Is IELTS a must for nursing registration in UK?

[max72]

Hi

I am a staff nurse and working in NHS since last 8 years. My wife recently joined me in 2008, she is a nurse aswell. We approached NMC for nursing registration and were told that ielts exam is a must.

I dont understand why the overseas nurses have to show evidence of english knowledge when the EU members dont. Being a nurse myself I have seen and come accross many spelling mistakes made by the British nurses while documentation. Many EU citizens hardly know any english, but how are they are fine to go on the register.

Once when Britain was short of nurses, nurses were recruited from abroad (eg Dubai, muscat etc) at that time they did not think of this stringent criteria but now when they have enough staff and they dont need any more nurses - they have come up with this rule.

Anyway we are not in the favour of this way of degrading a trained member of nursing staff so we do not want to do the IELTS exam.

My wife has completed a NICHE training programme and currently she is working as a Health care support worker. Would her NICHE training be valid and help her to get registration.

I am getting my nationality so will it be useful for my wife to get the registration or one still has to take the IELTS test.

please can someone guide me

Thanks

max72:)

[5cats]

Everybody is interviewed though, no? So then the employer can find out if your english is sufficient enough, plus many people do speak dialect depending on where they are from, so even if your english is fluent you might have trouble understanding some people until you get used to it, I had really trouble understanding my scottish collegue for instance, and on the phone I had trouble with my indian collegues because of their heavy accents, takes a while to get used to it. After a while I was fine.

5cats

[flocam]

What type of EITS exam is needed for foreign nurses to take?

[laviv]

I did my basic nursing training (RN, RM, BSc) in Nigeria but did my Masters in UK. I called the NMC last week for reg requirements but was informed that I still need to write the IELTS exams. This is very painful because I speak English fluently and I also did my Masters here. I even asked the man I spoke with if he thought I needed to prove my english speaking ability, his response was "it doesn't matter if you communicate very well in english.....as long as you are a foreign nurse aspiring to work in the UK you must meet all the requirements regardless of the fact that you did your Masters in the UK" Now how fair is that? please can anyone advice me on how to go about this.

.......is there a way I can avoid this text?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

I did my basic nursing training (RN, RM, BSc) in Nigeria but did my Masters in UK. I called the NMC last week for reg requirements but was informed that I still need to write the IELTS exams. This is very painful because I speak English fluently and I also did my Masters here. I even asked the man I spoke with if he thought I needed to prove my english speaking ability, his response was "it doesn't matter if you communicate very well in english.....as long as you are a foreign nurse aspiring to work in the UK you must meet all the requirements regardless of the fact that you did your Masters in the UK" Now how fair is that? please can anyone advice me on how to go about this.

.......is there a way I can avoid this text?

If they told you that you still have to meet English requirements over the phone then there is no way you can avoid it.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

I did my basic nursing training (RN, RM, BSc) in Nigeria but did my Masters in UK. I called the NMC last week for reg requirements but was informed that I still need to write the IELTS exams. This is very painful because I speak English fluently and I also did my Masters here. I even asked the man I spoke with if he thought I needed to prove my english speaking ability, his response was "it doesn't matter if you communicate very well in english.....as long as you are a foreign nurse aspiring to work in the UK you must meet all the requirements regardless of the fact that you did your Masters in the UK" Now how fair is that? please can anyone advice me on how to go about this.

.......is there a way I can avoid this text?

No there is no way to avoid the minimum requirements for UK registration that are required by our governing body, as an overseas nurse you must meet the requirements. I assume you did not sit the IELTS before undertaking your masters degree, therefore depsite the fact you speak the language well you must prove that you comply with spoken, written and understand the language to the requirments set out by the NMC.

They cannot make exceptions because you have sat a degree in the UK, if they start making exceptions for one person then they must do so for everyone, this would become time consuminng and expensive and this is the point that standards would start to slide, therefore all overseas nurses must meet the minimum requirements.

[babyNP., APRN]

This is really too bad because it is a waste of resources and time...in the US, most if not all universities don't require one to take an English proficiency test if they have a degree conducted in English or if they come from an English-speaking country like the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada.

Totally understand that the rules are the rules and you have to follow the rules in order to gain success...but that doesn't mean that the rules are logical and they should be stated as much.

