- The Test of Competence has two parts: a multiple-choice computer-based test (CBT) and a practical test (OSCE).
- They can be taken in either order, and both must be passed within two years of each other.
- Once both are passed, the Test of Competence stays valid for five years.
- Resit fees are listed on the NMC costs page: a full OSCE resit is £794, and a full resit is needed if you fail eight or more stations.
How the test is built
The NMC says each Test of Competence is divided into a computer-based test and a practical test. The CBT is multiple choice. The OSCE is a practical assessment of clinical skills. Tests are specific to the part of the register you are applying for: adult nurse, mental health nurse, learning disabilities nurse, children's nurse, midwife, or nursing associate. The NMC describes both parts as delivered through delivery partners.
Fees at each stage, from the NMC costs page
| Item | Fee | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| CBT, first attempt | £83 | Test provider |
| CBT, full resit | £83 | Test provider |
| CBT, partial resit (one section) | £50 to £70 | Test provider |
| OSCE, first attempt | £794 | Test provider |
| OSCE, full resit | £794 | Test provider |
| OSCE, partial resit | £397 | Test provider |
The NMC page says fees rose on 1 October 2026. The total for the whole route is on the cost page, Resits are charged separately.
Planning the two-year window
- Decide which part to take first. The NMC does not require an order, so choose on readiness and availability.
- Diarise the date of your first pass. The second must come within two years of it.
- Remember that a failed attempt can mean a resit fee and a new booking, which uses up some of the time.
- After you pass both, note the five-year validity the NMC gives for a completed Test of Competence.
The NMC does not state in the pages we read how many attempts are allowed or how booking works, so we do not quote an attempt limit. Check its own pages for the current booking process.
Who is exempt, and who is not
The Test of Competence is required for overseas-trained applicants who do not hold a recognised European qualification, and for professionals seeking readmission after a long absence. Applicants with a relevant European qualification listed on the NMC's recognition document do not have to take it. If you are unsure which group you fall in, the NMC's route for people trained outside the UK is the page to read, and its summary on this site follows the same steps.
Test fraud is about identity
An agent cannot sit either part for you or buy you a pass. The OSCE is practical and the NMC checks identity face to face, so impersonation is a risk to the whole application. A false claim to be registered, or false evidence given to get on the register, can lead to the offences described at fake nurse consequences. If an adviser quotes a guaranteed result, recruitment scam patterns will help you test the claim, and NCLEX and UK nursing covers a common confusion.
Frequently asked questions
What are the two parts of the NMC Test of Competence?
A multiple-choice computer-based test (CBT) and a practical test (OSCE). The NMC says they can be taken in either order, and tests are specific to the register part you are applying for, such as adult nurse or midwife. Both are needed for people who must take the test, and neither replaces the other.
How long do I have to pass both parts?
You must pass the CBT and OSCE within two years of each other. Once both are passed, the Test of Competence remains valid for five years, according to the NMC. Diarise your first pass date, because the two-year window runs from it and a resit may use up time.
How much do resits cost?
On the NMC's costs page, a full CBT resit is £83 and a partial resit is £50 to £70. A full OSCE resit is £794 and a partial one is £397. A full OSCE resit is required if you fail eight or more stations.
Who does not need to take the test?
People with a relevant European qualification listed on the NMC's recognition document are exempt. The test applies to overseas-trained applicants without such a qualification, and to those returning to the register after a long absence. Everyone else needs to pass both the CBT and OSCE unless the NMC tells them otherwise in writing.
Can someone else take the test for me?
No. The test is an assessment of your own skills and the NMC runs a face-to-face identity check. Paying someone to sit it, or to supply a pass, is fraud and can end a career, and false evidence to join the register can lead to criminal charges.