Information for registrants 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 of some OET results.

Your results have been flagged as one that OET believe was obtained through malpractice. Because of this, we’re now carrying out an investigation to decide whether the concerns raised may amount to an allegation that your entry onto the register was fraudulently procured or incorrectly made.

In line with our fraudulent and incorrect entry process, we’ll contact your employer and tell them about the concerns set out in the letter you received.

We recommend that you also share a copy of your letter with your employer.

We’re now carrying out an investigation to decide whether the concerns raised may amount to an allegation that your entry onto the register was fraudulently procured or incorrectly made.

Should we decide that it does amount to an allegation that your entry on the register was fraudulently procured or incorrectly made, the matter may be referred to an independent panel.

In the meantime, as your current English language evidence has been withdrawn by OET because of suspected malpractice, you will need to provide new evidence of English language competence. You can do this by either re-sitting the OET or providing other evidence of English language competence.

If you choose not to take a retest or provide other evidence of English language competence, we'll ask the independent panel to direct the Registrar to remove your entry from our register. We ask that you let us know if you decide this so that it can make the process much quicker for all parties involved.

If you want to re-join the register at a later date, you will need to provide evidence of English language competence. The matter would then still need to be considered by an independent panel because of the alleged OET malpractice.

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 FtP-IEFETeam@nmc-uk.or.

NMC Independent Careline

The careline is an independent service offering confidential and non-judgemental emotional support during the investigation 3 process. It’s available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Whether you think you’d benefit from confidential emotional support, or would prefer practical help and advice, the support team would be happy to talk to you.

You can contact the careline on 0800 587 7396.

This service is also accessible through your NMC online portal using your login details. There’s lots of useful resource and a live chat facility, all available during office hours.

More information about this service can be found here: Independent registrant Careline - here to help - The Nursing and Midwifery Council (nmc.org.uk)

Interim orders protect the public from risk by restricting or suspending a nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s practice while we investigate concerns about them.

From an NMC perspective, whilst this investigation is ongoing and based on the evidence at this stage, you can continue to practice as normal with no restrictions on your practice.

However, as we’re investigating concerns regarding the authenticity of your OET result, we may consider applying for an interim order if we feel that there is a risk of harm to the public and/or to public confidence in the integrity of the register.

As well, as your current English language evidence has been withdrawn by OET because of suspected malpractice, you will need to provide new evidence of English language competence. You can do this by either re-sitting the OET or providing other evidence of English language competence.

If your employer chooses to, they may conduct their own risk assessment and restrict your practice.

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 retest 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. 

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 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)

A registrant providing evidence of English language competence does not mean they will stay on the register. 

Because there is suspected malpractice, the matter would still require investigation and referral to an independent panel.  

We have opened Fraudulent/Incorrect Entry cases for the 70 professionals on our register. This means that we’ll now investigate the concerns raised about the individuals and then decide whether to refer the case to an independent panel.

We’ll keep you informed about what we decide. We expect this to be within the next four to six months.

We are encouraging registrants to take another test or provide another form of evidence to reassure us as to their language competence. OET have offered to pay for any new tests.

A registrant successfully passing one of our accepted English language tests does not mitigate against their suspected malpractice.

Because there is suspected malpractice, the matter would still require investigation and referral to an independent panel.

The independent panel will 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 remove them from the register as part of our role in protecting the public.

Fraudulent and incorrect entry cases look at how someone got onto the register, rather than a concern about a professional’s fitness to practise (FtP).

However fraudulent or incorrect entry cases are considered by an independent panel called the Investigating Committee. This is similar to how FtP concerns are sometimes heard by a panel.

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

We have provided guidance on the Fraudulent and Incorrect Entry process and for internationally educated professionals joining the register which can be found on our website.

The NMC is governed by legislation which sets out how our processes work and what approach we take to different scenarios, including the approach we take to Fraudulent/Incorrect Entry cases.

The legislation that governs the Fraudulent/Incorrect Entry process is the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 and the Nursing and Midwifery Council Fitness to Practise 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.