Case studies

Overview

This case study sets out what happens when an applicant is unable to provide confirmation from the regulator in their country of training that their qualification would lead to registration. It also sets out what happens when an applicant is unable to provide a supporting character declaration from their previous regulator.

Introduction

Zainab is a Palestinian national with refugee status in the UK. Zainab completed her nursing training in Lebanon and worked there for a number of years. She now wants to work as a nurse in the UK. To do this, Zainab must complete the NMC’s international registration process.

What does Zainab do next?

Zainab starts by reading the NMC’s international registration guidance, to make sure that she meets the requirements and has the evidence needed ready. After reading the guidance Zainab realises that she may encounter difficulty providing all of the information required.

Before starting her application, Zainab emails the NMC international registration team for further advice and support. She notifies them of her situation as a refugee and provides evidence of this, in the form of her biometric residence card. The NMC respond and talk her through the process in more detail.

Zainab then opens an NMC online account and is asked to complete an initial eligibility and qualification application. This involves:

• Uploading a copy of her Palestinian Travel Document, to prove her identity.
• Uploading a copy of her qualification certificate.
• Uploading a copy of her registration certificate and providing the name of her regulator from the country where she registered and completed her studies.
• Paying the £140 qualification evaluation fee and submit her application

After submitting her eligibility and qualification application online, a verification email request is sent to Zainab’s regulator in Lebanon -the Order of Nurses Lebanon, to confirm that the details Zainab has provided are accurate.* Unfortunately the Order of Nurses Lebanon does not respond to the request for verification.

What evidence does Zainab provide?

The NMC needs to see evidence from Zainab’s previous regulator confirming that she is eligible to work as a nurse, but Zainab is unable to provide this. However, because of Zainab’s exceptional circumstance as a refugee, the NMC will consider alternative evidence.

The NMC international registration team email Zainab and advise her that she will need to upload alternative evidence for us to consider.

Zainab emails the NMC a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Ministry of Public Health. Once the NMC receives this certificate, an NMC assessment officer completes the evaluation, and confirms that the evidence provided is sufficient for Zainab to progress to the next stage of the application.

After successfully completing her eligibility and qualification application, Zainab is asked to take the Test of Competence. She completes both the CBT and OSCE on her first attempts.

What does Zainab do next?

After successfully completing the Test of Competence, Zainab is invited to complete her registration application. As part of this, Zainab provides evidence of her English language. She is also asked to provide character evidence, which includes:

• Completing a self-declaration.
• Uploading police clearances and DBS certificates.
• Providing a supporting character declaration from a nominated person.

As Zainab was previously registered as a nurse in Lebanon, Zainab is required to provide details of her previous regulator so they can provide the supporting declaration.

Unfortunately the Order of Nurses Lebanon does not respond to the NMC’s request for a character reference.

While Zainab is unable to provide the character reference from her previous regulator, the NMC will consider alternative evidence. Zainab submits the character reference from the Ministry of Public Health.

*If you are unsure about what evidence to provide or which organisation to contact, you can contact our international registration team at overseas@nmc-uk.org for further information and support. The names and contact details of regulators of other countries is also included at Annex A.

This case study sets out what happens when an applicant is unable to provide confirmation from their regulator in their country of training that their qualification would lead to registration. It also sets out what happens when an applicant is unable to provide a supporting character declaration from their previous regulator.

Introduction

Yusuf is a Palestinian national who is currently in Lebanon and has received a job offer in the UK through Talent Beyond Boundaries Displaced Talent Program. Yusuf completed his nursing training in Lebanon and worked there for a number of years. He now wants to start his nursing application to register as a nurse in the UK. To do this, Yusuf must complete the NMC’s international registration process.

What does Yusuf do next?

Yusuf decides to begin his application while he is still in Lebanon. Yusuf starts by reading the NMC’s international registration guidance, to make sure that he meets the requirements and has the evidence needed ready. After reading the guidance, Yusuf realises that he may encounter difficulty providing all the information required.

Before starting his application, Yusuf emails the NMC international registration team for further advice and support. He notifies them of his situation as a refugee and provides evidence of this, in the form of a letter from Talent Beyond Boundaries, which confirms that he has a job offer through the Displaced Talent Mobility Program. The NMC respond and talk him through the process in more detail.

Yusuf then opens an NMC online account and is asked to complete an initial eligibility and qualification application. This involves:

• Uploading a copy of his Palestinian Travel Document, to prove his identity.
• Uploading a copy of his qualification certificate.
• Uploading a copy of his registration certificate and providing the name of his regulator from the country where he registered and completed his studies.
• Paying the £140 qualification and evaluation fee and submit his application.

After submitting his eligibility and qualification application online, a verification email request is sent to Yusuf’s regulator in Lebanon – the Order of Nurses Lebanon, to confirm that the details Yusuf has provided are accurate. Unfortunately the Order of Nurses Lebanon does not respond to the request for verification.

