English Language (IELTS, OET) Requirements Exceptions for UK Nursing Registration 

A recent pre-registration nursing or midwifery qualification which was taught and examined in English.

Trained in English

If you completed an NMC-approved pre-registration nurse, midwife or nursing associate programme within the last five years, we will accept this as evidence that you have the necessary knowledge of English.

If you did not complete an NMC-approved pre-registration nurse, midwife or nursing associate programme we need to be satisfied that your programme demonstrates that you have the necessary knowledge of English.

• If you completed your programme in a majority English-speaking country within the last five years you will need to demonstrate that your programme meets the requirements set out in our guidance by providing evidence which meets our criteria.

• If you completed your programme in a non-majority English-speaking country within the last five years you will need to demonstrate that your programme meets the requirements set out in our guidance by providing evidence which meets our criteria. We will consider your evidence but please be aware that it is likely that you will need to provide an alternative type of evidence such as a language test.

Your evidence must confirm that the programme was composed of at least 50 percent clinical interaction. Your evidence must also clearly demonstrate at least 75 percent of that was with patients, service users, their families and other healthcare professionals and must have taken place in English.

If your evidence does not clearly demonstrate the above requirements you will need to provide an alternative type of evidence such as a language test.

UK NMC Accepted English language tests