Nurse (adult nursing)
A 3-year nursing degree approved by the NMC, or a nursing degree apprenticeship. Then you join the NMC register.
ONS
- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
Medians for full-time employee jobs. ONS hides estimates it rates unreliable (CV over 20%).
View sourceNCS
- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
NMC
- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
Registration fee £143, paid through MyNMC; usually on the register within 2-10 working days of applying.
View sourceHow to get there
2 routes. Nursing degree · Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship
Nursing degree NMC
A degree in adult nursing approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
- SchoolGCSEs + 2 or 3 A levels
Including a science, or an equivalent level 3 course.
NCS
Adult nurse — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- DegreeAdult nursing degree: 3 years full time
Extra money may come from the NHS Learning Support Fund.
NCS
Adult nurse — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- RegisterApply to the NMC
Your university sends your details; you pay the fee and apply in MyNMC.
NMC
Register as a nurse or midwife if you trained in the UKNursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
Registration fee £143, paid through MyNMC; usually on the register within 2-10 working days of applying.
View source - GoalRegistered nurse
NCS
Adult nurse — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- Already have a degree?
- With a degree in a health subject, psychology, life sciences or social work you may be able to join year 2.
NCS
Adult nurse — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship Level 6
For people working in a healthcare setting, like a hospital.
- WorkJob in healthcare
You need your employer's support.
NCS
Adult nurse — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- Level 6Degree apprenticeship: about 4 years
Study plus on-the-job training.
NCS
Adult nurse — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- GoalRegistered nurse
NCS
Adult nurse — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- Nursing associate?
- Assistant practitioners and nursing associates can take a shortened nursing degree.
NCS
Adult nurse — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
At school
GCSEs (Years 10–11) and A levels (Years 12–13), or equivalents.
- GCSEs
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English, maths and science.
NCS
Adult nurse — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- A levels
- 2 or 3 A levels including a science, or a level 3 diploma or Access to HE in health, science or nursing.
NCS
Adult nurse — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
- UCAS points
- An A* = 56 points. Many courses ask for grades instead of points.
UCAS
The new UCAS Tariff: ten things applicants need to knowUCAS- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
An A* at A level is worth 56 Tariff points. Only about a third of courses use Tariff points in their entry requirements; most ask for grades.
View source
Pay by region
Pay is in pounds (£) per year, before tax, for full-time employees. ASHE counts employees only, so self-employed people (most barristers, many contractors) are not in these figures.
Other registered nursing professionals SOC 2237
The ONS group for nursing work not counted in a specialist nursing group. Unit group 2237 Other registered nursing professionals covers nursing work not classified elsewhere in minor group 223.ONS
- UK median £42,300
- Bottom 25% under £36,192
- Top 25% over £49,866
| Region (where people work) | Median pay | Jobs | How exact |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £47,282 | 76,000 | Precise |
| Scotland | £45,024 | 48,000 | Precise |
| East | £42,557 | 33,000 | Good |
| South East | £42,038 | 52,000 | Precise |
| South West | £41,660 | 35,000 | Precise |
| North East | £40,832 | 16,000 | Good |
| West Midlands | £40,594 | 30,000 | Precise |
| Wales | £40,493 | 28,000 | Good |
| North West | £39,501 | 63,000 | Precise |
| East Midlands | £39,216 | 28,000 | Precise |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £39,071 | 32,000 | Precise |
Regions where ONS did not publish a reliable figure are left out. "Rough estimate" = ONS rates it CV 10–20%: use it with care. A region is listed only where ONS published a median for that job.ONS
Mental health nurses SOC 2235
- UK median £42,692
- Bottom 25% under £37,229
- Top 25% over £48,074
Children's nurses SOC 2236
- UK median £41,963
- Bottom 25% under £33,833
Starting vs experienced (National Careers Service)
- Adult nurse: starter £32,000 · experienced £48,000
NCS
Adult nurse — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
Moving between countries
Does this qualification count in another country? Only official rules; each source shows the date we checked it.
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Nurse trained outside the UK (e.g. Indian B.Sc Nursing) to UK registered nurse (NMC)
CBT + OSCE- Without a recognised European qualification you take the NMC Test of Competence: a computer-based test (CBT) and a practical exam (OSCE).
- Pass the CBT and OSCE within 2 years of each other, in either order. Once passed, the test stays valid for 5 years.
- English: IELTS Academic 7 in listening, reading and speaking, 6.5 in writing, or OET B (350) with C+ (300) in writing. Scores count for 2 years.
- Order: eligibility and qualification application (£140 evaluation fee, non-refundable), the test, then health, character, English and indemnity evidence.
Source:NMC
Register as a nurse or midwife if you trained outside the UK: step by stepNursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
NMC ToC
Test of Competence for all nursing fields and midwivesNursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
NMC English
Accepted English language testsNursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
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Nurse educated outside the U.S. (e.g. Indian B.Sc Nursing) to U.S. Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN)
CGFNS check + NCLEX-RN- State boards of nursing first want your education and licence checked by CGFNS (now called TruMerit) against U.S. nursing standards.
- Then pass the NCLEX-RN for the state where you will work. Some states also want the CGFNS Qualifying Exam before it.
- For a work visa (H-1B or green card) you need VisaScreen: education and licence checks, an English test, and a pass in the NCLEX-RN or the CGFNS Qualifying Exam.
- A U.S. employer must file your visa petition, and the VisaScreen certificate goes with it.
Source:CGFNS
How to work as a nurse in the U.S. (foreign-educated nurses)TruMerit (formerly CGFNS International)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
VisaScreen
VisaScreen: Visa Credentials AssessmentTruMerit (formerly CGFNS International)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026