Kenyan Nurses in the UK: NMC Registration Steps

To work as a registered nurse in the UK, a nurse trained in Kenya must join the register of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The route has five parts: an eligibility and qualification check, an English language test, the Test of Competence (a computer-based test, then a practical OSCE in the UK), a face-to-face ID check, and registration. From 1 October 2026 the NMC's fees and tests total GBP 1,226.

Before you start, understand how UK recruitment from Kenya works - it decides how you will find a job.

How UK recruitment from Kenya works

Kenya has been on the amber list of the UK Code of Practice for international recruitment since 11 November 2021. For amber-list countries, recruitment is allowed only under the government-to-government agreement - for Kenya, the bilateral agreement signed with the UK in July 2021, coordinated on the Kenyan side by the Ministry of Health.

This means:

• UK employers and agencies may not actively recruit you in Kenya outside the agreement. An "agency" advertising UK nursing jobs in Kenya and asking you to pay is a warning sign.
• You can still apply directly to UK employers on your own initiative.
• Ministry of Health calls for nurses under the agreement are announced by the Ministry - follow its official channels.

Step 1: Check you are eligible

The NMC first checks that your nursing qualification and registration meet its standards. You will need, among other documents, evidence of your training and of your registration with the Nursing Council of Kenya. NCK provides this through its verification for outmigration - see how to verify a Kenyan nurse's licence and papers.

The NMC's pre-application checklist on its website lists the evidence it needs for your situation. Use it before you pay the evaluation fee.

Step 2: Pass an English language test

The NMC accepts two tests. These are the scores it requires:

You can combine results from two sittings of the same test if they are within 12 months of each other, you sat all four skills each time, and both sittings meet the NMC's minimum scores. You cannot mix IELTS and OET results.

Step 3: Take the Test of Competence

The Test of Competence has two parts:

• Part 1: the computer-based test (CBT). A multiple-choice test of clinical knowledge and numeracy, taken at a Pearson VUE test centre. You can take it outside the UK - check the NMC and Pearson VUE booking pages for availability in Nairobi.
• Part 2: the OSCE. A practical exam of clinical skills, taken at an approved test centre in the UK. Most nurses take the OSCE after arriving in the UK with their employer's support.

The NMC fees (from 1 October 2026)

Ask any UK employer who offers you a job whether it pays these fees. Employers recruiting ethically cover recruitment costs rather than passing them to the nurse.

Step 4: ID check and registration

All NMC applicants have a face-to-face ID check at a Test of Competence centre, where original documents are checked. Once you have passed both parts of the Test of Competence and the NMC is satisfied with your health, character and documents, you pay the registration fee and join the register.

You will also need the right visa to work in the UK and a professional indemnity arrangement in place when you practise - your employer usually provides this.

Avoid UK nursing job scams

• Do not pay agencies for UK nursing jobs. Under the amber-list rules, agencies may not actively recruit you in Kenya outside the agreement, and ethical recruitment means the employer pays.
• Verify any agency that contacts you on the National Employment Authority's register - see jobs abroad from Kenya.
• Pay NMC fees only to the NMC, and test fees only to Pearson VUE or the test centre.
• Keep your passport. No employer or agency should hold it.

Considering the US, Canada or Australia instead? Those use the NCLEX - see NCLEX for Kenyan nurses.

Sources

• NMC: how much is it going to cost?
• NMC: accepted English language tests
• NMC: registering if you trained outside the UK
• NHS Employers: Code of Practice red and amber list of countries

Frequently asked questions

Is the UK recruiting nurses from Kenya?+

Only through the UK-Kenya government-to-government agreement. Kenya has been on the amber list of the UK's international recruitment code since November 2021, so UK employers and agencies may not actively recruit in Kenya outside that agreement. Kenyan nurses can still apply to UK employers directly on their own initiative.

How much does NMC registration cost?+

From 1 October 2026, the NMC's fees for nurses trained outside the UK are a GBP 167 evaluation fee, GBP 83 for the CBT, GBP 794 for the OSCE and a GBP 182 registration fee - GBP 1,226 in total, before any resits, English test or travel costs.

What IELTS score does the NMC require?+

For IELTS Academic, the NMC requires 7 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing. For OET, it requires B in listening, reading and speaking and C+ in writing. Results are valid for two years.

Where do I take the NMC CBT and OSCE?+

The CBT (computer-based test) is taken at a Pearson VUE test centre, and can be taken outside the UK. The OSCE (practical exam) is taken at an approved test centre in the UK.