What is OSCE?

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), introduced Test of Competence (ToC) to assess the clinical skills and knowledge for nurses trained outside the UK to join the NMC register. The ToC assesses candidates against the current UK pre-registration standards, specific to distinct fields of practice such as Adult Nursing, Children’s Nursing, Learning Disability Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and Midwifery Nursing.

The Toc comprises of two parts

Part 1 – Computer Based Test (CBT), a multiple choice examination the candidates can access this exam from their home countries.

Part 2- The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), which is always held in the UK. The OSCE exam will be held in one of the 5 NMC approved exam centers, Oxford Brookes University, University of Northampton, Ulster University, Northumbria University and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust.

The OSCE is designed to assess the ability of the candidates to competently apply their professional nursing or midwifery skills and knowledge in the UK.

OSCE Centres in UK

• Oxford Brookes University
• University of Northampton
• Ulster University
• Northumbria University
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

OSCE structure

The new ToC has 10 stations:

Four stations are scenario-based and related to four stages of the nursing and midwifery care process,

• Assessment station: Using ABCDE approach, complete observation chart (20 minutes)
• Planning station: write 2 patient centred care plan (14 minutes)
• Implementation station: safe administration of oral medication (15 minutes)
• Evaluation station: Verbal handover using SBAR tool (8 minutes) 4 skill stations
• 2 pairs of 2 skills (15-20minutes) 2 stations to assess the candidate's values and behaviours and evidence-based practice
• 1 professional behaviour- assess professional issues associated with professional accountability and the related skills around communication (10 minutes)
• 1 Critical appraisal- research and evidence and associated decision-making (10 minutes)

Who needs OSCE?

OSCE is for those nurses who are trained outside the UK.

When you can appear for OSCE?

You can appear for your CBT or OSCE in any order, but you must successfully complete both parts to continue with your application for initial registration or readmission. Usually candidates appear CBT first.

What happens if you pass?

Your OSCE result will be uploaded to your NMC application and you will be able to continue your application for registration providing you have passed the CBT, paid your registration fee of £153 and the NMC have received your supporting declarations.

What happens if you fail?

You can have three opportunities to attempt each part of the test of competence. In exceptional cases, a further attempt at each part may be offered. This attempt will be agreed only by application to the NMC. The additional attempt will be granted, further information can be obtained from NMC webpage

Candidates must wait at least 10 days between each sitting. Candidates can choose to take longer than 4 weeks between the second and final attempts. The OSCE will be passed or failed for each individual station. Re-sits will be required only for those stations the candidate failed. Re-sit candidates will take the same station(s) to the one(s) they failed. If the stations are not all passed in three sittings, then the whole OSCE must be re-taken. You will require 6 months to elapse before you can reapply to the NMC.

How much would OSCE cost?

• First attempt- £794
• Fail 1–7 stations- £397
• Fail 8-10 stations- £794