Will UK NMC accept SIFE instead of OET/IELTS for becoming a registered nurse in the UK?

You can provide supporting information from your employer (SIFE) as supplementary evidence of English language criteria. If you have completed your program in a country where English is not a majority-spoken language SIFE can be submitted. This will prove your clinical interaction in English with people who use services, their families, carers, and other healthcare professionals.

To do this, you must have:

• worked in an unregulated role in one health or care setting in the UK for at least 12 months full-time or full-time equivalent if working part-time.
• had the same line manager for at least 6 months (we will accept supporting information from up to two line managers to cover 12 months or full-time equivalent)

Your line manager (an NMC registrant) should complete a form to confirm the direct experience of your English language competence. Your line manager should be an NHS Band 6 (or non-NHS equivalent) or above. An NMC registrant who is an NHS Band 8a (or non-NHS equivalent) or above, should countersign this form. This is to confirm the process has been fair and consistent.

More over, NMC will ask for evidence that your training and assessment were in English.

If you are unable to meet the requirements above, you will need to provide an alternative type of evidence. You will have to take OET or IELTS.

What documents does UK NMC accept other than OET/IELTS?

• If you have completed an NMC-approved pre-registration nurse, midwife, or nursing associate program, NMC will accept this as evidence that you have the necessary knowledge of English.
• If you did not complete an NMC-approved pre-registration program you should satisfy NMC that your program demonstrates that you have the necessary knowledge of English.
• You should provide evidence that your program meets the criteria set out in NMC guidance if you have completed your program in a country where English is the majority spoken language.