Nursing students in Ukraine and graduates from Poland ask us about working as a nurse in the UK. To work there in this profession, you need to be on the register of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). With a degree from Poland the route is usually short, and with a degree from Ukraine it goes through the Test of Competence. We describe both.
Key points at a glance
- With a Polish nursing degree that meets the EU rules on automatic recognition (nurses responsible for general care, midwives) you do not take the Test of Competence.
- With a degree from Ukraine you take the Test of Competence: the CBT and the OSCE.
- Everyone proves their English: IELTS Academic with at least 7 in reading, listening and speaking and 6.5 in writing, or the OET.
- From 1 October 2026 the fees add up to £1,226 if you pass each part at the first attempt.
- You have three attempts at the CBT and three at the OSCE within one application.
Who decides
The register of nurses and midwives is kept by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Since December 2020, people trained in the EU, EEA and EFTA have applied through the same process as people trained in other countries. The difference is whether the NMC asks you to take the Test of Competence.
A degree from Ukraine step by step
The NMC first assesses qualifications from outside the EU and then asks for the Test of Competence. Your degree must allow you to register as a nurse in the country where you study. If the authority there cannot confirm this, for example because there is no exam required for registration, the NMC may not accept your application. In Ukraine, nursing studies end with a state exam: the KROK B test and a practical exam.
- Qualification assessment You open an NMC account, give the details of your degree and of the authority that registers nurses in the country where you studied, and pay £167. Documents in another language are sent with a full English translation.
- The CBT The first part of the Test of Competence is a computer-based test at Pearson VUE centres, which operate in most countries of the world. It has 115 questions on numeracy and clinical knowledge, lasts 3 hours and costs £83. Practice questions for the CBT are available on Medmigrant, our learning platform.
- The OSCE The second part is a practical exam with 10 stations, taken only in the UK: at the University of Northampton, Ulster University or Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. It costs £794. You can take the CBT and the OSCE in either order.
- Registration application You send declarations on your health and character, proof of English and confirmation of professional indemnity. You pay £182 and have a face-to-face ID check at the test centre.
- Joining the register The NMC checks your details with the referees you named and makes a decision. Once you are on the register, you can work as a nurse in the UK.
Three attempts at each part
You have three attempts at the CBT and three at the OSCE within one application, at least 10 days apart. In the OSCE you resit only the stations you failed, at the same centre, and a resit of up to 7 stations costs £397. After a third failed attempt your application is closed, and you can apply again after at least 6 months.
- 115 questions in the CBT, taken in 3 hours
- 10 stations in the OSCE, held only in the UK
- 10 days minimum break between attempts
- 6 months minimum wait for a new application after a third failed attempt
A degree from Poland
Nurses responsible for general care and midwives whose qualifications meet the EU requirements for automatic recognition do not take the Test of Competence. If your Polish nursing degree meets these requirements, you apply for the qualification assessment and then for registration with proof of English. You then pay only for the assessment and for registration.
It is different with specialist qualifications, for example in children’s or mental health nursing. In the EU these were never recognised automatically, so the NMC asks people with them to take the Test of Competence.
English
Everyone proves their English, including people with an EU degree. The NMC accepts IELTS Academic, also in the UKVI version, with at least 7 in reading, listening and speaking and 6.5 in writing. It also accepts OET with at least a B (350) in reading, listening and speaking and a C+ (300) in writing. A result is valid for 2 years, and results from two sittings can be combined within set limits.
Studies taught in English can also count as evidence, but if you study in a country where English is not the majority language, the NMC may also require supporting information from an employer (SIFE). In practice, the simplest route is to take IELTS or OET.
How much it costs
From 1 October 2026 the fees are:
| Qualification assessment (non-refundable) | 167 |
| CBT | 83 |
| OSCE | 794 |
| Registration | 182 |
That is £1,226 in total if you pass each part at the first attempt. A CBT resit costs £50 to £83, and an OSCE resit £397 or £794.
Frequently asked questions
Does the NMC recognise a nursing degree from Ukraine?
Yes, if the degree allows you to register as a nurse in Ukraine and you pass the qualification assessment. Then you take the Test of Competence, prove your English and apply for registration.
Do I have to take the CBT and the OSCE with a Polish degree?
No, if you have the qualification of a nurse responsible for general care that meets the EU requirements for automatic recognition. People with specialist qualifications take the Test of Competence.
How can Edumetric help?
We help you choose a university with nursing taught in English and, from the start of your studies, collect the documents the NMC needs. Book a free consultation.
Read also: Nursing in Ukraine in English: tuition, the KROK B exam and NMC registration in the UK. We write about working in the UK in other professions in Working as a doctor in the UK with a degree from Ukraine, Georgia or Poland and Working as a dentist in the UK with a degree from Ukraine, Georgia or Poland. You will find all universities in the university directory.
Official sources
Official pages in English, checked in November 2026:
- Information for internationally trained applicants (NMC)
- Register as a nurse or midwife if you trained outside the UK: step by step (NMC)
- Provide qualification and registration information (NMC)
- Provide language evidence (NMC)
- OSCE (NMC)
- Test of competence 2021, Nursing: CBT information booklet (NMC) (PDF)
- How much is it going to cost? (NMC)
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