OSCE resits, attempts and fees

If you have just had bad news, this is the page you need, and there is more room than it feels like right now. The rules are fixed and knowing them exactly is the difference between a plan and a panic.

The rules, as the NMC publishes them

• You may attempt the OSCE up to 3 times within one application.
• You must wait at least 10 days between sittings.
• The full fee is £794. The reduced resit fee is £397, and it applies when you are resitting 7 stations or fewer.
• A resit is booked at the same test centre as your previous attempt, which matters if you have moved or are travelling.
• If the third attempt is unsuccessful your application closes. You then wait at least 6 months before sitting again, and you retake all 10 stations.

Where candidates come unstuck

• Rebooking as fast as the 10 days allow, without changing anything about how you prepare. The wait is a minimum, not a recommendation.
• Practising only the station you failed. Stations you passed before must be passed again if the application closes and you retake all of them.
• Not asking your employer what support exists. Many trusts sponsoring international nurses run OSCE preparation, and it costs nothing to ask.
• Assuming you can resit somewhere more convenient. It is the same test centre.

Common questions

How much does an NMC OSCE resit cost?

The reduced resit fee is £397 when you resit 7 stations or fewer. The full OSCE fee is £794.

How many times can I sit the OSCE?

Up to 3 times within one application, with at least 10 days between sittings.

What happens if I fail the OSCE three times?

Your application closes. You wait at least 6 months, then sit again and retake all 10 stations.

How long do I have to wait between attempts?

At least 10 days between sittings. That is a minimum rather than a recommendation, and since the resit is at the same test centre as your last attempt, booking early is worth it.