After you’ve booked your OSCE test
Planning for your test day at CTC
After booking your OSCE, please ensure that you read all the following important information below about what happens next.
Further information can be found in the NMC OSCE Information booklet for nurses or NMC OSCE Information booklet for midwives.
What happens next?
- Once you complete your online booking, the test centre will be notified of this through the LIVE booking system.
- You will receive a system booking confirmation email after the text centre validate and approve the details on your booking. This can take up to two working days.
- Soon after your booking is confirmed, you’ll receive an email from the test centre with key details about your test day. Please read this email and any linked information carefully.
- Approximately two weeks prior to your exam date, you will receive a reminder of the important information you need to understand for your test. Please read this email and any linked information carefully.
What to do now checklist
- Check you’ve received booking confirmation and information about your test day; this will have been sent to the email address you used to book your exam. Please allow up to 48 hours after making your booking to receive this.
- Take a virtual tour of our test centre and understand what will happen on your test day by watching our ‘Welcome to the CTC’ video.
- Access and read the Candidate Information Booklet for nurses or Candidate Information Booklet for midwives, which contains important information about your OSCE exam.
- Read our Preparing for your Nursing test or Preparing for your Midwifery test pages, which contain information about the content of your OSCE exam.
- Arrange all your documents required for your NMC ID check.
- Arrange travel and accommodation (if required) for your test day. Remember you MUST arrive 30 mins before your exam start time.
- Organise what you will be wearing for your test; for advice on what to wear, see the Candidate Information Booklet for nurses or Candidate Information Booklet for midwives.
- Notify the Test Centre of any additional requirements you have for your test date. You will need to email the Test Centre if you require a reasonable adjustment and a form will be sent to you. If you are pregnant, you can download and complete a pregnancy checklist (Word, 64KB). Completed form requests MUST be received at least 2 weeks prior to your test date. For more information on these requirements, see the Candidate Information Booklet for nurses or Candidate Information Booklet for midwives.
Do you offer OSCE training?
We do not offer OSCE training. There are local and national OSCE training providers that you can find by searching online. We do not endorse any particular provider.
What if I have changed my name since registering with the NMC or booking my OSCE?
If the name on your passport is different from that on the email/letter from the NMC authorising you to take the OSCE, you must provide original evidence that you are the person named in that email/letter. This may be:
- a marriage certificate.
- a legal affidavit listing all names you are known by.
If you have any queries please email the NMC directly via id.checks@nmc-uk.org
Can I have my NMC ID check at the same time as my OSCE?
Please contact id.checks@nmc-uk.org or visit NMC ID check webpages for further details.
Can I reschedule my OSCE once I’ve booked it?
Once you have booked your OSCE on our booking system you can return to the platform to edit your booking. It is not possible to reschedule your OSCE but you can cancel it and book a replacement. Please read our Terms and Conditions to learn how cancellations work and when you are eligible for a refund. Note that any refund due will take up to five days to reach your account.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid visa in place for your test day. If you don’t have a valid visa and you can’t attend your exam then the refunds policy within our terms and conditions will apply.
Can you help me with a visa?
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid visa in place for your test day. If you don’t have a valid visa and you can’t attend your exam then the refunds policy within our Terms and Conditions will apply.
For all visa questions please visit Gov.UK for further information.
I’m trying to book my resit and my email address isn’t being recognised. What should I do?
If your Trust or Training Organisation booked your initial exam, use a different email address for booking your own resit exam. They would have used your main email address for the initial OSCE exam so you would need to use an alternative personal email address for your resit exam booking.
What is the dress code for the OSCE?
Please dress as if you were working with patients in a clinical environment. We reserve the right not to start your OSCE if your clothing is not appropriate. In these circumstances the fee will not be refunded. Further information can be found in the NMC OSCE Information booklet for nurses or midwives.
What documents must I bring on the day?
Please bring your valid, current passport to prove your identity on the day. If you don’t, we cannot admit you to the OSCE and there will be no refund.
If you have any questions about your ID documents, please visit the NMC ID Check website.
What time should I arrive for my OSCE?
Please arrive 30 minutes before the exam time you have booked. This is to allow us to complete your identity check and other paperwork and brief you about what to expect in your OSCE, including demonstrating important equipment.
What if I’m running late?
Please arrange to arrive 30 minutes before your exam time. If you are running late during our Operations Team office hours, please contact us by phone to let us know.
If safe to do so, please use the delay time to organise your ID documents, ensure you have changed into your exam clothing and completed the declaration forms that we send via email before your OSCE. This will help reduce the delay to starting your OSCE.
Are you at the Main University Campus?
No, we are at the Innovation Centre, which is a 30-minute walk form Waterside Campus. See How to find CTC for further guidance on location and travel suggestions.
Can you recommend accommodation?
There is a range of hotels within walking distance of the Innovation Centre. You can search online for nearby accommodation using our postcode of NN1 1SY.
Do you have anywhere I can get refreshments?
There is a café in the Innovation Centre. It is open from 8:30am to 2pm during University of Northampton term time only.
There is also a coffee shop in the rail station across the road.
If you want more choices, there are many cafés and restaurants within walking distance in Northampton town centre.