Today, the UK needs qualified nurses and midwives. To cope with the demand, they have eased the migration process for healthcare professionals, specifically nurses.
This is very good news for many foreign nationals dreaming of living and working in the UK. However, how exactly can you be a nurse or midwife in the UK? Find out here.
How to Be A Nurse/Midwife in the UK?
The application process to be a nurse in the UK can now be done entirely online. Here’s what the general process looks like:
Step #1: Obtain Qualification for the Nursing and Midwifery Registration
The NMC verifies if your overseas qualifications meet the standards for automatic recognition. You might need to take an aptitude test or adaption program to make up for the deficit if it does not.
Step #2: Accomplish the Language Test Requirements
You need to take either EILTS or OET to prove your English language capabilities. For IELTS, you need to get a minimum score of 7, while for OET, you should aim for a grade above B for every component.
Step #3: Get the Eligibility to Apply for Pre-registration Nurse or NHS Healthcare Assistant Roles
Once your NMC registration and language test requirements are satisfied, you are now eligible for a pre-registration nurse or NHS healthcare assistant post.
Step #4: Apply for a Tier 2 Visa
Once you have an NHS post offer and your hospital has been granted with your CoS by the state, the next step is for you to apply for a Tier 2 visa. If that is approved, you can now fly to the UK.
Step #5: Fly to the UK and Take Your OSCE Exam
You will be given 3 months before your employment date to take the OSCE exam. Don’t worry; if you fail on your first try, you can retake it again up to 3 times.
Step #6: Identification Check
After passing the OSCE exam, you will be invited on the same day for a face-to-face identification. During the interview, you must provide original copies of the documents you submitted during the application.
Take note that if you are a nurse who trained in EEA or EU, you skip the OSCE exam and proceed to find your NHS post immediately.
Benefits of Working in Healthcare in the UK
Working in the NHS comes with several benefits. This include:
- NHS pension
- Parental leave
- Paternity leave
- Maternity leave
- Sick leave
- Annual leave
- Personal development & career progression
- NHS pension
Aside from the leaves and career development benefits, working in the NHS is also fulfilling.
Final Words
The process of relocating to the UK as a qualified nurse or midwife can be quite lengthy. You have to accomplish several exams and tons of requirements to gather. However, by the end of the day, all your effort will be worth it once you get the job that you have always wanted.
Besides, immigration rules and regulation for qualified healthcare professionals planning to relocate to the UK is now more relaxed. This means that the process is much easier and faster now than how it was in the past.