- The NMC's published route for nurses and midwives trained outside the UK is its own Test of Competence, made up of a CBT and an OSCE.
- The NMC pages we read do not mention NCLEX, so we do not say NCLEX is or is not accepted for any route.
- NCSBN describes NCLEX as the primary licensure exam for nurses in the United States; Pearson VUE administers it.
- NCLEX registration runs through a nursing regulatory body and Pearson VUE, so nobody else can issue a pass.
Two exams, two regulators
| NMC Test of Competence | NCLEX | |
|---|---|---|
| Who sets it | The Nursing and Midwifery Council, for entry to the UK register | NCSBN, for United States nurse licensure |
| Format | A multiple-choice computer-based test (CBT) and a practical OSCE | Computerised adaptive test, delivered by Pearson VUE |
| Who administers it | NMC delivery partners | Pearson VUE |
| Registration | Through the NMC's overseas application | First with a nursing regulatory body, then with Pearson VUE |
| What a pass gives | Progress towards NMC registration | Eligibility for licensure in the US jurisdiction you applied to |
NCSBN also runs a separate exam for practical nurses in two Canadian provinces. That is outside the scope of this page.
What the NMC route requires
The NMC says its Test of Competence assesses the skills and knowledge of people applying from overseas. The CBT and OSCE can be taken in either order, must be passed within two years of each other, and once both are passed the result stays valid for five years. Beyond the test, the NMC says every applicant needs to show English language knowledge, meet health and character requirements, complete a face-to-face identity check with its ID verification team, and have an indemnity arrangement in place when they practise. The costs page gives a total of £1,226 for people who need the test; see what NMC registration costs and the CBT and OSCE.
If you already hold an NCLEX pass
- Read the NMC's route for nurses trained outside the UK and the information page for internationally trained applicants.
- If NCLEX does not appear in the guidance, write to the NMC and ask in plain terms whether your result counts for any part of its process.
- Keep the NMC's reply. Do not act on a recruiter's assurance that NCLEX replaces the Test of Competence.
- Plan for the route as published until the NMC tells you otherwise in writing.
How NCLEX appears in scams
Because NCLEX is well known, it turns up in adverts for “licences” or passes bought without sitting the exam, sometimes bundled with a promise of UK registration. The structure of the real process makes this impossible to deliver: the exam is booked through Pearson VUE after the regulator makes you eligible, and the NMC decides UK registration itself. Warning signs include a fee for a “guaranteed” result, a request to send identity documents to a private account and a recruiter who will not name the regulator involved.
- The person selling it is not the exam provider or a regulator.
- The price is far above the published fees.
- No test appointment or identity check is involved.
- You are told to pay now to hold a place.
More on the pattern is at overseas nurse recruitment scams, and the full route is at NMC registration for overseas nurses.
Frequently asked questions
Is NCLEX accepted by the NMC?
We found no NMC page that lists NCLEX. The NMC's published route for overseas nurses and midwives is its Test of Competence. If you hold an NCLEX pass, ask the NMC in writing which part of its process applies to you. The NMC information page for internationally trained applicants also does not mention NCLEX.
What are the two parts of the NMC test?
A multiple-choice computer-based test (CBT) and a practical test (OSCE). They can be taken in either order and must be passed within two years of each other. Once both are passed, the result stays valid for five years. The NMC says applicants may take them in either order, and tests are specific to the part of the register you want.
Who runs NCLEX?
NCSBN develops the exam and Pearson VUE administers and schedules it. NCSBN describes it as the primary licensure exam for nurses in the United States, and says registration involves the nursing regulatory body as well as Pearson VUE. Candidates first contact their regulator to confirm licensure requirements, then register with Pearson VUE.
Can an agent sit or buy NCLEX for me?
No. Registration goes through the regulator and the exam provider, and the test is taken in person by the candidate. Anyone offering a pass, or a licence without an exam, is not offering something these bodies provide, and the offer is a warning sign of fraud.
What does the NMC require besides the test?
English language knowledge, health and character evidence, a face-to-face identity check with the NMC's ID verification team, and an indemnity arrangement for when you practise. The NMC also has fees, set out on its costs page. Each of these is separate from the Test of Competence, and each has its own evidence to prepare.