Nurse CV for the UK: NMC registration and the NHS supporting statement
A nurse trained outside the UK must join the NMC register: a £167 qualification check, the CBT and OSCE tests, IELTS or OET scores, then a £182 registration fee. NHS trusts shortlist from an application form, not a CV.1
Written 13 October 2026. CitedCV. How we write our guides
Before you open an NMC account
Gather your evidence first. The NMC closes any application that has not moved forward within three months of being opened and removes the online account, so a half-ready file costs you time. Use its pre-application checklist, decide whether you will prove your English with IELTS Academic or OET, and tell your referees and your nursing school in Türkiye that the NMC will contact them.
Fees and test centres changed in 2026 and may change again. Check the linked NMC pages on the day you pay.
The NMC route, step by step
- Eligibility and qualification application: upload your nursing certificate, give your school's contact details or your regulator's, and pay the £167 evaluation fee, which is not refunded.
- The NMC asks your regulator, and where needed your school, to confirm the qualification. It aims to assess it within 14 days of their reply.
- Once you are found eligible you have two years to complete registration, including the Test of Competence if you are asked to take it.
- Test of Competence: the computer-based test (CBT) and the practical OSCE, in either order. Both must be passed within two years of each other, and a pass stays valid for five years.
- Registration application: health, character and English evidence, a professional indemnity arrangement and the £182 registration fee.
- A face-to-face ID check at a Test of Competence centre, where all documents are checked as originals.
- The NMC contacts your referees, then aims to decide within 30 days of a complete application.
Documents not in English
For each one the NMC wants the original, a photocopy of it stamped and signed by a translation service, a full English translation that is also stamped and signed, and the translator's contact details. Without all four the document is not accepted.
What the two tests involve
| CBT | OSCE | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Part A numeracy, 15 questions in 30 minutes; Part B clinical, 100 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes | 10 stations: four linked around one patient (assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation), four clinical skills, two on values, behaviour and evidence-based practice |
| Where | Pearson Professional Assessments centres in most countries | University of Northampton, Ulster University or Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust |
| First sitting | £83 for both parts | £794 |
| Resit | £83 both parts, £70 clinical only, £50 numeracy only | £397 if you failed up to seven stations, £794 if eight or more |
| Result | From the test provider | Emailed within five working days |
The OSCE centre at Oxford Brookes University closed on 31 July 2026 and the one at Northumbria University on 19 February 2026. Choose the CBT exam that matches your field, for example RNA for adult nursing: a CBT for the wrong field is not accepted.
English scores and the full cost
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7 | 7 | 6.5 | 7 |
| OET | B (350+) | B (350+) | C+ (300+) | B (350+) |
These are the only two tests the NMC accepts. Scores are valid for two years, and you may combine two sittings of the same test taken within 12 months of each other. Other evidence types are a nursing qualification taught and examined in English, one year of recent practice in a majority English-speaking country, or supporting information from a current UK employer (SIFE).
Fees after the 1 October 2026 increase
| Fee | Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification evaluation | NMC, non-refundable | £167 |
| CBT, first sitting | Test provider | £83 |
| OSCE, first sitting | Test provider | £794 |
| Registration | NMC, refundable in some cases | £182 |
| Total without resits | £1,226 |
Visa, flights and travel are not included. When we read it, the NMC's step-by-step overview still showed £140 for the evaluation fee; its costs page gives £167 after the increase, so budget for the higher figure.
NHS Jobs and Trac: you fill in a form
NHS trusts take applications through NHS Jobs or through Trac, as the trust pages cited here show. NHS Jobs says employers judge how closely the application matches the person specification and shortlist the closest matches. Only the application for employment section is used for shortlisting; personal and monitoring details are kept apart.
- NHS Jobs splits supporting evidence into boxes per criterion. Qualifications and Experience are always there; an employer may add more, such as Knowledge and skills.
