Nurses and midwives trained outside the EU will be allowed to apply to come and work in the UK immediately after qualifying, following changes by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Until today nurses and midwives from outside the EU must have worked for at least 12 months after qualifying before being able to apply to work in the UK. The change brings applicants from outside the EU into line with their EU counterparts.
All those applying to work in the UK from outside the EU will still be required to pass the NMC’s stringent test to show they’re safe to work. They must also be able to show that they can communicate effectively in English.
The NMC has also introduced improved guidance and supporting materials for applicants so that they can be as well prepared as possible to show that they meet the regulator’s requirements.
These changes are part of a much wider ongoing review looking how the NMC can improve the experience for people applying to work in the UK from overseas.
Emma Broadbent, Director of Registration and Revalidation at the Nursing and Midwifery Council said:
“More than 65,000 nurses and midwives from outside the EU deliver first class care to millions of people across the UK every year and they are a vital part of our health and care workforce.
“This change will remove an unnecessary barrier, making it as simple and straightforward as possible for highly skilled nursing and midwifery staff to join the workforce.”
