Changes to English language requirements
One of the changes we’re asking Council to approve is to our English language requirements. We’re proposing to remove the five year limit on using nursing and midwifery qualifications taught in English, as evidence of a person’s English language skills.
We’re also requesting that Council amend the required score for the written section of the Occupational English Test (OET) so that it aligns with the change we made at the end of 2018 to the score of the written section of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).2
Changes to readmission
We’re also recommending changes that will make it more straightforward for those who have left our register to re-join. If approved, these changes will mean people who have completed their training in the past five years, but who lapsed their registration, will be able to use their qualification as evidence of clinical competence for both admission and readmission to the register.
Emma Broadbent, Director for Registration and Revalidation for the NMC, said:
“These common sense changes are in line with the NMC’s commitment to better, safer care and will continue to ensure that only those nurses, midwives and nursing associates with the right skills, knowledge and command of English are able to join and re-join our register.”