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Nursing in the UK
In order to work in the UK as a Registered Nurse, an overseas-trained
nurse needs to:
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Understand the regulatory bodies and government agencies
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Have the correct qualifications
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Have sufficient language skills
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Apply to the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)
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Obtain a work permit (if you are from outside of the EU)
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Obtain a Visa
Understanding the Regulatory Bodies & Government Agencies
There are 3 main
organisations that you have to be aware of ,and work with, to ensure you
successfully satisfy all demands on you as an overseas nurse, working
and living in the UK.
The
NMC
The Nursing and
Midwifery Council (NMC)
is an organization that has been set up by UK Parliament to ensure that
nurses, midwives and health visitors provide high standards of care to
their patients and clients. The NMC ensures this by maintaining a
register of all nurses, midwives and health visitors in the UK. You
cannot work as a nurse in the UK if you are not registered with the NMC.
Work Permits (UK)
Work Permits (UK) administers the work permit
arrangements on behalf of the UK Government. Work permit arrangements
allow employers based in the UK to employ people who are not nationals
of a European Economic Area country and who are not entitled to work in
the UK. Your prospective employer is responsible for applying for your
work permit.
UK Visas
UK Visas was established jointly by the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office to manage the UK’s
entry clearance (visa) operation.
Visa or entry clearance applications are processed
by entry clearance officers in UK embassies, high commissions and
consulates abroad, collectively known as UK Missions. UK Visas also
deals with applications by people already in the UK to extend their
stay, or to change their immigration status.
Having the Correct Qualifications
Qualifications
Only holders of
first-level qualifications can apply to be registered with the NMC.
It cannot accept applications from those with the following or
equivalent qualifications: enrolled nurse, enrolled midwife, licensed
practical nurse (LPN), vocational nurse, community nurse, state
certified nurse, staff nurse (South Africa), mother craft nurse, nursery
nurse.
NMC Register
The NMC register is
divided into parts that indicate different specialties or professions.
Overseas applicants can apply to be entered onto the following parts of
the register:
Part
1 – Registered General Nurse
Part
3 – Registered Mental Health Nurse
Part
5 – Registered nurse for the mentally handicapped
Part
8 – Registered Sick Children’s Nurse
Part
10 – Registered Midwife
In order to apply for
a particular part of the NMC register you will need to have actually
been trained in that specific area. If you have done a combined course,
you need to check with the NMC if this is acceptable before you apply.
For more
information, please check with the
NMC
Language Requirements
You need to be able
to speak English to a certain standard in order to be registered with
the NMC. You must have sufficient command of English to enable you to
competently carry out activities such as:
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Communicating effectively with patients, clients and colleagues
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Writing and keeping orderly notes and records in such a way that
they could be used as evidence in any legal proceedings
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Explaining a patients' condition and interests to others
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Keeping up-to-date with relevant research
From 1 September
2007, all overseas applicants (except those from within the EEA)
wishing to apply for registration with the NMC as a nurse will
also have to undertake the IELTS test. The 'academic' module
will be a compulsory requirement and students are expected to
achieve a mark of not less than 7 across all components.
What is
IELTS ?
IELTS (International
English Language Testing System) tests a range of English language
skills encountered by students when studying or training in English.
There are over 200
IELTS
Test Centres in more than 100 countries where it is possible
to take the test.
For further
information regarding the NMC requirements
click here or contact the NMC directly :
Tel: +44 (20) 7333
6600 or e-mail:
Overseasreg@nmc-uk.org
NMC
Application Process
The NMC will examine
your record of education, training and experience
and will assess if you are satisfactorily prepared to carry out the
duties of a registered nurse or registered midwife in the United
Kingdom.
To see how
to apply to the NMC, please follow the link below.
http://www.nmc-uk.org/aFrameDisplay.aspx?DocumentID=2448
The new
application fee is £140 and every new applicant must pass the IELTS
Academic language test with a minimum score of 7.0 overall and in each
module before they can begin the application process.
For further
information regarding the NMC application process
contact the NMC directly :
For
more information:
www.nmc-uk.org
and look in the overseas section
or phone:
+44
(0) 20 7333 6600 or
e-mail
Overseasreg@nmc-uk.org .
Work Permits
(UK)
Who requires a work
permit?
You will require a
work permit if you wish to work in the UK and are not a national of the
European Economic Area (EEA). Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United
Kingdom and Switzerland.
From May 1st
2004, the EU’s new member states are Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia.
The same rules regarding work permits apply to members of these
countries after this date.
You also do not need
a work permit to work in the UK if you were:
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Born in Gibraltar
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If you are a
Commonwealth citizen who was allowed to enter or to remain in the UK
on the basis that a grandparent was born here.
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Are a husband,
wife or dependent child under the age of 18 of people who hold work
permits
How do apply for a
work permit?
Your prospective
employer will apply for your work permit on your behalf, although in
order to be able to do this, you will have to supply pieces of
information and documentation to your prospective employer.
What information will
my prospective employer need?
Your employer will
need your Personal Identification Number (PIN) issued by the Nursing and
Midwifery Council (NMC) along with the completed work permit application
(form WP1). If you do not yet have your PIN number, a copy of your
letter from the NMC inviting you to return to them the signed
declaration of good character and the appropriate fee will be
acceptable.
If you are required
to undergo a period of supervised practice, you must be employed at a
NMC authorised establishment throughout the period of the
supervised practice.
Does a work permit
for one employer allow me to transfer and work for another employer?
No, work permits are
not transferable. They are issued for an individual to do a specific job
with a specific employer. If you want to work for a British based
employer, they must make a fresh application on your behalf, which will
be considered. You must not start work with the new employer until a
decision on the application has been reached, and the employer has
received notification of this.
For further
information regarding work permits, please
Click Here
UK Visas
If you are currently
outside the United Kingdom, you may need to apply for entry clearance
before you travel. The entry clearance process for the United Kingdom is
run by UK visas through the British diplomatic posts around the world.
The need to apply for
entry clearance will depend on your current nationality and the scheme
under which you wish to come to the United Kingdom. Please check UK visas
Visa Questionnaire to determine whether you need entry clearance as
well as providing details of the nearest British post where you can make
your application.
Once you arrive in
the United Kingdom, you may have to register your stay with the police.
If you need to register, this requirement will be stamped in your
passport upon arrival. You must register within seven days of arriving
in the United Kingdom. To register, you will need your passport and two
passport-size photographs of yourself.
For further
information regarding obtaining a visa / entry clearance for the UK,
please
Click Here
If you wish to
contact UK visas in writing:
UK visas
Foreign and
Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
By fax:
India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh & Gulf States: +44 (0)20 7008 8302
Africa:
+44 (0)20 7008 8361
Rest of World:
+44 (0)20 7008 8359
By telephone:
09.00 - 17.00, Monday
to Friday, excluding public holidays:
+44 (0)20 7008 8438
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