# How to Verify a Kenyan Nurse's Licence and Papers

> How to verify a Kenyan nurse: check the NCK licence register, request NCK verification for outmigration, and confirm KMTC certificates online.

Original page: https://cazini.co.ke/guides/verify-kenyan-nurse-licence  
Updated: 2026-11-03 · Cazini (Paul Omondi)

To verify a nurse trained in Kenya, check three things: that they are **licensed by the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK)** right now, that their **qualifications are genuine**, and that the person in front of you is **the person named** on those documents. NCK and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) both offer direct, official checks, so you never need to rely on photocopies.

## 1. Check the licence on the NCK register

The Nursing Council of Kenya regulates nurses and midwives. **Every nurse who practises in Kenya must be on the NCK retention register**, and NCK publishes a licence status search for exactly this purpose.

1. Open the NCK Online Services Portal at [osp.nckenya.com](https://osp.nckenya.com).
2. Choose **License Status** (Search the Register).
3. Search for the nurse using the details the search asks for, such as their name or registration number.
4. Confirm that the name matches the nurse's ID or passport, and that the **licence is current**.

NCK notes that your organisation remains responsible for the decisions it makes using the register, so treat the search as one check, not the only one. A nurse whose licence has lapsed can renew it - but they should not practise until they have.

## 2. Verification for outmigration (for regulators abroad)

When a Kenyan nurse applies to a regulator abroad - for example the NMC in the UK, a US state board through credential evaluation, or a Gulf health authority - the regulator usually needs NCK to confirm the nurse's registration directly. NCK calls this **verification for outmigration** (emigration).

The nurse, not the employer, starts it:

1. The nurse signs in to the [NCK Online Services Portal](https://osp.nckenya.com) and opens the **Outmigration** section.
2. They complete the application for verification and upload the documents NCK asks for. Published guidance lists a copy of the national ID or passport, NCK certificates and a valid practising licence.
3. They generate an invoice on the portal and pay the **prescribed fee** shown there.
4. NCK verifies the nurse's records and confirms them for the destination regulator.

Some destinations ask for more. Kenyan reporting on the process notes that applications for Canada (through NNAS) and the UK can require extra documents, such as a recommendation letter from the nurse's current employer, a recent medical report and a police clearance certificate. Your regulator's checklist decides what is needed.

## 3. Verify KMTC certificates online

Many Kenyan nurses trained at the **Kenya Medical Training College**, which offers the Kenya Registered Community Health Nurse (KRCHN) diploma among other courses. KMTC runs an online [Certificates Verification System](https://verifications.kmtc.ac.ke):

1. Enter the **certificate serial number** and **year of graduation**.
2. Choose the **document type** - certificate, transcript, diploma or higher diploma - and whether it is a local or international request.
3. Upload the document and pay the verification fee on the payment page.
4. KMTC assigns a verification code and **emails you the result**.

For nurses with a **BScN** or other university degree, contact the university's registrar for verification of the degree and transcript.

| What you are checking | Where | Who starts it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Current licence to practise in Kenya | NCK register - License Status on osp.nckenya.com | Employer (public search) |
| Registration confirmed to a foreign regulator | NCK Online Services Portal - Outmigration | The nurse |
| KMTC certificate, diploma or transcript | verifications.kmtc.ac.ke | Employer or the nurse |
| University degree (e.g. BScN) | The university's registrar | Employer, with the nurse's consent |

## 4. Confirm identity and background

A genuine licence can be presented by the wrong person. Before you hire:

- **Match identity:** compare the name and photo on the nurse's national ID or passport with the NCK record and certificates.
- **Check employment history:** call previous employers on numbers you find independently, not ones on the CV.
- **Check criminal record:** a DCI certificate of good conduct is the standard police clearance in Kenya - see our guide to [clearance certificates](https://cazini.co.ke/guides/chapter-six-clearance-kenya).
- **Get consent:** under the [Data Protection Act 2019](https://cazini.co.ke/guides/legal-background-check-kenya), tell the nurse what you will check and get their consent.

## Red flags

- The name on the NCK register differs from the ID, beyond a simple spelling variation.
- The licence status shows as lapsed, or the nurse cannot be found on the register.
- The nurse refuses to request NCK verification or consent to checks.
- Certificates carry serial numbers that KMTC's system does not recognise.
- A third party offers to "handle the verification" for a fee and supply the result themselves.

## How Cazini helps

Cazini runs consent-based background checks for employers - identity, education, employment history and criminal record - with the results in one report, so you can verify a nurse's background alongside the NCK and KMTC checks above. See [background checks](https://cazini.co.ke/background-checks).

## Sources

- [Nursing Council of Kenya: Online Services Portal and License Status](https://osp.nckenya.com)
- [Nursing Council of Kenya: registration and licensing](https://nckenya.com/registration/)
- [KMTC Certificates Verification System](https://verifications.kmtc.ac.ke)
- [Kenyans.co.ke: Nursing Council of Kenya outlines process for nurses to work abroad](https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/99615-council-nurses-outlines-process-kenyan-nurses-work-abroad)

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I check if a nurse is licensed in Kenya?

Search the nurse on the Nursing Council of Kenya register, using the License Status search on the NCK Online Services Portal at osp.nckenya.com. Every nurse practising in Kenya must be on the NCK retention register, and the search shows whether their licence is current.

### How does a Kenyan nurse get verified to work abroad?

The nurse applies for verification for outmigration (emigration) through the NCK Online Services Portal, uploads the documents NCK asks for, such as an ID or passport, NCK certificates and a valid practising licence, and pays the fee shown on the portal invoice. NCK then verifies the nurse's registration for the foreign regulator.

### How do I verify a KMTC certificate?

Use KMTC's Certificates Verification System at verifications.kmtc.ac.ke. Enter the certificate serial number and year of graduation, choose the document type, pay the verification fee, and KMTC emails the result.

### Do I need the nurse's consent to verify their licence?

Searching the public NCK register for a licence status does not need consent, but verifying certificates, transcripts and background details is processing personal data. Under Kenya's Data Protection Act 2019, tell the nurse what you will check and get their consent first.