UKRN Pathophysiology- A step by step guide on how to become a Registered Nurse in the United Kingdom from being a Filipino nurse

The United Kingdom is planning to augment 50,000 more nurses by the year 2024. It is a perfect opportunity for Filipino nurses to join in. Aside from seeing the famous London Tower Bridge and to live in a country where the legendary Beatles came from, UK is a competitive overseas country to work in.

I have created this flow chart in order to help aspiring Filipino nurses to have an idea and overview of the UKRN process. I am one of the thousands of Filipinos working for NHS in UK and I am more than excited to share the process to my countrymen. The flow chart is very simple, which you save in your phone as an image and you can use as a guide in your step by step journey to becoming a UKRN. It is also available in PDF file which you can download in the phone, feel free to choose which file type you prefer, both are downloadable in the top of the page.

Here are step by step guide narrated in simplest format.

1. English exam- You may choose to have IELTS (Php 11,500) or OET (Php 22,000), prices are estimate. I went with the former since it is cheaper and I have an ample of time to review. Most of my colleagues have tried the OET as it is more flexible in terms of the technicality and has more passing rate than IELTS.

2. Create an NMC account. Link- https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/nmc-online/

3. Phase 1 (THEORY)- the CBT Exam- you will be prompted to register to the CBT once you have created the NMC account. Link-https://home.pearsonvue.com/nmc

This exam is the theory part. In order to pass the exam you have to review notes, estimated review time: 2 weeks- 1 month

4. Once you have passed the CBT, you may look for an agency. I have used Omanfil on my application to the UK. They are very helpful and supportive (I have not been paid to endorse them but this is my honest review). There are lots of agencies, you have to be CAREFUL in selecting the accredited agencies with the POEA. Scammers are everywhere! Do not fall victim to them.

5. The agency will then offer you with jobs and employers. It is up to you to select. This process will depend on the agency. On my case, it took about 3 months from my first date of application to the date of my deployment. Some agencies have ready COS and they can deploy faster, your time limit for this stage is about 3-6 months. If it is taking longer, I would suggest changing plans (agencies).

6. Police clearance- Below is the file from NMC, downloadable. If you are an ex-OFW, worked overseas for more than 12 months in the last 10 years, you have to provide a police clearance from that country. On my case, I worked in Saudi Arabia for 8 years as a Travel Agent, so I exhausted all options to get and secure a police clearance. I was able to find one through a proxy representative.

7. IOM Test- this is a requirement to all traveling to the UK for work. It is a TB test. If your test is negative, you will proceed with the next step. If there is a finding (a scar in the lung, any abnormalities) you will have to prove that you are clear and negative of TB. It might take about 3 months to get the sputum test’s full result and will delay your application.

Link- https://philippines.iom.int/

Email: mhc.uk@iom.int

8. Issuance of COS, flight ticket and UKVI (UK Visa)- Once IOM is done, the agency will have to assist you with the UKVI application. They will guide you in filing the visa and you will have to book an appointment for the visa appearance and biometrics.

Link- https://visa.vfsglobal.com/phl/en/gbr

9. Phase 2– PRACTICAL EXAM- the OSCE- You will now be in the UK at this stage, and you will work as a Band 3 (a senior health care support worker) while reviewing for the OSCE. The OSCE exam is a challenging exam and you have to maintain your focus and determination so that you will only have to attend this exam once. Failing should not be an option.

10. Once you passed the OSCE, you will then be promoted to Band 5 where you will receive all benefits of being a registered nurse and a UKRN.

Tips and bits:

*In some of the processes, you will have to shell out money to expedite the process, like in application of the visa and biometrics, I paid the express service myself but the agency refunded me the amount. This is case to case basis and you have to be very careful and vigilant. My agency was honest and they are very helpful.

*You will receive a refund from some of the items you paid, my agency refunded me the IOM fee, NMC part 1 application, and the VFS.

*Before traveling or planning to go to UK, remember to ask yourself 10x, because it is a commitment. Study the country’s weather, culture, salary, safety.

*In you journey, it is normal to become anxious, desperate and depressed. These are normal and all who ventured to become UKRN have experienced these. Remember to focus and not to easily give up. Afterall, once you have succeeded with the obstacles, you will realize that everything is worth it.

I hope that this article is helpful and please share to all Filipino nurses who are aspiring to go to the UK. Goodluck to your plans and endeavors and wish you all the best!

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