The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has officially announced that the NMC OSCE Test Centre operated in partnership with Northumbria University will permanently close on 19 February 2026. This directly impacts international nurses and UK NMC registration candidates planning to complete their Test of Competence (ToC) in the UK.
What to do next if you were planning to appear at the OSCE in
Northumbria NMC OSCE Test Centre?
Since the Northumbria University OSCE centre is closing, candidates who have been writing or planning to write the exam there now have an excellent alternative: the Leeds exam centre. It is the nearest and most accessible OSCE centre for many candidates. Those who take their exam at Leeds can benefit from Mentor Merlin’s 6th-day OSCE training, conducted by expert UK trainers right at the building of Leeds exam centre. This allows candidates to get hands-on training in the actual exam environment, become familiar with the test centre, and enter the exam fully prepared and confident.
Closure of Northumbria University OSCE Centre
The Northumbria University OSCE centre has been one of the core locations used by overseas nurses to take the NMC OSCE exam as part of their NMC UK registration
procedure. Due to the closure, only candidates within a particular timeframe will be able to take their exam there. After that exact period, nurses must use another
NMC-approved OSCE centre in the UK.
Information for First-Time NMC OSCE Candidates
● The Candidates taking the NMC OSCE for the initial attempt should note:
● First-attempt OSCE exams will be conducted at Northumbria up to 19 December 2025
● The Existing OSCE bookings up to 31 January 2026 will be honoured.
● No new first attempt OSCE bookings will be accepted or approved after 19 December 2025 at Northumbria.
● The Candidates must take their first-time OSCE exam at an alternative OSCE
centre.
Other NMC-Approved OSCE Test Centres
The Candidates can pick from other UK OSCE centres, such as:
● Oxford Brookes University
● Ulster University
● University of Northampton
● Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Information for OSCE Resit Candidates
● Northumbria will continue and maintain to accept OSCE resit bookings until midday on 19 February 2026.
● The Candidates needing an OSCE resit should book early to avoid limited availability.
Final Thoughts
The closure of the Northumbria University OSCE test centre is an important announcement for international nurses applying for UK NMC registration. The one way
To keep away from delays, candidates to plan in advance, lock in their dates early, and make sure to choose the right NMC-approved OSCE centre.
Let us know if you require any help with the NMC OSCE training, OSCE preparation, or booking support. Mentor Merlin and team is here to guide and support you in achieving the milestone in your NMC OSCE exam and becoming a registered nurse in the UK.
NMC Test of Competence Team : TOC@nmc-uk.org
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