The NMC OSCE is the practical exam that nurses and midwives trained outside the UK must pass to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register. It has 10 stations, takes about 3 hours, costs £794, and you take it in person at one of three UK OSCE test centres: the University of Northampton, Ulster University or Leeds Teaching Hospitals. To pass, you must pass every station.
This guide covers what each station tests, the station timings, the test centres and booking, the marking criteria, results and resits. Everything comes from the NMC’s own pages and documents, checked in October 2026. The NMC changes stations and fees from time to time, so check its OSCE page before you book.
What the NMC OSCE means
OSCE stands for Objective Structured Clinical Examination. In nursing, an OSCE is a practical exam in a simulated clinical room: you move through a series of short “stations”, each with a task, an actor playing the patient, and an assessor who marks you against a fixed checklist.
The NMC OSCE is Part 2 of the Test of Competence. Part 1 is a computer-based test (CBT) of numeracy and clinical knowledge. The NMC says you can sit the CBT and the OSCE in either order, but you must pass both to continue your application (NMC OSCE). For the full route, from the qualification check to the visa, read how to become a registered nurse in the UK.
There are separate OSCEs for each field: adult nursing (RN1), mental health (RN3), learning disabilities (RN5), children’s nursing (RN8) and midwifery. You take the one for your field.
The 10 OSCE stations
The NMC’s nursing OSCE booklet says the exam has 10 stations with a total testing time of about 3 hours (NMC booklet):
| Stations | What they test | How many |
|---|---|---|
| APIE | One patient scenario in four linked stages: Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation | 4 |
| Skills | Two pairs of linked practical clinical skills | 4 |
| Professional values | A written station on professional accountability | 1 |
| Evidence-based practice | A written station on critical appraisal of research | 1 |
Communication is assessed throughout, including your written documentation, which must meet the NMC Code.
Station timings (September 2026)
The NMC publishes the time allowed for every station (NMC station timings, September 2026):
| Station | Minutes |
|---|---|
| Assessment | 20 |
| Planning | 14 |
| Implementation | 15 |
| Evaluation | 8 |
| Each skills station | 6 to 21, depending on the skill |
| Professional values | 10 |
| Evidence-based practice | 10 |
Which scenarios and skills can come up
The same document lists every current scenario. For adult nursing (RN1), the APIE scenarios include Alzheimer’s disease, chronic heart failure, community assessment, ectopic pregnancy, end of life, hernia, homelessness, pneumonia, subdural haematoma and suspected deep venous thrombosis.
Adult nursing skills stations include, among others: administration of inhaled medication, suppository, anti-embolism stockings, blood glucose monitoring, fine-bore NG tube, fluid balance, intramuscular and subcutaneous injection, IV flush and VIP score, MSU and urinalysis, oxygen therapy, pain assessment, peak flow, pre-operative check, pressure area assessment, catheter removal, and wound assessment with aseptic non-touch technique (the longest, at 21 minutes).
Professional values stations include topics such as a drug error, falsified observations, social media, unsafe staffing levels, use of bed rails and witnessed abuse. Evidence-based practice stations ask you to appraise research on topics such as pressure ulcer prevention, smoking cessation or saline vs tap water.
2026 changes
The NMC announced new stations in January, March and September 2026. In September 2026 it added new evidence-based practice and professional values stations for all fields (for example hand hygiene, unsafe staffing and use of bed rails), and new mental health and children’s stations. In January 2026 adult nursing gained skills stations on anti-embolism stockings and pre-operative checks, and an APIE scenario on suspected DVT (NMC resources). The number of stations does not change. Make sure your study materials are from late 2026, not older.
NMC OSCE marking criteria
The NMC publishes the marking criteria for each field on its resources page, with updated versions dated September 2026 for adult, mental health and children’s nursing (for example the RN1 adult nursing marking criteria, September 2026). The NMC says they “should be used by candidates to confirm understanding of the different skills” and only to supplement your learning.
How the passing standard works, from the NMC booklet:
- Pass scores for each station are set by professional judgement and statistics.
- You must achieve the pass score in every station to pass the OSCE.
- If you do something unsafe, the assessor raises a red flag. An agreed red flag always means you fail that station.
The same page has mock OSCEs, reading lists, the equipment list and test blueprints for each field, all free. These official PDFs are safer to rely on than “NMC OSCE questions and answers PDF” files shared online, which are often out of date.
