If you trained as a nursing associate outside the UK — or in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, since the role is regulated in England — you need to pass the NMC's Test of Competence before you can join the register. It has two separate parts, and mixing them up with the nurses' version of the test is a common early confusion. Here is exactly how it works.
- Who it's for Nursing associates who trained outside the UK, or rejoining after a break
- Two parts CBT (computer-based test) and OSCE (practical)
- Time limit between parts Both must be passed within two years of each other
- CBT format 115 questions in one 3-hour sitting
- Result validity A completed test stays valid for five years
The two parts of the Test of Competence
The ToC for nursing associates has two distinct components, and you must pass both:
- CBT (computer-based test) — sat at a Pearson VUE centre, often in your home country. One sitting of 115 questions in three hours.
- OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) — a practical exam at a UK test centre, covering assessment, implementation and evaluation of care, clinical skills, professional values and a critical-appraisal station.
You must pass both parts within two years of each other, and each part is standard-set and passed independently — a strong CBT score does not carry over into the OSCE or vice versa.
Inside the CBT: Part A and Part B
The CBT itself splits into two parts within the same three-hour sitting:
- Part A — 15 numeracy questions (the NMC advises no more than 2 minutes on each), answered by typing a number (not multiple choice on the real test).
- Part B — 100 four-option single-answer clinical questions (the NMC advises no more than 1.5 minutes on each). The whole test is 115 questions in 3 hours, including optional breaks.
Part B is blueprinted to the six platforms of the Standards of proficiency for nursing associates, weighted by size:
| Platform | Questions |
|---|---|
| 3 — Provide and monitor care | 28 |
| 1 — Being an accountable professional | 20 |
| 2 — Promoting health | 10 |
| 4 — Working in teams | 10 |
| 5 — Improving safety and quality | 10 |
| 6 — Contributing to integrated care | 8 |
The remaining questions split evenly across the communication and procedures annexes, 7 each.
Practise Part A and Part B together. PassNova's bank covers every platform and both annexes, with Part A calculations presented as multiple choice using the same arithmetic — free, every answer explained.
Getting your result
Your CBT result appears on the exam report handed to you at the test centre, and in your Pearson VUE and MyNMC accounts within 48 hours in practice — although the formal specification allows up to 15 days. OSCE results are emailed within 5 working days.
How this differs from the nurses' Test of Competence
The nursing associate ToC is a separate test with its own blueprint from the one nurses and midwives sit — different platforms, different weighting, different content. If you trained as a nurse rather than a nursing associate, this is not the test you need; check the NMC's registration pages for the correct route for your qualification.
How to revise
- Part A is won by method. Dose calculations follow the pattern: (what you want ÷ what you have) × the volume it comes in. Practise unit conversions, infusion rates and fluid balance until the method is automatic — the real test requires you to type the number, so there is no multiple-choice cushion.
- Revise Part B by platform, weighted to the real blueprint. Spend proportionally more time on Platform 3 (provide and monitor care) and Platform 1 (accountable professional), since together they are nearly half the paper.
- Learn the thresholds questions turn on — NEWS2 triggers, the Mental Capacity Act principles, safeguarding principles, basic life support ratios — rather than memorising isolated facts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the CBT and the OSCE?
The CBT is a written, computer-based test of numeracy and clinical knowledge sat at a Pearson VUE centre. The OSCE is a practical exam at a UK test centre assessing hands-on clinical skills, professional values and critical appraisal across ten stations. Both must be passed within two years of each other.
How long is my Test of Competence result valid for?
A completed test (both CBT and OSCE passed) stays valid for five years.
Is this the same test nurses sit?
No. The nursing associate Test of Competence is separate from the nurses' and midwives' version, with its own blueprint of platforms and weighting specific to the nursing associate role.
One point of clarity: PassNova's bank has been checked against the NMC test specification, the Code, NICE, Resuscitation Council UK and NHS guidance, but has not been reviewed by a registered nurse — treat it as exam practice, not clinical guidance, and verify anything you rely on clinically against the NMC Code and current NHS guidance. Details here come from the NMC's own Test of Competence pages, checked in September 2026.