NMC Test of Com­pe­tence — Nursing Asso­cia­tes (CBT)

The CBT is the first part of the NMC Test of Competence for nursing associates trained outside the UK. Internationally trained nursing associate (NMC registration): NMC: a nursing associate who trained outside the UK must pass the Test of Competence to join the register. Nursing associate rejoining the register: NMC: the Test of Competence is also the route back for some registrants returning after a long period away from practice.

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PassNova has 132 exam-style NMC Test of Competence — Nursing Associates (CBT) questions and 5 timed 25-question practice tests, each with a clear explanation, plus topic-by-topic study mode.

The Test of Competence for nursing associates is the route onto the NMC register for nursing associates who trained outside the UK (or trained in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) and for some people rejoining the register. It has two parts: a computer-based test (CBT) and a practical OSCE, which must be passed within two years of each other; a completed test stays valid for five years (NMC ToC pages updated 11 August and 11 September 2026). Checked against the NMC's Test of Competence 2021 specification for nursing associates in September 2026: the CBT is one sitting of 115 questions in 3 hours. Part A is 15 numeracy questions in 30 minutes, answered by typing a number, and Part B is 100 four-option single-answer clinical questions in 2 hours 30 minutes, blueprinted to the six platforms of the Standards of proficiency for nursing associates — 20 questions on being an accountable professional, 10 on promoting health, 28 on providing and monitoring care, 10 on working in teams, 10 on improving safety and quality, 8 on integrated care — plus 7 each on the communication and procedures annexes. Each part is standard-set separately and both must be passed; the CBT result is on the exam report handed over at the test centre and appears in the Pearson Vue and MyNMC accounts within 48 hours (the 2021 specification's formal limit is 15 days), and OSCE results are emailed within 5 working days. It is different from the nurses' CBT, which PassNova covers separately. PassNova's practice presents the Part A calculations as multiple choice with the same arithmetic, and covers every platform and both annexes — Platform 3 and Platform 1, the two largest in the blueprint, are lighter here than in the real test. Every question was checked against the NMC test specification, the Code, NICE, Resuscitation Council UK and NHS guidance in September 2026, but the bank has not been reviewed by a registered nurse: check anything you rely on clinically against the NMC Code and current NHS guidance.