The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and its English language requirements is a promising reaction to the several issues with the present requirements that have been brought up.
NMC’s English Language Requirements
Before getting into the details, it is important to know that NMC is the independent regulator for nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom, as well as nursing associates in England. The NMC establishes and maintains nursing standards, keeps a register, and ensures the quality of nursing, midwifery, and nursing assistant education.
When a candidate applies for registration, the NMC must be satisfied that he or she can communicate clearly and effectively in English. This requirement applies to all applicants to the NMC’s register. Before applying, make sure you can meet the NMC’s set of language evidence requirements. Otherwise, your application will be rejected. This blog is all about the NMC’s English Language Requirements.
Types of acceptable language proficiency evidences
- Competence in the four mandatory communication skills of speaking, reading, listening, and writing demonstrates communication proficiency.
- You should have recently obtained the required score in one of the NMC-accepted English language tests, such as IELTS or OET.
- Alternatively, if you have a pre-registration nurse, midwifery qualification, or nursing associate qualification and have been taught and examined in English.
- Alternatively, if you have at least one year of recent practice in a majority English-speaking country.
You must send the evidence requested by the NMC for items 2 and 3 above. If they are not satisfied with what you send, you will need to provide additional evidence, such as a language test.
What are the recognised English language tests?
The NMC accepts the International English Language Test System (IELTS) Academic and the Occupational English Test (OET) as evidence of your ability to communicate effectively in English.
All candidates must obtain a minimum score in each of the four areas of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Your test results are good for two years.
IELTS
The NMC will accept an IELTS Academic examination certificate confirming a score of at least 7, with at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7 points each in the speaking, listening and reading tests.
They accept both paper-based and computer-based IELTS Academic tests.
It should be noted that the IELTS indicator test is not accepted. The security measures for the indicator test are not considered comparable to those in place for the face-to-face test, and thus they do not meet the registration standards.
How are IELTS test results combined?
Do not worry if you did not meet the IELTS minimum score requirements. If the following criteria are met, you can obtain the necessary mark over the course of two test sessions:
- The tests had to have been performed six months apart.
- You were tested simultaneously in each of the four sections.
- All of the scores in both sessions are above 6.5, and in either of the two test sessions, you scored at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7 in the reading, listening, and speaking sections.
OET
NMC approves your OET score only if it has at least a grade C+ in the writing section, and a least of B in speaking, listening, and reading sections.
How to combine the OET scores?
Do not worry, if you do not have sufficient scores in the OET, there is still hope! If the following criteria are met, you can obtain the necessary mark over the course of two test sessions:
The tests should have been undertaken within six months of each other. You were tested simultaneously in each of the four sections.
You have at least a C+ in the writing section and a B in the reading, listening, and speaking sections in either of the two test sittings and all of your scores in both sessions are higher than a C+.
Winding thoughts – join JP Medicals for a boost in your career
We have tried to capture the nmccouncil approved changes pertaining to english language requirements in our blog. If you have any thoughts about the same, drop in your comments.
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