Are you a Nigeria-trained Nurse?
Do you want to work in the UK as a nurse?
This article will explain the requirements for Nigerian-trained nurses to work in the UK.
There are a lot of Job openings for Nigerian-trained nurses who wish to work in the UK. Consequently, the number of Nigerian-trained nurses registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) of the United Kingdom continues to rise exponentially.
The exponential rise in the number of Nigerian-trained nurses working in the united kingdom can be largely attributed to the present brain drain of healthcare workers in Nigeria.
Requirements for Nigerian-Trained Nurses to Practice in the UK
Find below the steps for Nigerian-trained Nurses to work in the UK
- International passport
Nigerian-trained nurses who wish to pursue employment opportunities in the United Kingdom will need a valid international passport to proceed with the steps.
The Nigerian international passport is one of the requirements for IELTS registration and processing a new international passport will take weeks or months to be ready depending on the prevailing circumstance.
- English language proficiency test
The official language in the United Kingdom is British English, even though the majority of the courses in Nigerian universities are thought in the English language, Nigerian-trained nurses still need to demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively in the English language.
There is two English language test that is recognised which is IELTS and OETS tests. Both are valid for two years after which another IELTS or OETS is required.
IELTS which stands for International English Language Testing System is an English test written in various designated centres in Nigeria. The exam can be booked with the British Council or IDP and the results are usually ready within two weeks after the exam.
IELTS has four parts which include Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of the UK (NMC) requires a cumulative score of 7 to enable Nigerian-trained nurses to register with them.
OET which stands for Occupational English Test is another accepted English language test for NMC registration. The Required score is reading B, Writing C+, Listening B and speaking B.
- Open an account with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of the UK
After meeting the required English proficiency test score, visit the NMC official website and open an account.
Nigerian-trained nurses applying for NMC registration will be required to complete the eligibility and qualification application and proceed to make the required payment for evaluation.
The Nursing and midwifery council (NMC) of the UK will access the applicant’s qualifications, training and experience against NMC-set standards and will decide if they are suitable to work as nurses in the United Kingdom.
Most Nigerian training institutions meet the NMC requirements and as such a lot of Nigerian-trained nurses have successfully gone through this process.
- Verify your qualification with the Nursing and midwifery council of Nigeria (NMCN)
When you get to this stage, you will need to verify your nursing qualification and licence with Nigeria’s Nursing and midwifery council (NMCN).
The required documents for the verification with NMCN are the following; nursing certificate, current practising licence, birth certificate and a verification request letter.
The nursing and midwifery council of Nigeria will take about three months to do the verification and also the applicant will be required to pay a verification fee.
- Computer-based test (CBT)
After successful registration with the Nursing and midwifery council of the UK, NMC will authorise you to sit for the computer-based test exam. The computer-based exam can be registered via Pearson Vue. The candidate will be required to pay the required fee.
The CBT exam is based on UK general nursing theory which includes adult nursing, children’s nursing, learning disabilities nursing, mental health nursing and midwifery. It will also cover professional values, nursing decision-making, communication and leadership.
The CBT exam will be in multiple-choice question (MCQ) format and is written in Nigeria. The result is usually ready within 48 hours and is valid for two years.
Candidates sitting for the exam will have a maximum of three attempts to pass the CBT exam. After three unsuccessful attempts, the application will be closed and the candidate can open a new one.
Candidates who did not succeed after three attempts can reapply for NMC registration after at least six months.
Note: The exam fee will be paid in full each time the candidate sits for the exam. For more information visit the NMC website.
- Upload the document to the Nursing and midwifery council of the UK
After passing the Computer-based exam, visit your NMC portal and upload the following documents: nursing certificates, English language proficiency results and police clearance certificate.
- NMC registration fee
After the above steps, the applicant will be required to pay the required fee for NMC registration.
- Search for UK nursing Job
After the above steps, the applicant can start searching for nursing jobs in the UK online. The applicant can also visit any UK nursing recruitment agency such as Job.nurses.co.uk. The candidate can also apply for NHS jobs.
After securing a job the applicant will get an offer letter which the applicant should read well before signing. Also, the UK will require the nurse to have a negative pulmonary tuberculosis result before entering the UK. The test is usually valid for six months and is done at the designated lab in Abuja or Lagos.
A certificate of sponsorship will also be issued to the nurse which he or she will use to book a tier 2 visa biometric appointment.
Once your visa is ready you are set to travel. After arriving united kingdom your employer will book for OSCE training and OSCE.
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