- Each box has essential and desirable fields of up to 5,000 characters, and you must leave out your name and contact details.
- Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust states that it does not accept CVs: every application comes through Trac.
- The same trust asks for referees covering at least the last three years and warns that a false declaration disqualifies you.
- NHS Jobs warns against sending the same form twice: adapt it to each post.
Where the CV still earns its place
Keep a full CV as the record you copy from: every post with dates, ward, beds and duties. The form asks for the same history in fixed fields, so a complete CV saves you retyping. If an advert does ask for a CV, the UK CV format page covers the layout.
Supporting statement mapped to a person specification
The specification below is a sample we wrote for an adult staff nurse post; take the real criteria from the advert you answer. Health Careers lists the newly qualified nurse as a Band 5 role, paid £32,073 with under two years' experience from April 2026.
| Sample criterion | E or D | NHS Jobs box | Sample sentence for an internationally educated nurse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse (adult) on the NMC register | E | Qualifications | NMC: CBT passed 02/2027, OSCE passed 05/2027, registration decision expected 06/2027. |
| Nursing degree | E | Qualifications | BSc Nursing (Hemşirelik Lisans), Example University, Türkiye, 2019, four years with clinical placements. |
| Experience on an acute adult ward | E | Experience | Staff nurse, 28-bed general surgery ward, Example State Hospital, Türkiye, 09/2019 to date, 6 to 8 patients per shift. |
| Recognises and escalates a deteriorating patient | E | Knowledge and skills | Recorded early warning scores each round and called the doctor on call when a score rose; documented the response. |
| Clear communication with patients and families | E | Knowledge and skills | Explained discharge plans and wound care to families before each discharge. |
| Supports and supervises students | D | Experience | Supervised two or three nursing students in each placement block. |
| Involvement in audit or quality improvement | D | Knowledge and skills | Joined a ward audit of pressure ulcer risk assessments and changed the admission checklist. |
The skeleton for each box
- Open with the criterion in the advert's own words, so the shortlister can tick it.
- Give one real situation: the ward, the patient need and your task.
- Say what you did, in the first person and the past tense.
- Give the result, with a number where you have one.
- Add one line of reflection: what you would keep or change. Pennine Care asks for this extra R (the STARR method).
- Keep each box under 5,000 characters and free of your name, hospital staff names and patient details.
One essential criterion, written out
Recognises and escalates a deteriorating patient. On a night shift on a 28-bed surgical ward I was caring for seven patients. A man on his second day after bowel surgery had a rising early warning score and new confusion. I repeated his observations, informed the doctor on call within ten minutes and started the sepsis checks the hospital protocol required. He was reviewed within the hour and moved to a higher level of care. Since then I hand over every rising score at the start of a shift, not only the high ones.
All names, numbers and events in this section are examples. Write only what happened and what your employer letter can confirm, since the reference covers the same years.
Sources and reading dates
We read these pages on 13 October 2026.
| Fact | Source |
|---|---|
| Steps, two-year window, three-month closure, 14-day and 30-day targets | NMC step-by-step guide and timing page |
| £167, £83, £794, £182, £1,226; resit fees; 1 October 2026 increase | NMC costs page |
| Translation rules for non-English documents | NMC qualification and registration page |
| CBT parts and timing; OSCE stations, centres and closures | NMC Test of Competence, CBT and OSCE pages |
| IELTS and OET scores, combining sittings, two-year validity | NMC accepted English tests |
| Shortlisting on the person specification; form sections | NHS Jobs advice page |
| Criteria boxes and the 5,000-character limit | NHSBSA user guide, August 2026 |
| No CVs, Trac, three years of references | Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust |
| STARR method | Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust |
| Band 5 pay from April 2026 | Health Careers |
When this route does not fit
- Nurses with a relevant European qualification that meets the rules for automatic recognition: the NMC recognises it and no Test of Competence is needed.
- Nursing associates and midwives: each has its own Test of Competence.