OSCE test centres in the UK
In October 2026 the NMC lists three approved OSCE test centres (NMC OSCE):
| Test centre | Where | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| University of Northampton | Innovation Centre, Green Street, Northampton NN1 1SY, opposite the train station | ctc@northampton.ac.uk |
| Ulster University | Northern Ireland | ctc@ulster.ac.uk |
| Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | Suite C5, Joseph’s Well, Hanover Lane, Leeds LS3 1AB | leedsth-tr.oscebookings@nhs.net |
The Northampton centre is not at the university’s main Waterside campus (Northampton CTC). Leeds takes bookings through its own booking website and by phone (Leeds OSCE centre).
Two centres have closed: Northumbria University on 19 February 2026 and Oxford Brookes University on 31 July 2026. If you sat your first attempt there and need a resit, the NMC asks you to email another centre with “Oxford Brookes University Transfer Request” or “Northumbria University Transfer Request” in the subject line. That centre becomes your centre for all later resits.
There is no NMC OSCE outside the UK. Australia’s nursing board runs its own, different OSCE for some overseas nurses; see how to become a nurse in Australia.
How to book the NMC OSCE
- Wait for the NMC’s confirmation. After your qualification evaluation, the NMC tells you if you need the Test of Competence.
- Book and pay with a test centre. You book directly with the centre. If an employer is recruiting you, it may book and pay for you. Ask before you pay anything.
- Bring your passport. It must be the same valid passport you gave in your application. The centre photographs you for an ID badge.
- Do the ID check. All NMC applicants need an in-person ID check. The booklet says it usually happens on the day of your first OSCE attempt.
The NMC booklet asks you to dress as you would for a clinical environment. Each station is filmed for quality assurance, and the film is not released to candidates.
OSCE exam fees in the UK
These are the NMC’s fees for the international route, after the increase on 1 October 2026 (NMC costs):
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| OSCE, first sitting | £794 |
| OSCE resit, 7 or fewer stations failed | £397 |
| OSCE resit, 8 or more stations failed | £794 |
| CBT, first sitting | £83 |
| Whole process (evaluation, CBT, OSCE, registration) | £1,226 |
The total does not include your visa, flights or accommodation in the UK. Many NHS trusts and private employers who recruit internationally pay the OSCE fee or refund it. Ask, and get the answer in writing.
Results and resits
- Results: the test centre emails your result usually within 5 working days. The booklet says it can take up to 10 working days when new content is being introduced.
- If you fail: you get short, factual feedback on the stations you failed, and you only resit those stations.
- Attempts: up to three attempts in one application, at least 10 days apart, and all at the same centre as your first attempt.
- Third fail: your application closes. You must wait at least six months and then sit all 10 stations again.
If you think something went wrong on the day, the booklet explains how to appeal or complain.
How to prepare for the OSCE
- Use the official materials first. Work through the mock OSCE, the marking criteria and the reading list for your field.
- Practise APIE as one story. The four APIE stations follow one patient, so practise the whole flow, including writing a care plan.
- Learn the documentation. The booklet says written communication is marked, and that documentation must meet the NMC Code.
- Practise skills against the clock. Some skills stations last only 6 or 8 minutes.
- Read the professional values topics. These written stations are based on the NMC Code.
Many UK employers that recruit internationally run OSCE training for their new nurses. That is worth asking about when you compare job offers. You can find UK nursing jobs on our United Kingdom page and jobs that state sponsorship on the visa sponsorship jobs page.
Frequently asked questions
What does NMC OSCE mean?
It is the Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Part 2 of the NMC Test of Competence. It is a practical exam with 10 stations that checks whether a nurse or midwife trained outside the UK can practise safely at the level of a newly registered UK nurse.
Where are the OSCE test centres in the UK?
In October 2026 there are three: the University of Northampton, Ulster University in Northern Ireland, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The Northumbria and Oxford Brookes centres closed in 2026.
How much does the OSCE exam cost in the UK?
The first sitting costs £794, paid to the test centre. A resit costs £397 if you failed 7 or fewer stations, or £794 if you failed 8 or more. These fees apply from 1 October 2026.
How long is the NMC OSCE?
The NMC booklet says the total testing time is about 3 hours for the 10 stations. Individual stations last between 6 and 21 minutes.
Where can I find the NMC OSCE marking criteria for 2026?
On the NMC’s Test of Competence resources page. Updated marking criteria were published in September 2026 for adult, mental health and children’s nursing. Use the latest version for your field.
Can I take the NMC OSCE outside the UK?
No. The NMC OSCE is held only at its approved UK test centres. The CBT, Part 1, is run by Pearson, which has test centres in most countries.