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Sponsorships for Overseas Nurses

Welcome to Hire Brit, your premier recruiting agency for overseas nurses looking to work in the United Kingdom. We understand the challenges that come with a UK Visa for Nurses as well as relocating to a new country and finding work in a new healthcare system. 

That’s why we’re here to help you every step of the way for the nursing sponsorship programme UK.

Our team of experts will work with you to secure sponsorship and employment in the UK, including assistance with obtaining the necessary sponsorships for overseas nurses, visa and work permits. We also provide support in finding suitable job opportunities that match your skills and experience.

We pride ourselves on providing personalized support and guidance to help you adapt to working in the UK. We also provide training and resources to ensure that you are fully prepared for your new role.

Registration With NMC

Foreign-trained nurses and midwives who intend to work in the United Kingdom must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Applicants must pass a two-part exam of their competence to be registered: the Test of Competence (ToC).

  • Part one is a multiple-choice computer-based test (CBT) that applicants can take in their home nations from anywhere in the world.
  • Part two is a practical objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) held at one of five test centers in the United Kingdom.

To join the registry and pass the ToC, applicants must also pass an English language exam. The exams may be taken in any sequence. If you have any problems regarding Sponsorships for Overseas Nurses, feel free to contact Hire Brit.

OSCE

The OSCE is based on British pre-registration requirements. In analyzing, planning, providing, and evaluating care, candidates must play out scenarios that nurses and midwives are likely to experience. 

A person entering the United Kingdom for a nursing position has up to three months (12 weeks) from the date of job commencement listed on their certificate of sponsorship to take their first OSCE exam. 

During this time, they are legally permitted to be employed as pre-registration candidates. Applicants must take the OSCE in the United Kingdom at an authorized testing center.

What does the OSCE involve?

The OSCE (as part of the new ToC) consists of 10 stations divided into four skills-based, four assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care (APIE), and two silent skills stations. The constitutional values of the NHS and the 6Cs of nursing are evaluated at all OSCE stations.

On page four of the CBT information brochure for nurses and midwives, applicants will find complete booking instructions and course/module information. If the wrong CBT was taken, applicants will need to retake and pass the right CBT.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has developed a digital center that provides candidates, recruiters, and employers with all the necessary information to prepare for the new ToC. The core comprises candidate handbooks, test standards, OSCE practice exams, and designs for the upcoming CBTs.

Beginning in 2023, the NMC will modify its English language standards. The NMC website provides additional information about the alterations. Contract Hire Brit to find out more about UK visas for nurses, and how we can help!

OSCE-Approved Testing Facilities

There are five OSCE-approved test centers, giving candidates a total of six options for taking the exam. 

  • University of Northampton
  • Oxford Brookes University (Oxford campus and Swindon campus)
  • Ulster University (Northern Ireland)
  • Leeds Teaching University Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Northumbria University.

OSCE Bookings and Capacity

We are aware that OSCE test center capacity remains constrained, so in order to release test center capacity throughout the system, the NMC is requesting that trusts:

  • Be flexible with booking exam dates and book the first available spot. If this is outside of the 12-week period from arrival, speak with your NHS England IR lead and look to all test centers when booking tests in advance (i.e. when the CoS is issued or flights are booked, well before candidates begin their training), but avoid overbooking block tests and keep track of what has been booked.
  • Do not cancel existing test centre reservations in order to rebook at a new location.
  • Confirm candidate details with test centres at least eight weeks prior to the test, including the candidate's name, personal registration number, application type, and confirmation of the exam they will be sitting, particularly if booking tests before participants arrive.
  • Take the time to ensure that candidates who failed the test the first time are completely prepared to retake it.

OSCE Readiness

To ensure that applicants have sufficient time to prepare for the OSCE, they have up to 12 weeks from the start date on their Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to complete their exam on their first attempt. 

Candidates should be offered help and the opportunity to practise and prepare for the OSCE prior to the exam.

In order to be successful in the OSCE, a candidate’s initial few weeks of experience are crucial. Applicants for registration with the NMC are no longer required to complete a period of supervised practice. 

Hence, providing a high-quality, well-structured induction and socialisation phase is crucial. Many organisations also offer OSCE preparatory assistance to their overseas recruits.

In order to prepare for the OSCE, candidates must be familiar with the NMC nursing blueprints. The exam blueprints define the scope and content of the OSCE in terms of the topics, skills, and processes that a newly registered nurse must be able to show. Access additional information on the NMC website.

If you have any questions about the Nursing Sponsorship programme UK, feel free to contact Hire Brit. 

Best Practices for Preparing OSCE Applicants

Both Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have support programmes in place and provided the following advice.