I imagine it's largely another deterrent for foreign-educated nurses to come practice in the UK. Mostly reasonable since the recession has hurt the UK new grad market sharply, just as it has in the US (hence the freezes in importing foreign RNs). But in 5-10 years, the shortage will come back with ferocity and the NMC may not have the luxury to be silly about stuff like this is they want to recruit folks. Then again, most of the recruits tended to come from non-English speaking countries (who should take the exam), so perhaps a moot point.

In any case, good luck to those taking it! I anticipate taking it (if still applicable) in 5-10 years, so I'm a ways off.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

This is really too bad because it is a waste of resources and time...in the US, most if not all universities don't require one to take an English proficiency test if they have a degree conducted in English or if they come from an English-speaking country like the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada.

Totally understand that the rules are the rules and you have to follow the rules in order to gain success...but that doesn't mean that the rules are logical and they should be stated as much.

I imagine it's largely another deterrent for foreign-educated nurses to come practice in the UK. Mostly reasonable since the recession has hurt the UK new grad market sharply, just as it has in the US (hence the freezes in importing foreign RNs). But in 5-10 years, the shortage will come back with ferocity and the NMC may not have the luxury to be silly about stuff like this is they want to recruit folks. Then again, most of the recruits tended to come from non-English speaking countries (who should take the exam), so perhaps a moot point.

In any case, good luck to those taking it! I anticipate taking it (if still applicable) in 5-10 years, so I'm a ways off.

Canada has now started with English exam for initial applicant even if from a English speaking country and I think the same goes for French if you choose French as your language

[babyNP., APRN]

Someone following the leader doesn't mean that it makes more sense :cheers:

However--that is very interesting to note in any case. Actually, I think I had read something about Australia requiring the same in the Daily Mail recently (not that the Mail is all that reputable )

[helricha]

I understand the annoyance with having to pay $185 to take a language test when you clearly speak the language. However, the IELTS exam that is required is the academic version. There may be people who can speak English and understand it but doing it in an academic way may not be what they are used to.

In my opinion, it comes down to how much you want to get registered in the UK. If it is something that you truly want to do, then you will jump through all the hoops that they have required. I took my IELTS exam and I received 9's on all areas. It was annoying to have to take an exam in my first and only language but I was willing to do it in order to have the opportunity to register. That part was just the beginning in the long line of hoops that I needed to jump through in sending in my application. It will all be worth it if I get approved...still waiting though.

[babyNP., APRN]

Well, if you note, I had said:

"Totally understand that the rules are the rules and you have to follow the rules in order to gain success."

I'm not arguing that they don't have the right to do things however they want. They do--it's their country and the foreigner is asking to join their club, gotta play by their rules. I'm just saying that this isn't all that logical. There are many things about the various American board of nursing departments that I find rather silly and wouldn't hesitate to say as such either. Don't even get me started on American immigration!

The "academic English" reason is not particularly valid, IMO, either because the NMC require a BSN, which is and of itself requiring academic presentation and writing. Perhaps not in other countries, granted, but even in an American ADN, one has to do clinical write-ups and various papers and essays.

My British husband is very surprised that this kind of thing occurs, actually, and why more people haven't complained or "moaned" as he puts it :)

Best of luck with your application!

[helricha]

Well, if you note, I had said:

"Totally understand that the rules are the rules and you have to follow the rules in order to gain success."

I'm not arguing that they don't have the right to do things however they want. They do--it's their country and the foreigner is asking to join their club, gotta play by their rules. I'm just saying that this isn't all that logical. There are many things about the various American board of nursing departments that I find rather silly and wouldn't hesitate to say as such either. Don't even get me started on American immigration!

The "academic English" reason is not particularly valid, IMO, either because the NMC require a BSN, which is and of itself requiring academic presentation and writing. Perhaps not in other countries, granted, but even in an American ADN, one has to do clinical write-ups and various papers and essays.

My British husband is very surprised that this kind of thing occurs, actually, and why more people haven't complained or "moaned" as he puts it :)

Best of luck with your application!

Oh dear.

My opinion was not directed at your comment. I'm not even sure that I read your comment per say but just the jist of the entire idea, as I have heard it before from many other people.

Sorry if you felt that it was directed at you at all as it wasn't. My English husband felt it was very funny that I had to take it and we had a good chuckle as I passed it easy enough.

And please understand that the academic english comment I had was directed at ones who do not have english as a first language. Sorry if I upset you at all. Did not intend to have you feel that you have to justify what you previously said.

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

yes that is right. All new registrants with the Australian Nursing Board have to sit the IELTS despite where they were educated. I snuck in 2 months before it became law in NSW but the new national board requires it!