- Care assistant jobs, which need no NMC registration, have their own page.
- Visa sponsorship and the right-to-work line are covered on the page for international applicants.
Next steps
- Book IELTS Academic or OET and aim for the NMC scores in one sitting.
- Run the NMC checklist, contact your school and referees, then open the application.
- Prepare for the CBT with the NMC Code and the Pearson practice tests, and for the OSCE with the NMC information booklet.
- Write your full CV once, then copy from it into each NHS Jobs box. CitedCV can write the CV in English with UK conventions from the facts you enter and gives you the plain text for pasting into forms.
Questions people ask
How do I register with the NMC as an overseas nurse?
You file an eligibility and qualification application, pass the CBT and OSCE if asked, then send health, character and English evidence with the registration fee. A face-to-face ID check comes before the decision.
How much does NMC registration cost in 2026?
The NMC puts the total at £1,226 from 1 October 2026: £167 evaluation, £83 CBT, £794 OSCE and £182 registration. Resits, visa and travel cost extra.
What IELTS score do nurses need for the NMC?
IELTS Academic with 7 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing. With OET you need B in listening, reading and speaking and C+ in writing.
What is the difference between the CBT and the OSCE?
The CBT is a computer test of numeracy and clinical knowledge that you can sit in many countries. The OSCE is a ten-station practical exam held at one of three UK centres.
Do NHS nursing jobs accept a CV?
Usually not in place of the form. NHS Jobs and Trac use an application form, and some trusts, such as Shrewsbury and Telford, state that they do not accept CVs.
What should a nurse write in the NHS supporting information?
Evidence for each criterion in the person specification, in its order, with one real example per criterion. Cover every essential criterion and as many desirable ones as you honestly can.
How long does NMC registration take for international nurses?
It depends on your tests and paperwork. The NMC aims to assess the qualification within 14 days of hearing from your regulator and to decide within 30 days of a complete application.
Can I combine two IELTS results for the NMC?
Yes, two IELTS Academic sittings taken within 12 months of each other can be combined, if both meet the minimum scores and are under two years old.
Sources
- NMC: Register as a nurse or midwife if you trained outside the UK, step by step (updated 16 September 2026)www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nurse-midwife/trained-outside-uk/how-to-guide/
- NMC: How much is it going to cost?www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nurse-midwife/trained-outside-uk/how-to-guide/check-ready/costs/
- NMC: How long is it going to take?www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nurse-midwife/trained-outside-uk/how-to-guide/check-ready/how-long-is-it-going-to-take/
- NMC: Provide qualification and registration informationwww.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nurse-midwife/trained-outside-uk/how-to-guide/eligibility-and-qualification-application/qualification-and-registration/
- NMC: Test of Competence for all nursing fields and midwives (updated 11 August 2026)www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/toc/toc-nursing-and-midwifery/
- NMC: Test of Competence, CBTwww.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/toc/toc-nursing-and-midwifery/cbt/
- NMC: Test of Competence, OSCEwww.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/toc/toc-nursing-and-midwifery/osce/
- NMC: Accepted English language testswww.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/english-language-requirements/accepted-english-language-tests/
- NHS Jobs: Making successful applicationswww.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/search/advice/making-successful-applications
- NHS Business Services Authority: Add your supporting evidence in NHS Jobs, user guide (August 2026)www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2026-08/How%20to%20apply%20for%20a%20job%20-%20Add%20your%20supporting%20evidence%20in%20NHS%20Jobs%20user%20guide.pdf
- Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust: Applicant guidancewww.jobs.sath.nhs.uk/find-job/applicant-guidance
- Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust: Hints and tips for applyingwww.penninecare.nhs.uk/working-for-us/hints-and-tips
- Health Careers: Agenda for Change pay rates from April 2026www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/working-health/working-nhs/nhs-pay-and-benefits/agenda-change-pay-rates