Rwanda has invested heavily in its health workforce, and its nursing council has moved key services online. Here’s how registration, licensing and annual renewal work with the National Council of Nurses and Midwives (NCNM).
Imagine renewing your licence from your phone during a tea break instead of taking a day off to queue. In Rwanda, the National Council of Nurses and Midwives has moved much of its work online. Here is how to make the most of it.
This article is part of our guide: Nursing Councils, Associations and Unions Explained.
What is the NCNM?
The NCNM regulates nursing and midwifery in Rwanda. It sets licensing examinations for graduates, keeps the register, issues and renews practising licences, grants temporary registration to eligible foreign nurses, and handles discipline.
Licensing examination
Graduates must pass the council’s licensing examination before full registration. The council publishes lists of approved candidates before each sitting, so check that your name appears and follow its exam rules exactly.
Annual licence renewal: step by step
- Pay the renewal fee to the NCNM.
- Log in to the NCNM service portal and complete your profile.
- Submit an “Application for License Renewal” with your CPD logbook and other documents.
- The council aims to approve complete applications within about seven days.
- Collect your renewed licence with ID once notified.
Foreign nurses: temporary registration
Foreign-trained nurses and midwives working in Rwanda, for example with NGOs or teaching hospitals, can apply for temporary registration. Expect to provide certified qualifications, a certificate of good standing from your home regulator and proof of your job. Check the latest requirements on the official NCNM website before you travel.
But what if the portal is down or my renewal is delayed?
Start early. Pay and submit well before your licence expires, keep screenshots and receipts, and contact the council in writing if you don’t hear back within the expected time. A complete application with proof of payment is your best protection.
Your next step: Create or update your NCNM service portal account today, check your licence expiry date, and scan your CPD logbook so it’s ready to upload.
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Sources: National Council of Nurses and Midwives, Rwanda (ncnm.rw) registration and examination documents; licence renewal procedure as published on Wikiprocedure. Confirm fees on the official NCNM fee schedule.
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