  • Provide applicants with practice and experience, and emphasise the need for them to be able to verbalise and demonstrate their understanding.
  • Increase their resiliency and confidence to speak in front of others, as international nurses are not often comfortable doing so.
  • Set up practice rooms similarly to the OSCE, with simulated patients in a clinical setting, so that the students are comfortable with the environment.
  • Create a specialised support group, such as a Facebook group.
  • Consider sending a representative to a course designed to train trainers. This is managed by both the University of Northampton and the University of Ulster and enables the dissemination of information within the trust.
  • Ensure that applicants have ample opportunity to practise their abilities before taking the OSCE.
  • Plan a simulated, timed practice at least three weeks before the OSCE to determine if the candidate is prepared (any later than this may then cause a delay in getting a new test date within the 12-week limit).
  • If your candidates are unprepared for their examination, make sure they have the option to reschedule.
  • Although there is always a time constraint associated with a candidate taking the OSCE and the need to move personnel swiftly through this process, low pass rates show that initial speed may pose more problems in the long run.

The NMC has created a PDF with information about what to expect on the OSCE, frequent mistakes, and general tips and guidance for candidates. Sponsorships for Overseas Nurses are available with Hire Brit, all you have to do is contact us!

Rules & Regulations For Employers and International Nurses

All applicants from abroad must pass the CBT, meet all initial requirements of the NMC’s overseas nursing process (including language proficiency requirements), sit the OSCE, and complete their registration. 

How an international applicant can meet the required level of English language proficiency is outlined by the NMC.

A person entering the United Kingdom for a nursing position has up to 12 weeks from the date of employment commencement listed on their certificate of sponsorship (CoS) to take the OSCE exam for the first time. During this time, pre-registration candidates may legally be employed.

Candidates must take their first OSCE exam within 12 weeks, in accordance with visa requirements. If due to OSCE availability, this is not possible, trusts will be required to document their attempts to schedule a test and add a sponsor note to the UKVI system.

It is the individual’s responsibility to determine which OSCE route they should be placed on. OSCEs exist for adult nursing, paediatric nursing, mental health nursing, learning and disability nursing, midwifery, and nursing associates.

Before requesting a CoS, employers must ensure the following conditions are met. Examinations may be taken in any order.

  • The individual has passed the first section of the NMC test of competence (CBT)
  • Has been extended a job offer and
  • Has attained the required level of language proficiency.

Submit the following evidence with your CoS applications:

  • Copy of the employment offer
  • Copy of the email confirmation from the NMC to show the individual has passed the CBT

The skilled worker minimum salary requirement of £20,480 is temporarily waived under these conditions, but employers are still advised to place nurses in an interim position with a salary at least equivalent to a Band 3 role.

OSCE Attempts

As part of a single application, applicants may take the OSCE exam up to three times. Within eight months of receiving their visa, applicants must pass the OSCE (candidates must pass all stations with a score of 100%).

Retakes

If a candidate fails the OSCE on their first or second attempt, they must wait a minimum of 10 business days before retaking the examination. Previously, candidates were required to wait three months before taking the OSCE for a third time.

Applicants are only required to retake the sections of the exam that they previously failed. All applicants who have failed seven or fewer stations pay a reduced fee of £397 to retake the examination.

If the applicant is unsuccessful after the allotted number of attempts, the employer must stop sponsoring them and their leave to remain will be shortened.

Commitment to Ongoing Employment

Employers are required to commit to the individual’s continued employment as a registered nurse at a salary of at least £20,800 upon successful completion of the OSCE and receipt of NMC registration.

The NMC could take up to 35 calendar days to process PIN requests. Send an email to TOC@nmc-uk.org and copy NHSI.Workforce@nhs.net if there are any problems receiving PINs. 

Currently, it takes an average of two to three weeks to receive a PIN. The NMC is expediting this processing time.

Employers must be able to provide documentation of the above arrangement upon request. Employers and individuals with questions regarding individual NMC registrations are encouraged to contact the NMC directly.

Requesting a Sponsorship Certificate

And when it is certain that the certificate will be utilised. The person receiving sponsorship must have a job offer and either:

  • Possess complete registration with the NMC
  • have passed the NMC's CBT be sponsored to complete a supervised practice placement as part of a programme that has been approved by the NMC.

In applications for sponsorship certificates, employers must provide evidence of the aforementioned. You must send a copy of the employment offer letter as well as a copy of the NMC’s email confirming the individual’s CBT success.

At Hire Brit Nursing sponsorship programme UK, we understand the importance of finding the right job for you. That’s why we work with a wide range of healthcare providers across the UK, including hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes.

Don’t let the challenges of relocating hold you back from achieving your career goals. Let Hire Brit help you take the first step towards a rewarding career in the UK. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you get a UK visa for nurses!