<p>The OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) exam is a competency test that forms part of the NMC’s (Nursing & Midwifery Council) registration process for nurses and midwives who have trained abroad; thus, providing further evidence of their capability. It is Part 2 of NMC’s Test of Competence (ToC). Part 1 is the CBT (Computer-based test) exam.</p>
<p>The practical exam tests your clinical and communication skills and your ability to apply your nursing skills and knowledge to the care of patients.</p>
<h2>Structure of the OSCE Exam</h2>
<p><strong>The Objective Structured Clinical Examination comprises 10 stations:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Four stations will be scenario-based and will relate to the four stages of the nursing and midwifery care process, assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation (APIE).</li>
<li>Four stations will test practical clinical skills</li>
<li>Two stations will test your values and behaviors and evidence-based practice.</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p><strong>The exam will test some of your skills including:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Administration of Inhaled Medication (AIM)</li>
<li>In-hospital resuscitation (without defibrillation) (IHR)</li>
<li>Removal of the urinary catheter (RUC)</li>
<li>Calculating drug dosages</li>
<li>Subcutaneous injection (SC)</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Your communication skills will also be tested. You will receive marks for:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Clearly explaining diagnosis and treatments</li>
<li>Involving patients in decision making</li>
<li>Communicating with relatives and healthcare professionals</li>
<li>Seeking and obtaining informed consent</li>
<li>Active listening and many more areas</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p>The exam will take about 3 hours to complete and will cost you £794. You can also only take the exam once you are in the United Kingdom (UK).</p>
<p>You have up to three months, from when you arrived in the UK, or from the employment start date noted on your certificate of sponsorship (CoS), to sit the OSCE nursing exam.</p>
<h2>Where can you take the OSCE exam?</h2>
<p>The five approved OSCE test centers include:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.brookes.ac.uk/study/courses/professional-and-short-courses/healthcare-cpd/nmc-competence-test-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxford Brookes University</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/services-and-facilities/competence-test-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Northampton</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ulster.ac.uk/nmc-competence-test-centre" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ulster University</a></li>
<li><a href="https://collab.northumbria.ac.uk/osce/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northumbria University</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/careers/osce-test-centre-leeds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust</a></li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<h2>How To Apply for an OSCE Exam</h2>
<p>As the exam is part of NMC’s registration process, you will first have to create an account on NMC’s <a href="https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">official website</a>.</p>
<p>The first part of your registration is the eligibility and qualification application to check your eligibility. If it is confirmed that you have to take the test you can book to take it via your NMC online account. You will receive an email informing you how to book and pay for the test with one of the above-listed test providers.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="535" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/03/Blog-image-Navigating-the-OSCE-Exam-Shutterstock_1884234904-1024x535.jpg" alt="Navigating the OSCE Exam" class="wp-image-16725" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/03/Blog-image-Navigating-the-OSCE-Exam-Shutterstock_1884234904-1024x535.jpg 1024w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/03/Blog-image-Navigating-the-OSCE-Exam-Shutterstock_1884234904-300x157.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/03/Blog-image-Navigating-the-OSCE-Exam-Shutterstock_1884234904-768x401.jpg 768w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/03/Blog-image-Navigating-the-OSCE-Exam-Shutterstock_1884234904.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h2>How To Prepare for the OSCE Exam</h2>
<p>On NMC’s website, and approved test centers sites there are plenty of materials to help you best prepare for the OSCE nursing exam. The<a href="https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/toc/toc-2021/resources/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> preparation materials</a> are from each field of nursing practice. They include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Mock OSCE exams</li>
<li>Reading lists</li>
<li>Marking criteria</li>
<li>“Preparing for your OSCE” handbook</li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p>On NMC’s website, you also have access to an<a href="https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/registration/toc-21/osce-candidate-handbook-toc-2021-v1.6-nursing---new-dps.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> information booklet</a> that tells you, among other information, what to expect from the OSCE exam and competence test center rules and regulations.</p>
<p>Note that you will need a valid passport to help verify your identity before you can sit the exam in your chosen test center. The passport should be the same one that you provided earlier in your application.</p>
<h2>Getting Your OSCE Exam Results</h2>
<p>Your results will arrive via email in less than 5 or up to 10 working days after taking the exam. If you pass it, you’ll get an email instructing you on what to do next. If you fail, you’ll get an email detailing which stations and elements you failed.</p>
<p>Knowing the stations you failed enables you to focus your retake preparation on those areas. You only get to retake the stations you failed. However, if you fail to pass the failed stations three times you’ll have to retake the whole OSCE exam.</p>
<p>Note that you’ll have to pay a retake fee of £397 if you fail 7 or fewer stations. If you fail 8 or more stations you will pay a retake fee of £794.</p>
<p>You can take the objective structured clinical examination three times before your registration application is closed and you have to wait six months to try again. The three attempts have a minimum of 10 days between each sitting.</p>
<h2>Appeals</h2>
<p>You have an opportunity to appeal if you believe the process of taking your OSCE nursing exam was compromised or an irregularity occurred during the exam.</p>
<p>You can, however, only appeal the process of the OSCE exam but not your results. Learn more about the <a href="https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/registration/toc-21/osce-candidate-handbook-toc-2021-v1.6-nursing---new-dps.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">appeal process</a>.</p>
<h2>Final Words</h2>
<p>The OSCE exam is a vital part of your registration process for the NMC register. You cannot realize your dream of working in the UK as a nurse if you don’t pass the test. Hopefully, you now have a clear idea of what the test is and why it is important you prepare well for it.</p>
<h3>Ready to take your nursing or midwifery career to the UK?</h3>
<p>Find the latest healthcare jobs in the UK on TrueProfile.io today.</p>
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