What evidence does Yusuf provide next?

The NMC needs to see evidence from Yusuf’s previous regulator confirming that he is eligible to work as a nurse, but Yusuf is unable to provide this. However, because of Yusuf’s exceptional circumstance as a forcibly displaced person, the NMC will consider alternative evidence.

The NMCs international registration team email Yusuf and advise him that he will need to upload alternative evidence for consideration.

Yusuf obtains a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Ministry of Public Health and emails this to the NMC. Once the NMC receives this certificate, an NMC assessment officer completes the evaluation and confirms that the evidence provided is sufficient for Yusuf to progress to the next stage of the application.

After successfully completing his eligibility and qualification application, Yusuf is asked to take the Test of Competence. He can complete the CBT either in Lebanon or once he has arrived in the UK, and must complete the OSCE in the UK. He passes both exams on his first attempt.

What does Yusuf do next

After successfully completing the Test of Competence, Yusuf is invited to complete his registration application. As part of this, Yusuf provides evidence of his English language. He is also asked to provide character evidence, which includes:

• Completing a self-declaration.
• Uploading police clearances and DBS certificates.
• Providing a supporting character declaration from a nominated person.

As Yusuf was previously registered as a nurse in Lebanon, Yusuf is required to provide details of his previous regulator so they can provide the supporting declaration. Unfortunately, the Order of Nurses Lebanon does not respond to the NMC’s request for a character reference.

While Yusuf is unable to provide a character reference from his previous regulator, the NMC will consider alternative evidence. Yusuf submits the character reference from the Ministry of Public Health.

Overview

This case study sets out what happens when an applicant is unable to provide their registration certificate and the regulator does not respond to the NMC verification requests. 

Introduction

Fatimah is a Syrian national who now lives in the UK with refugee status. Fatimah completed her studies in Syria and worked as a nurse in Syria for many years. She now wants to work in the UK and has started to complete the NMC’s international registration application process.

What does Fatimah do next?

Fatimah starts by reading the NMC’s international registration guidance, to make sure that she meets the requirements and has the evidence needed ready. After reading the guidance Fatimah realises that she may encounter difficulty providing all of the information required.

Before starting her application, Fatimah emails the NMC international registration team for further advice and support. She notifies them of her situation as a refugee and provides a copy of her biometric residence card as evidence of this. The NMC respond and talk her through the process in more detail.

Fatimah then opens an NMC online account and is asked to complete an initial eligibility and qualification application. This involves:

• Uploading a copy of her passport.
• Uploading a copy of her qualification certificate.
• Uploading a copy of her registration certificate and providing the name of her regulator from the country where he registered.
• Paying the £140 qualification evaluation fee and submit his application.

Fatimah submits her eligibility and qualification application online and a verification email request is sent to her regulator, in his case the Ministry of Health Syria.

Unfortunately, the Ministry of Health Syria does not respond to the NMC’s request for verification, and Fatimah is unable to provide a copy of her registration certificate from the Ministry of Health Syria.

What evidence does Fatimah provide?

The NMC needs to see evidence from the regulator confirming that Fatimah is eligible to work as a nurse, but Fatimah is unable to provide this evidence in the usual way.  However, due to her exceptional circumstance as a refugee, the NMC will consider alternative evidence.

Fatimah is advised to submit a letter from her university confirming that the nursing studies she completed would allow her to register as a nurse in Syria. She is also advised to provide an employment reference confirming that she worked as a nurse in Syria.

After Fatimah submits this evidence, an NMC assessment officer presents her evidence to the Assistant Registrar for them to decide whether the evidence is sufficient to prove that Fatimah is eligible to practice as a registered nurse in the UK.

After successfully completing her eligibility and qualification application, Fatimah is asked to take the Test of Competence. She completes both the CBT and OSCE.

What does Fatimah do next?

After successfully completing the Test of Competence, Fatimah is invited to complete her registration application. As part of this, Fatimah provides evidence of her English language. She is also asked to provide character evidence, which includes:

• Completing a self-declaration.
• Uploading police clearances and DBS certificates.
• Providing a supporting character declaration from a nominated person.

As Fatimah was previously registered as a nurse in Syria, Fatimah is required to provide details of her previous regulator so they can provide the supporting character declaration.

Unfortunately, the Ministry of Health Syria does not respond to the NMC’s request for a character reference.

While Fatimah is unable to provide the character reference from her previous regulator, the NMC will consider alternative evidence. Fatimah submits a character reference from her previous employer in Syria and emails this to the NMC International Registration Team.* Fatimah’s application is then assessed by the NMC’s Assistant Registrar.

*If Fatimah had practised as a registered nurse in another country apart from Syria, Fatimah could have provided the NMC with a Certificate of Good Standing confirming her good character from that regulator instead. The NMC would then use this to complete her character reference and the application would go on to be assessed by the Assistant Registrar.