How to take the NCLEX in the UK?

To take the NCLEX in the UK (for U.S. licensure), you first apply to a U.S. State Board of Nursing (BON), get your credentials evaluated (often via CGFNS/TrueMerit), register with Pearson VUE, get your Authorization to Test (ATT) number from the BON, and then schedule your exam at a UK Pearson VUE center in London, Leeds, Manchester, or Surrey. The NCLEX is taken at a physical test center, not online, with options in major UK cities.

Can you take the NCLEX in the UK?

* International locations where the NCLEX is offered include Australia, Brazil, France, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Türkiye and United Kingdom.

How do I register for NCLEX in the UK?

RegistrationHow to Register with Pearson

Candidates will need to register to take the NCLEX with Pearson and provide their program code, an email address and an acceptable form of payment. The first and last name provided when registering must match exactly with the identification presented at the exam appointment.

What is the NCLEX equivalent in the UK?

Two of the most talked-about assessments are the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) for those eyeing a career in North America and the NMC OSCE (Nursing and Midwifery Council Objective Structured Clinical Examination), the capstone for UK registration.

Does the UK accept a US nursing license?

Nurses from outside the UK can apply to be on the NMC Register, providing they meet its standards. The NMC will compare the training in your country with that required in the UK. Everything you need to know about joining the register to work as a nurse in the UK is available on the NMC website.

Is the NCLEX Exam Really That Hard? Tips to Make It Easier

How much is RN salary in the UK?

Various job boards and recruitment sites that track the salaries of jobs they post suggest the average wage of a UK nurse is somewhere around the £37,000 to £42,000 a year mark. Interestingly, more than 50% of Adult nurses are between the age of 41 and 60.

Is 3 months enough to study for NCLEX?

Yes, 3 months is generally enough time to study for the NCLEX, allowing for thorough content review, daily practice questions, and full-length tests without extreme pressure, fitting well for most students and repeat takers with decent content knowledge. However, timelines vary; some first-timers use 1-2 months, while those needing more support or balancing work might need 3-6 months, emphasizing consistent, focused study with good resources like Saunders, Archer, and Simple Nursing. 

Is there a 2 year nursing degree in the UK?

At postgraduate level, we offer 4 pre-registration MSc programmes, enabling you to qualify as a nurse in as little as 2 years, as well as a number of post-registration courses in various nursing specialisms.

How many nurses pass NCLEX on first try?

Overall first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates surged after the test change in April 2023, climbing from 88.6% in 2023 to 91.2% in 2024. However, through most of 2025, overall first-time pass rates3 have dipped to 87.5% — prompting reflection about what these trends mean for student preparedness and program effectiveness.

Is it better to be a nurse in the UK or USA?

Ultimately, the choice between working as a nurse in the UK or the USA will depend on what you value most in your career and personal life. If you prioritise higher earnings and are interested in rapid career advancement through further education, the USA might be the better choice.

Is 30 too late to start nursing?

There is no age limit to start a career in nursing, so becoming a nurse later in life is possible. Plan your career change to nurse by finding the right accelerated nursing program, earning your nursing degree and passing the NCLEX.

Which state is the easiest to apply for NCLEX?

The Bottom Line

While each state has its own requirements, New York, Connecticut, and Montana stand out as the easiest states to apply for NCLEX to obtain a nursing compact license. We highly recommend considering these options if you want to make your journey easier.

Which countries accept US NCLEX?

The NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) primarily licenses nurses for the United States, but its scores are also recognized for licensure in Canada and Australia, with varying additional requirements like English proficiency and skills assessments. Other countries like the United Kingdom and Ireland consider NCLEX results but require separate exams, while the exam itself is offered in many international locations for nurses aiming for US or Canadian licensure.
 

How to become a RN nurse in the UK?

To work as a nurse, you need a degree in nursing and you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You'll need to choose which of the four nursing specialisms (adult, children, mental health, or learning disability) you'd like to study.

Which is better, IELTS or OET for nurses?

Here's why OET is the better choice for healthcare:

• OET covers healthcare topics, making it easier to study. ...
• Every part of OET's test content is about healthcare versus IELTS Academic tests' general content. ...
• OET is more relevant to your healthcare career.

Is a UK nursing degree accepted in the USA?

Nurses trained in the United Kingdom have an advantage when applying to work in the United States. Most foreign-educated applicants have to take an English language proficiency test. For nurses educated in the United Kingdom, their English-based training fulfills that requirement.

Is nursing the hardest degree in the UK?

To be honest with you, all of the lecturers say it all the time and I completely agree, it is genuinely the hardest degree - at our university anyway, and we don't take on medical students, so obviously medicine is gonna be a lot harder than nursing but I would definitely say that nursing is the second hardest degree ...

Which is better RN or BSN?

Yes, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a higher level of education than just being a Registered Nurse (RN); an RN is a professional license, while a BSN is a specific degree (a 4-year degree) that often leads to greater career opportunities, leadership roles, and higher pay, though both BSN and Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) graduates become licensed RNs by passing the same NCLEX exam. 

Is NCLEX RN hard to pass?

The NCLEX-RN is widely considered a very difficult exam because it tests critical thinking and clinical judgment, not just memorization, using a Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) format that adjusts question difficulty in real-time, making it feel harder as you answer correctly. It requires applying knowledge in complex patient scenarios, facing high stakes for licensure, and managing time under pressure, but proper preparation focused on critical thinking makes it conquerable. 

What if I fail the NCLEX 3 times?

Can I retake the NCLEX after failing three times? Answer: Yes, you can retake the NCLEX after failing three times. However, there are specific requirements and waiting periods between attempts for different states.

How likely is it to fail NCLEX at 85 questions?

Do most people pass NCLEX in 85 questions? The current NCLEX pass rate for first time test takers is 80%. This means that most students who sit for NCLEX will pass it. Based on my experience, plenty of students pass the test in 85 questions (I know of at least 5 people in my graduating class alone who all did).

Can a US RN work in the UK?

To work in the UK, you can apply for a Health and Care Worker visa. This allows you to work with the NHS, which is the UK's publicly funded healthcare system. You can also apply for a Skilled Worker visa. Nursing is on the UK's Shortage Occupation List, which gives you an advantage when applying.

Which country pays RN the most?

Key takeaways

The country that pays the highest salary for nurses is Switzerland with an average annual income of US$94,869 (£71,196/€83,033).

Is there a shortage of nurses in the UK?

They reveal the harrowing impact of understaffing on nursing staff and patients as they work to the point of exhaustion. There are currently more than 29,000 registered nursing vacancies across the UK in the NHS alone.