Finalizing my wifes RN in UK

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 1, 2015

Hi,
My wife is in a unique situation and we're needing to find out how we can get her RN finalized in the UK as I'm having to take on a position with my own (non-nursing work) in the UK with a major software company.
My wife completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Philippines and graduated with her degree. However in the Philippines you need to complete a board exam before getting your actual RN. She didn't get a chance to complete the board exam before we had to move to leave the Philippines.
We moved to Australia due to my dad needing a kidney transplant and were planning to have her enrol in University here where she can get credits for her previous degree work in the Philippines and do maybe 1-2 years of extra study as she would graduate with a full RN registration in Australia. We'd been waiting till she gets Australian citizenship which is due late next year, but my work move (it's a once in a lifetime opportunity) means that has thrown our plans into disarray.
So my question is, do universities in the UK accept transfer credits for overseas study? How does the RN system work in the UK? Do you finish your degree and get granted the RN upon successful completion of your degree, or is there a separate board exam?
I'm assuming she won't be able to just apply for accreditation as an RN in the UK as she did not as yet receive an RN in the Philippines because we had to move to Australia both for my father's kidney transplant and also for economic reasons.
So in short, she has her BSn and not her RN. She's been working as an Assistant in Nursing in Australia and the Australian government has assessed her qualifications as having the equivalent of an Advanced Diploma of Nursing.
It's really time for us to get her RN registration sorted out, and any help anyone can give with regards to the best path we should take would be greatly appreciated.
NOTE: I will be obtaining my UK Citizenship by Descent within the next few months, and my wife will be under a spouse visa as well.

Only universities can answer if they accept overseas credits from other universities.

The UK training used to be and still is continual exams and assessments so when completed and the NMC is happy that all requirements have been met will issue a PIN once payment made and have graduated.

Can your wife not return to the Philippines to sit the exam? That may be an easier option.

RN study at university is sponsored by the government therefore she may find it hard getting into a university for RN. If she does find a university to take her the fees will be classed as International as usually have to be a resident for 3 or more years to qualify for local rates

MultipleCitizen · May 1, 2015

Only universities can answer if they accept overseas credits from other universities.
The UK training used to be and still is continual exams and assessments so when completed and the NMC is happy that all requirements have been met will issue a PIN once payment made and have graduated.
Can your wife not return to the Philippines to sit the exam? That may be an easier option.
RN study at university is sponsored by the government therefore she may find it hard getting into a university for RN. If she does find a university to take her the fees will be classed as International as usually have to be a resident for 3 or more years to qualify for local rates

Thanks so much for your reply. :)

The Philippines is out as an option for us as it's a 3rd world country and we can't afford to go there just for a board exam. Plus the board exam there is one of the most difficult in the world. 500 questions in an all day setting and they've basically set the bar extremely high in order to discourage people from pursuing nursing as a career option as there's an overabundance of RN's in the Philippines so they make it extremely difficult for no good reason except to reduce the interest in nursing degrees for the population, as it leads to brain drain of the populace as well.

The other question I have is with regards to the system in the UK. The USA she can just use her degree and do NCLEX in the USA and prove competency. Australia on the other hand requires an actual RN registration from the foreign country before they will accept the nurses here and give then RN qualifications. I'm wondering if the UK requires foreign trained nurses to actually have an RN from their home country or if a Degree and proof of competency through the UK Competency Assessments is all that is required. I might give the Nursing and Midwifery Council a call to clarify.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · May 1, 2015

Many U.S. States (Indiana for example) as well as the Canadian provinces require a nursing license from the country of education. Logic being if you do not qualify for a license in the country where you were educated how can you consider yourself qualified to work overseas as a nurse?

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 1, 2015

The NMC which is the UK governing body for registering and enabling a nurse to work as a nurse in the country requires at least 12 months RN experience and license in the country they trained in.

As per the NMC

At the time of the application, the applicant must have practised as a registerednurse or midwife for at least 12 months (full time or the part-time equivalent) afterqualifying. This post-registration experience must be relevant to the field of practicethe applicant is applying for. Any practice that is not covered by registration cannotbe considered for the requirement of 12-months post-registration experience.

If the applicant has been qualified for longer than this, they must have also practisedfor at least 450 hours in the previous three years. We define 'practising' as workingin some capacity by virtue of their registration as a nurse or midwife. Practice caninclude administrative, supervisory, teaching, research and managerial roles as well asproviding direct patient care. This can also include volunteer work as long as anypractice is registered. If the applicant has not undertaken any duties as a registerednurse or midwife in the three years prior to making their application, they shouldcontact us to discuss available options.

Applicants must hold a current registration or licence without restriction with thelicensing authority or registration body in the country in which they qualified or havebeen practising.

http://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/siteDocuments/Registration/Registering-as-a-nurse-or-midwife-from-outside-EU-or-EEA.pdf

The process has also changed in that someone who trained outside the EU must pass both a computer exam as well as a practical exam. See page 13 in the above link

MultipleCitizen · May 1, 2015

Okay, just got off the phone with NMC. She has to have worked for at least 1 year as an RN before she can transfer qualifications as an RN to the UK.

Looks like she may have to see about transferring her AIN/Personal Carer qualifications till she can get her UK residency requirements covered. It appears that the role is considered a HCA in the UK?

Thanks so much for your help, it has helped tremendously. :)

MultipleCitizen · May 1, 2015

Many U.S. States (Indiana for example) as well as the Canadian provinces require a nursing license from the country of education. Logic being if you do not qualify for a license in the country where you were educated how can you consider yourself qualified to work overseas as a nurse?

Many, but not all. We have friends that graduated in the Philippines and went straight to the USA and did NCLEX (bypassing the Philippines board exam) and are now working as nurses in the USA.

kizmwah · May 2, 2015

It's easier to register in the US even though you haven't taken the licensure exam in the Phils but it's a different story in the UK.. Your options can be the following:

1. Take licensure in Phils, work for a year then register in UK.

2. Work as HCA in UK, they don't require much qualifications.. :) You can even have her TOR and diploma assessed by NARIC (just google their site) and request for statement of comparability which is about Â£55.. This is to support her application as HCA since most hospitals now require at least NVQ2. Nursing degree in the Philippines is equivalent to BTEC Higher National Diploma, N/SVQ 3 and 4. Not sure though if it will be the same if you haven't taken the board exam but it would be at least NVQ 2 coz even Tesda's Health Care Services NCII is equivalent to NVQ2. Include her training in Australia as well.

3. Ask Uni if they credit her Nursing Degree and ask how long she needs to go back to UNI before she can register here.

4. Go back to nursing school here.. 3 yrs, once you get your residency so it will be free.

Hope this helps..