Saturday 16 May 2020

How to become a registered Nurse in Ireland.

Be a registered Nurse in Ireland. This is all you need to know.

STEP1: Check eligibility & Apply to Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)


If you are trained, registered, or practiced in an NMBI recognised country, then you are exempted from English language tests like IELTS/OET.

NMBI Recognised countries are:


 Australia

 Canada

 New Zealand

 The United States of America

 The United Kingdom


If you are trained, registered, or practised in any other countries, then the ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST is mandatory as per NMBI.

The applicant may submit a certificate of test result from either the International English Language Test System (IELTS) or Occupational English Test (OET).


Please refer to the tables below for the minimum levels in each of the tests that are accepted by NMBI:


IELTS Academic Test

Minimum International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Score

Overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in any one module.

Listening 7.0

Reading 7.0

Writing 6.5

Speaking 7.0

Overall 7.0


OET Minimum Occupational English Test (OET)

Grade and Scores

OET (Nursing) with Grade B in three components 

and C+ in one component

Listening B (350 - 450)

Reading B (350 - 450)

Writing C+ (300 - 340)

Speaking B (350 - 450)



Please note that:
  •  NMBI accepts IELTS/OET test results that are less than two years old. If your test results are out of date, you will need to re-sit the IELTS/OET
  •  You must provide IELTS Academic Test Report Form (TRF) number OR OET Candidate Number as part of application process.
  •  NMBI will independently verify your scores
  •  NMBI only accept one test result and do not accept combined results
  • Do not apply for registration until you meet the minimum scores under the IELTS Academic Test/OET
  •  Remember that if you make an application, and don’t meet the English language competence requirements, the assessment fee is non-refundable

Applying to Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)

Submit the required documents to the NMBI for a full regulatory assessment. Upon completion of the NMBI regulatory assessment, a decision letter* (which has an expiry date) is issued. One of the outcomes of the regulatory assessment may be that you have to undergo one of two compensation measures, either an aptitude test by the RCSI or a clinical adaptation program.
*This decision letter must be in-date on the day of your theory test.
For More details: click here

STEP 2: Find an employer in Ireland

After successful completion of NMBI assessment, you will receive a decision letter(DL) from NMBI by post to your home address. Once DL is received, you may find an employer in Ireland. You may apply for the aptitude test even without finding an employer, however, CARRYCARE recommends to find an employer before applying for the aptitude test because some of the employers may help you with the rest of the paper works.

If you are looking for a government job in Ireland, all information about vacancies/job search is available on the official website of HSE Ireland. For more details: click here

If you are unable to find an employer in Ireland, don’t worry, CarryCare is here to help you.

STEP 3: Apply for the aptitude test

You will need to complete an online application and upload four documents with your application:

  •  NMBI decision letter
  •  Biometric page of passport/ID
  •  Recent photograph
  • Proof of payment

Your application is processed within three working days and you are contacted via email. If satisfactory, an invitation is sent for a place on the next available test. To allow for the next steps to be met and to allow for travel and other arrangements, each test opens approximately 15 weeks in advance. Only one test is open at a time and as soon as one test closes the next one opens.

For More details: click here

STEP 4: Apply for Atypical Working Scheme letter of approval

The application is made (without delay) for an Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) letter of approval, provided all required documentation is submitted in a satisfactory manner this can take a minimum of four weeks.

For More details: click here

STEP 5: Apply for Candidate registration certificate from NMBI

You will also need to apply to the NMBI for a Candidate Registration Certificate (CRC). An invitation – the email sent by RCSI with the invitation – to the test must be submitted with the application for the CRC to the NMBI. Provided all required documentation is submitted in a satisfactory manner this can take a minimum of two weeks. This CRC, which has an expiry date, must be in date for the duration of your test and therefore, if, at any point, you request and get a change of date for the test, you must apply to the NMBI to request a date change in the CRC (again you must allow a minimum of two weeks). Details of the CRC are included in your NMBI decision letter; RCSI cannot answer any queries in relation to the CRC.

You must bring your NMBI CRC to the theory/MCQ part of the test. The CRC must be in paper format: either original or a clear photocopy (colour or black and white) – an electronic version of the CRC is not acceptable.

STEP 6: Apply for an entry visa

The application should be made, without delay, for an entry visa. Supporting documents required may include your NMBI decision letter and/or your NMBI CRC (both of which have an expiry date) and your AWS letter of approval. Provided all required documentation is submitted to the concerned embassy in a satisfactory manner, which can take a minimum of eight weeks.

For more details click here


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