Information for applicants affected by the OET issue

The NMC has been notified by OET, one of the English test providers that we accept, that there is suspected malpractice with some OET results. Those test results have been withdrawn by OET and will no longer be accepted by the NMC as evidence of English language competence.

Your results have been flagged as one that OET believe was obtained through malpractice. Because of this, to complete your application you will need to provide new evidence of English language competence. Once you have completed your application, it will be referred to an Assistant Registrar to provide an extra level of scrutiny to ensure you also meet our other requirements for registration.

If you’re currently employed in a non-regulated health and care role, and/or a UK-based employer is supporting your application to join the NMC’s register, you must share with them a copy of the letter we have sent you so they fully understand your situation.

It is essential that you engage with your employer or sponsor about this. If a UK employer or sponsor contacts us, we will confirm that you are affected by the OET malpractice issue.

If you wish to continue with your application to join the NMC’s register, you will either need to take another English language test or provide another form of evidence to reassure us as to your language competence.

If you do provide us with evidence of English language competence you can proceed with your registration application.

Once you have met all of our registration requirements you can submit an application to join our register.

If you do proceed with your application, due to potential concerns about your honesty and integrity in taking an OET where there is suspected malpractice, we would need to refer your application to an Assistant Registrar. The Assistant Registrar will need to decide whether you meet the character requirements to be considered capable of safe and effective practice.

If the Assistant Registrar has concerns that you have acted fraudulently or dishonestly in applying to join the register, they may refuse your application to our register.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you no longer want to continue with your application and we’ll close it for you.

If you decide to apply to our register again in the future, you’ll still have to prove evidence that meets our English language requirements, and our Assistant Registrar will still have to consider your application once it’s ready for assessment. The Assistant Registrar will take into account the circumstances of any previous application to join our register when making their decision.

We know this will continue to be a worrying time, with uncertainty over your application to join our register.

If you have a UK based employer do speak to them to see what support is available. If you’re a member of a trade union or one of the associations, please do contact them for advice and support.

We’ve listed a few of the trade unions, and the British Indian Nurses Association, with contact details below:

·       Royal College of Midwives (RCM): 0300 303 0444

·       Royal College of Nursing (RCN): 0345 772 6100

·       UNISON: 0800 0 857 857

·       Unite the union: Contact Us - Unite The Union

·       British Indian Nurses Association: Contact – Binauk.org

·       Union of UK Malayalee Associations

If you have any questions or want to provide any information at this stage, please get in touch at FtP-IEFETeam@nmc-uk.org.

No, unfortunately the careline isn’t contracted to support applicants.

To request an OET re-sit at no cost, you should email applications@oet.com.au. You must contact this email by 1 December 2024 to get a free re-sit of the OET.

OET recommend that the individuals affected by this issue take the OET on Computer for the fastest turnaround on test results.  

The re-sit fee is being covered by OET.

OET will not cover any other expenses incurred when resitting your test, including travel, accommodation, or sustenance.

No, we will not refund an individual for the OET already taken

We accept the OET on Paper, OET on Computer, and OET@Home test. All applicants should choose the Nursing examination from the list of OET Professions versions. 

OET recommend that the individuals affected by this issue take the OET on Computer for the fastest turnaround on test results.  

There are a range of resources on the NMC’s website about our English language requirements.

English language requirements - The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk)

There are three types of evidence that will satisfy us that you have the necessary knowledge of English to practise in the UK – one of those is to obtain the required scores in an accepted English language test.

The other two types of evidence are:

• You have a pre-registration nurse, midwife or nursing associate qualification that was taught and examined in English
• You have one year of recent practice as a nurse, midwife, or nursing associate in a country where English is the majority-spoken language

To continue your application with the NMC, you must provide one of the evidence types to satisfy us of your English language competence.

You can find out more about our English language requirements on our website:

English language requirements - The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk)

An applicant providing evidence of English language competence does not mean they will join the register. They must also meet all other registration requirements.

Because there is suspected malpractice, the matter would still require an Assistant Registrar to consider whether an individual meets the character requirements of registration.  

This issue impacts 68 people who are still in the process of applying to join our register.

Applicants will be required to take another test or provide another form of evidence to meet our requirements for English language to join the register. OET have offered to pay for any new tests.

Once we have received a completed application with new evidence of English language, these applications will be considered by an Assistant Registrar to provide additional scrutiny.

The Assistant Registrar will need to consider whether an individual meets the character requirements of registration.  

Where we have concerns that somebody does not meet our health and character guidance, we can refuse entry to the register as part of our role in protecting the public.

An applicant successfully passing one of our accepted English language tests allows them to meet the English language requirements for registration.

However, where there is suspected malpractice, the matter would still require an Assistant Registrar to consider whether an individual meets the character requirements of registration. Registration may be refused where there is evidence of fraud or dishonest conduct.  

Yes, we are following our regulatory processes as set out in out in the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (Education, Registration and Registration Appeals) Rules 2004.

We have provided guidance for internationally educated professionals joining the register which can be found on our website.

The NMC's legislation sets out the process for registration, and the matters taken into account when someone applies to join the register. These decisions are supported by our statutory guidance on English language, and our Guidance on Health and Character.

The legislation that governs the registration process is the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (Education, Registration and Registration Appeals) Rules 2004

For any PIN or PRN request please call the contact centre on 0207 333 9333.

If the PIN is known the contact centre will be able to conduct full DPA check and provide the PRN over the phone.

If neither the PIN nor PRN is known, we would ask you to email UKenquiries@nmc-uk.org with a copy of your Driving Licence or Passport.  Please title these requests as OET Pin Request and we can ensure a priority turn around.