NMC OSCE Fees, Retakes, and the 3-Attempt Limit

The OSCE is the most expensive part of the NMC overseas registration process. The fees are substantial, and the indirect costs (travel, accommodation, time) often exceed the fees themselves.

This chapter covers the financial and procedural side.

The fees (2026)

• Full OSCE: £794.
• Partial OSCE resit (fewer than 7 stations): £397.
• NMC application fees: separate. Initial application £140, registration fee on success £153.

A candidate who passes the OSCE on first attempt pays £794 in OSCE fees plus NMC application costs. A candidate who needs a partial resit pays £794 + £397 = £1,191 in OSCE fees alone. A candidate who needs a full resit pays £794 + £794 = £1,588.

These are the fees alone. Travel and accommodation in the UK for the test sitting add £400-£1,500 depending on origin country and how long the trip needs to be.

Total realistic cost

For a candidate from a typical overseas country, the total OSCE-related cost (fees, travel, accommodation, preparation course if used):

• First-time pass: £1,500-£3,000.
• Partial resit needed: £2,000-£3,500.
• Full resit needed: £2,500-£4,500.
• Three attempts: £4,000-£7,000+.

These estimates exclude lost income from time off work and any visa-related costs.

The retake rules

The NMC allows three attempts at the OSCE within a defined period:

• Attempts 1, 2, and 3 can each happen at any time within 24 months of your first attempt.
• After three failed attempts, you wait 6 months before being able to apply again.
• The new application is effectively a fresh start. You may need to retake the CBT if your previous pass is more than 2 years old.

Between attempts, you usually have to wait a minimum period (often 4-8 weeks) so the previous attempt’s marking can be processed and the booking system can offer you a new date.

Partial vs full resit

The NMC tells you which stations you failed and whether you qualify for a partial resit.

Partial resit (under 7 failed): you resit only the failed stations. The passed stations carry over. The fee is half the full OSCE fee.

Full resit (7 or more failed): you resit the whole OSCE. The fee is the full amount.

Candidates failing fewer than 7 stations are more common. Most candidates who fail fail 1-3 stations.

What partial resits look like

A partial resit takes less time at the test centre (you only sit the stations you’re resitting) but you still travel to the UK and book a full slot at the centre.

The stations you’re resitting are scheduled in the normal rotation. Stations you passed are skipped. You wait during those slots, then enter the centre for your scheduled stations.

The passing stations from the original sitting count toward your final score on the resit. You don’t have to re-pass them.

After three failed attempts

The 6-month wait is a hard rule. The NMC doesn’t make exceptions on individual circumstances.

After 6 months:

• New NMC application (or restart of the existing one, varies by case).
• Fresh CBT booking if your previous pass is now more than 2 years old.
• Fresh OSCE booking.
• New round of fees.

The three-attempts-then-wait structure means most candidates effectively have one chance to get the OSCE right, with two safety nets. Beyond that the process becomes substantial.

Booking practicalities

OSCE booking goes through the NMC portal. After you’ve passed the CBT and the NMC has issued your OSCE authorisation:

• Log into the NMC portal.
• Select the test centre and date.
• Pay the fee.
• Receive confirmation.

Availability varies by centre. Popular centres (Oxford Brookes, Northampton) often have 6-12 week waits. Some smaller centres have shorter waits.

You can reschedule if more than 14 days before the test, with a reasonable reason. Closer to the test, the booking fee may be forfeit.

What to budget

A realistic budget for an OSCE candidate from overseas:

• NMC application fees: £150-£200.
• CBT fee: ~£85.
• English language test: £150-£200 (IELTS/OET).
• OSCE fee: £794.
• Travel and visa: variable; often £300-£800.
• Accommodation in UK: £200-£600 for the OSCE trip (depends on location and duration).
• Preparation materials/courses: £100-£500 (optional).

Subtotal for first-time pass: £1,800-£3,300.

Add resit costs (£397-£794 plus travel each time) if needed.

Why the costs matter

These costs sit in front of any earnings as a UK nurse. Many international nurses fund the process through savings, family support, or loans. Some agencies offer financial support packages in exchange for committed working periods after registration. These can be useful in principle, but always read the contract carefully.

The single biggest decision: don’t sit the OSCE underprepared because of pressure to get on with the process. A failed attempt costs the resit fee plus another UK trip plus the lost time. Pass-rate optimisation is the cheaper strategy than rapid-attempt strategy.

The next chapter covers the 12 known APIE scenarios that have circulated among OSCE candidates, useful for preparation framing.