Planning to work abroad? The first question is which exam you need. This table compares the countries our readers ask about most. Each row links to a full guide covering fees, documents and timelines.
| Country | Exam for internationally trained nurses | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | NMC CBT (computer test) + OSCE (practical) | NMC |
| United States | NCLEX-RN | US |
| Canada | NNAS assessment, then NCLEX-RN | Canada |
| Australia | Expedited pathway, or NCLEX-RN + OSCE | Australia |
| New Zealand | Theory exam + OSCE (if required) | New Zealand |
| Ireland | Adaptation or RCSI aptitude test | Ireland |
| Saudi Arabia | SNLE (Prometric) | Saudi |
| UAE | Prometric (DHA, MOHAP) or Pearson VUE (DOH) | UAE |
| Qatar | Prometric. NCLEX pass can exempt you | Qatar |
| Oman | OMSB Prometric (60% pass) | Oman |
| Kuwait | Prometric (150 MCQs, 60% pass) | Kuwait |
| Bahrain | Prometric via Mehan | Bahrain |
| Singapore | SNB Licensure Exam (Pearson VUE) | Singapore |
| Malaysia | Online Malaysia Nursing Board exam | Malaysia |
How to choose
- NCLEX opens the most doors: the US, Canada, Australia’s OBA route and an exemption in Qatar.
- The Gulf is the fastest to start with, but your licence is usually tied to your employer.
- The UK offers a clear route to settlement, but requires the NMC CBT and OSCE plus an English test.
- Almost everywhere, you need verification from your home council, so start that early.
All 23 countries: Nursing Councils of the World