March 2023
Changes to our
English
language
requirements
What we will cover in this
session
1. Context and our current requirements
2. Overview of changes made in February 2023:
• Additional supporting information from
employers (SIFE) using a manual process
• Changes to test score combining with
examples
3. Next steps
NMC English Language Changes 2
Our English language requirements
Applicants must show that they have four language skills:
Reading Writing Speaking Listening
All applicants to our register must demonstrate they have a level of
English that will allow them to communicate appropriately in practice
NMC English language changes 3
Types of primary evidence we accept
• Evidence must be:
• Recent
• Objective and independent
• Easily checked
Evidence Evidence
Evidence
type 2 type 3
type 1
A pre-registration Recent nursing or
Recently achieved
nursing, midwife or midwifery practice
required score in
nursing associate for at least one
an English
qualification taught year in a majority
language test we
and examined in English speaking
accept
English country
NMC English language changes 4
Overview of
the changes
Summary of changes we have
made
Extending the period for test score combining from six to twelve
months
Standardising the minimum test scores we accept when combining
scores across two sittings
Accepting additional supporting information from employers (SIFE)
for applicants who trained in English in a country where English is not
a majority spoken language. Applicants have demonstrated their
reading and writing competence through their qualification, so
employers need to provide information about their speaking and
listening skills only.
New web resources, including test score combining calculator
NMC English language changes 6
Timeline of changes
• Changes to test score combining time period and updated minimum scores
when test combining
8 • Accepting additional supporting information from employers for applicants
Febr who trained in English in a country where English is not a majority spoken
language
uary
2023
• Accepting additional supporting information from employers for applicants
who miss the required test score by no more than 0.5 or half a grade
Sum • Automate process for accepting additional supporting information from
mer employers
2023
NMC English language changes 7
Supporting
information
from
employers
(SIFE)
What is SIFE?
SIFE is additional supporting information provided by an applicant’s
employer.
To use SIFE:
• You have evidence that you were trained and assessed in English in a country where
English is not a majority spoken language.
• You must have worked for least 12 months full-time (or part-time equivalent) when you
apply in a non-registered role in a health and care setting in the UK (known as the
language demonstration period (LDP)).
• Your line manager must use an NMC form to provide information that shows how you have
demonstrated your English language competence. They must have been in regular contact
with you for at least six months during your employment, and they must hold current
registration with the NMC.
• If you’ve had more than one line manager during the LDP, you can provide us with details
of up to two line managers to cover the 12-month period.
• An NMC registrant in a leadership position at the same employer must counter-sign your
evidence to help make sure that your assessment was objective.
9
NMC English language changes
Completing SIFE form manually (until
summer 2023)
If an applicant is
eligible, NMC will
ask for their line The line
manager’s name manager returns
and PIN so we the completed
Applicant applies can contact them form to a specific
as normal. via NMC Online. NMC mailbox.
NMC will request NMC will send NMC will only
further the SIFE form to accept forms for
information from the line manager named
the applicant via to complete. It applicants.
NMC Online. will also ask for It can take up to
details of the 30 days for NMC
counter to complete an
signatory. assessment.
10
Completing a SIFE form
The line manager will be asked for:
Name and PIN
Employer
Dates of line management
NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) Band or non-NHS equivalent. If they can’t
provide an NHS equivalent band, they can include a short summary of their
duties and responsibilities. They should be an NHS Band 6 (or non-NHS
equivalent) or above.
Confirmation through yes or no answers that they have seen examples we
provide of listening and speaking skills in practice.
NMC English language changes 11
Completing a SIFE form
The counter signatory will be asked for:
Name and PIN
Employer
NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) Band or non-NHS equivalent. If they are unable
to provide an NHS equivalent band, they can include a short summary of their
duties and responsibilities. They should be an NHS Band 8a (or non-NHS
equivalent) or above.
Relationship to line manager
They must declare:
They have reviewed the information that the line manager has
provided and are satisfied that it is accurate, objective and fair.
They are satisfied the line manager has exercised professional
judgement.
NMC English language changes 12
Next steps for the SIFE form
From Summer 2023:
• Our online application system will be fully automated to accept
applications using additional supporting information from employers.
• Line managers and counter-signatories will provide their information
via NMC Online
• We will also start accepting SIFE for applicants who miss the
required test score by no more than 0.5 or half a grade
NMC English language changes 13
Test combining
changes
Test combining changes
Applicants can achieve the required mark across two test sittings if:
• The tests are taken within 12 months of each other
• The minimum test score is no more than 0.5 (IELTS) or half a grade
(OET) below the required score for only one of the domains
across the two sittings
• They’re tested in all four domains at the same time
• Both tests are from the same test provider (IELTS or OET)
• The tests are no more than two years old
Our new Test Combining Calculator allows applicants to check scores
before they begin their application.
NMC English language changes 15
Combining test scores explained
(A) OET IELTS
Reading B / 350 7
This table shows the required scores.
Listening B / 350 7
Speaking B / 350 7
C+ /
It is important to note that we have not reduced the required
Writing 6.5 scores.
300
(B) OET IELTS
Reading
C+ /
6.5 To combine two tests, applicants must still achieve the
300 required scores shown in Table A, in either of the two
C+ / tests being combined.
Listening 6.5
300
C+ /
Speaking 6.5 The rest of the scores – in either test – must not be
300
Writing C / 250 6 lower than those shown in Table B.
16
Next Steps
Next steps
• Finalising implementing current changes in summer
2023
• Monitoring and evaluation of changes
• Phase 2 of our review with next report to Council in
March 2024:
• Considering other responses to the consultation,
including test scores
• Further consideration of post-graduate
qualifications
• Considering whether we can expand the range of
professionals who can provide SIFE
NMC English language changes 18
Useful links
• English language requirements - The Nursing and Mi
dwifery Council (nmc.org.uk)
• Guidance on registration language requirements (nm
c.org.uk)
• Test Combining Calculator – This allows applicant to
input test scores and understand what the results
means for them in terms of test combining
NMC English language changes 19
Thank
you!
