Every country controls who may call themselves a nurse. Whether you are a student in Lagos, a staff nurse in Nairobi or planning a move to London, Toronto, Sydney or Riyadh, the nursing council decides what exam you sit, what you pay, how often you renew, and what happens if a complaint is made against you. This hub compares the regulators our readers ask about most. Each one links to a full, regularly updated guide.
Last updated: October 2026. Fees change often, so each guide links to the official source.
At a glance
| Country | Regulator | Exam for internationally trained nurses | Renewal | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | NMCN | NMCN professional exams (for local graduates); assessment for foreign-trained nurses | Every 3 years, with MCPDP | NMCN guide |
| Ghana | N&MC Ghana | Licensing exam | Every year (PIN), with CPD points | Ghana guide |
| Kenya | NCK | CBT licensing exam after about 24 weeks of adaptation | Every year, 20 CPD points | Kenya guide |
| Uganda | UNMC | Assessment, plus an exam or supervised practice | Every 3 years, with CPD diary | Uganda guide |
| Zambia | NMCZ | Provisional registration under supervision | Every year, by 31 December | Zambia guide |
| South Africa | SANC | Evaluation, plus an exam or adaptation | Every year (APC) | SANC guide |
| India | INC and State Nursing Councils | Equivalence assessment for foreign degrees | Usually every 5 years, with CNE credits | India guide |
| Philippines | PRC Board of Nursing | PNLE (local licensure exam) | Every 3 years (PRC ID), with CPD units | Philippines guide |
| United Kingdom | NMC | CBT plus OSCE (Test of Competence) | Annual fee; revalidation every 3 years | NMC guide |
| Ireland | NMBI | Adaptation or the RCSI aptitude test | Annual retention fee | NMBI guide |
| United States | State boards of nursing (NCSBN) | NCLEX-RN | Usually every 2 years | US guide |
| Canada | Provincial colleges (CNO, BCCNM and others) | NNAS assessment, then NCLEX-RN | Every year | Canada guide |
| Australia | NMBA / Ahpra | Expedited pathway, or NCLEX-RN plus OSCE (OBA) | Every year, by 31 May | Australia guide |
| New Zealand | NCNZ | Theory exam plus OSCE (if required) | Every year (APC) | New Zealand guide |
| Saudi Arabia | SCFHS | SNLE (Prometric) | Usually every 2 years | Saudi guide |
| UAE | DHA / DOH / MOHAP | Prometric (DHA, MOHAP) or Pearson VUE (DOH) | 1–2 years, depending on the authority | UAE guide |
What every council has in common
- Verification from your home council: every destination regulator checks your registration directly with the council that first licensed you. Keep your home licence active and your names consistent across all documents.
- English evidence: usually IELTS Academic or OET at a high level, unless you trained and practised in English in an approved country.
- Recency and CPD: regulators want proof that you are practising and learning. Keep a portfolio from day one.
- Honest declarations: hiding a past complaint, caution or conviction is treated more seriously than the original issue.
- Discipline follows you: sanctions are shared between regulators and show up in future verifications.
Related guides
- NMC revalidation: a step-by-step guide
- Band 5 to Band 6 in the NHS
- Bringing your family to the UK
- ILR for nurses in the UK
Spotted a fee or rule that has changed? Tell us through our contact page and we will update the guide.