certificate of sponsorship
  • All refunds will be done by the employer and will vary on their terms and conditions.