Nursing Associate
- Regulators
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- Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Nations
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- England
- Sectors
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- Health and care
Regulatory or professional bodies
Primary regulator
- Regulatory authority
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Address
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23 Portland Place
London
W1B 1PZ - Email address
- UKenquiries@nmc-uk.org
- Website
- https://www.nmc.org.uk
- Phone number
- +44 (0)207 333 9333
Regulation
Regulation summary
We are the independent regulator for nurses and midwives in the UK, and nursing associates in England. What we do is set out by legislation. Our main legislation is the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (‘the Order’); a series of orders made by the Privy Council and Rules made by our Council sit underneath the Order.
The Nursing & Midwifery Order ‘The Order’ requires that we establish standards of education, training, conduct and performance for nurses, midwives and nursing associates and to ensure the maintenance of those standards.
A nursing associate is a member of the nursing team in England that helps bridge the gap between health and care assistants and registered nurses.
Nursing associates work with people of all ages, in a variety of settings in health and social care. The role contributes to the core work of nursing, freeing up registered nurses to focus on more complex clinical care. It's a stand-alone role that also provides a progression route into graduate level nursing.
As with Registered Nurses and Midwives, anyone looking to practise as a nursing associate in England must be registered with us. To do this, they are expected to uphold our professional standards and act in line with the Code which outlines the standards of behaviour and conduct expected of professionals on our register.
They must also meet our standards for revalidation, which promote lifelong learning. Revalidation helps make sure that everyone on our register keeps up to date, and continues to develop their nursing knowledge and expertise, to maintain excellent standards of practice.
Regulation type
Reserved activities
NA
Protected titles
The title 'Nursing associate' is protected in law. It's an offence in England to practise as a nursing associate without being registered as one with us, or to falsely claim to be qualified or registered.
- More about regulated activities and titles
- https://www.nmc.org.uk/about-us/governance/our-legal-framework/
Qualifications and experience
New professionals
- Routes to qualification
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We set the standards for nursing associate programmes and register nursing associates in England only.
All nursing associates working in England must be registered with us. Since 26 July 2019, anyone looking to join the register as a nursing associate must complete an NMC-approved nursing associate programme.
As well as ensuring that individuals learn the key skills and attributes needed to provide safe and effective care, these programmes have also been tailored to support career progression for nursing associates into registered nursing roles.
You can find an approved programme of education on the NMC website.
- More about qualification
- https://www.nmc.org.uk/education/approved-programmes/
Professionals from other UK nations
- Routes to recognition within the UK
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The nursing associate role is regulated in England only.
As a result, we can only approve nursing associate education programmes in England.
If you’ve undertaken education and training in other countries (including the other parts of the UK) that you think is relevant to the role of the nursing associate, you will be able to:
- apply for a pre-registration nursing associate programme in England and seek recognition of your prior learning, or
- apply to join the register through our process for applicants from the devolved administrations (Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), the EU or outside the EU.
- More about recognition within the UK
- https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nursing-associate/
Professionals from outside the UK
- Recognition for professionals outside the UK
- Some - qualifications from some countries may be recognised, but professionals from other countries will have to re-qualify
- Summary of routes
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If you want to work as a nursing associate in England, you'll need to register with us first.
The application process is split into different stages. We'll ask you to provide information throughout so that we can:
• confirm you're eligible to apply
• ensure you meet our health and character requirements to make sure you're capable of safe and effective practice
• ensure you have the necessary knowledge of English to practise safely and effectively.You'll also need to:
• successfully complete both parts of the Test of Competence
• confirm you've an appropriate indemnity arrangement in place (or you will do when you're working as a nursing associate)
• attend a face-to-face verification check once you're in England. - More about recognition for professionals outside the UK
- https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nursing-associate/
Registration
- Registration requirements
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Once we have everything we need, we'll carry out an evaluation of your qualification. If you meet our eligibility criteria, we’ll ask you to complete a Test of Competence.
We'll let you know the outcome of our evaluation by email within 14 calendar days of receiving the information from your education institution. Once you’ve successfully completed the Test of Competence, we’ll ask you to submit your full registration application. During this stage, we'll check that you meet our other registration requirements. You'll need to provide evidence that demonstrates that you're capable of safe and effective practice in England.
After you have registered there is a £120 a year registration fee.
- More about registration
- https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/
Legislation
- Title of relevant act or charter
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The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (as amended)
- Website link to legislation
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/253/contents/made
- Title of relevant act or charter
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The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (as amended)
- Website link to legislation
- https://www.nmc.org.uk/about-us/governance/our-legal-framework/our-order-and-rules/