Often when I talk to new clients who haven’t recruited internationally before, they want to know more about the process and how it works. The purpose of this post is to provide an overview of the key steps of hiring a nurse from overseas.

There are quite a few things to consider when you recruit internationally: which country to recruit from; when to make your offer; the ethics behind the process etc. But for the purposes of this blog, we’re going to focus on the technical process of hiring a nurse from outside the European Economic Area (EAA). If you’d like to know more about EU nurse recruitment, you can find out more information on the NMC website.

Step 1 – Eligibility

In order to work in the UK, a nurse must be registered with the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council – commonly referred to as the NMC. In order to be eligible to be registered with the NMC, the nurse has to meet certain criteria:

• They must be a fully qualified nurse in their own country
• They must have completed the minimum number of years of study
• If they are from outside of the EEA they must have been registered as a nurse for a minimum of 1 year and have the references to prove it

Step 2 – English Language Test

Providing the nurse is eligible, the next step is to prove they are English Language competent, and for nurses outside of the EEA, this must be done either via the IELTS (the International English Language Test) or the OET (Occupational English Language Test). If it’s the IELTS they must get a Level 7.0 in every area, and if it’s the OET they must get at least a level B pass in each area.

Step 3 – Computer Based Test

After the nurse has passed the English Language requirements, they will then apply to do the NMC Computer Based Test – commonly known as the CBT. This is a test administered by Pearson Vue in local test centres and consists of multiple choice questions designed to test a nurse’s clinical knowledge.

Please note that it is a test that we recommend the nurse revising for and many agencies will provide the nurse with revision material designed to prepare them for the test which has about an 80% pass rate. Even if the nurse is really confident in their clinical knowledge, they will still need to prepare for the CBT because a lot of the questions relate to NMC values and codes of practice which might not necessarily be the same as in the nurse’s home country. If the nurse fails the test they can re-take it but they have to wait at least 28 days.

Step 4 – NMC Application

Once the nurse has passed the CBT they will then send off all their paperwork to the NMC so that they can be authenticated – this includes documents like their nursing qualification, references and criminal record check.

Once that’s all approved the nurse will receive a decision letter from the NMC essentially saying that they have passed the first part of the NMC registration process.

Step 5 – Certificate of Sponsorship

It’s at this point in time that the healthcare employer in the UK can issue a certificate of sponsorship to the nurse so they can apply for a visa.

Once the visa is approved, the nurse is then free to fly over to the UK. Typically they’ll receive a relocation package which includes things like their flight and first month accommodation.

Step 6 – Arrival in the UK

When the nurse arrives in the UK it’s really important to think about things like their orientation, induction and training, along with the basics like how to open a bank account and how to find permanent accommodation. Remember it’s a big move for them so any support you can give will help to ensure their relocation is a success.

Step 7 – The OSCE Test and Receipt of NMC Pin

It’s important to remember that at the point the nurse arrives in the UK, they are not yet a fully qualified UK nurse. They will arrive as an equivalent Band 3 or 4, but in order to achieve their NMC PIN they will still need to complete the second part of the process which is the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE test).

The OSCE is a practical test designed to test the nurse’s clinical knowledge in a practical environment unlike the CBT in the first part which tested theoretical knowledge via multiple choice questions. The nurse will be invited to participate in a range of simulated patient experiences and be asked to respond as if it was a real situation.

Once the nurse has successfully passed this test, they will receive their NMC PIN and become a fully qualified nurse. This also means their visa is secure.

Further information

You can find out more about the international recruitment process at //myhealthcarerecruit.com/our-process/

My Healthcare Recruit supports UK healthcare employers in the public, private, and care sector to find international nurses who are a great fit for their organization, by using market-leading video interviewing tools to connect them to our database of qualified candidates. Our innovative approach makes international candidates easier to find and more cost-effective to source than ever before. Find out more at www.myhealthcarerecruit.com