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Return to practice
Return to a career in nursing and midwifery
Are you a qualified nursing or midwifery professional who wants to return to a career in health and social care? Find out how to re-register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and return to practice with confidence.
Your career in nursing and midwifery
The career of a nurse and midwife is a varied and exciting journey. As a qualified nurse or midwife, you’ll be educated to degree level, or equivalent and will have undertaken additional training in your area of speciality.
Being a nurse
As a nurse you can work in a variety of disciplines including:
- adult nursing
- children’s nursing
- mental health nursing
- learning disability nursing
You can work in an NHSScotland Board or another employer in the health and social care sector. When returning to practice, you may consider working in:
- care homes
- GP practices
- private hospitals
- any area that employs NMC registered nurses
Being a midwife
As a midwife you’ll work with multidisciplinary teams in a variety of places including:
• peoples' homes
• hospital wards
• neonatal units
You’ll support women and birthing people to have a safe and positive experience from early pregnancy to post-pregnancy care.
Benefits of returning
Nursing and midwifery are rewarding careers that change lives. There are many benefits to consider when thinking about a return to your career in health and social care:
- Working in your local area, including in general practice or a care home.
- Flexible and part-time roles to fit your work around your commitments.
- NHSScotland offers the highest salaries in the NHS.
- Working with a range of experts in a multidisciplinary team.
- More options for career progression and support for your learning and development.
- Guaranteed employment if you choose to complete the return to practice programme through a returner vacancy.
Read more about what NHSScotland can offer you on our pay and benefits page.
Choosing a pathway that is right for you
Nursing and midwifery are rewarding careers that changes lives. There are many benefits to consider when thinking about a return to your career in health and social care:
- Working in your local area, including in general practice or a care home.
- Flexible and part-time roles to fit your work around your commitments.
- NHSScotland offers the highest salaries in the NHS.
- Working with a range of experts in a multidisciplinary team.
- More options for career progression and support for your learning and development.
- Guaranteed employment if you choose to complete the return to practice programme through a returner vacancy.
Read more about what NHSScotland can offer you on our pay and benefits page.
Readmission to the NMC register
To apply for readmission to the NMC register, you must have undertaken one of the following:
- 450 hours of registered practice in the 3 years before you start the readmission process.
- 750 hours of registered practice in the 5 years before you start the readmission process.
You must also have completed 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) before applying.
Return to practice course
Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) is currently the only university in Scotland to offer the return to practice course for nursing and midwifery.
This course is only for nurses and midwives who were previously registered with the NMC.
The course builds on previous learning over 7 weeks of theory. Depending on the length of your lapse of registration you’ll be required to undertake 300 to 450 hours of practice experience.
Find out more about the GCU return to practice course.
NMC Test of Competence
Undertaking the NMC Test of Competence (Toc) is the quickest way to return to the register. It consists of a computer-based test (CBT) and an Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE).
There are currently no NMC test centres in Scotland, so travel would be necessary.
Funding
If you choose to complete the return to practice course with GCU, you can do one of the following:
- enrol independently and pay the fee
- apply for a returner vacancy
The Scottish Government will support you to return to the NMC register. Funding options are available if you apply for a returner vacancy.
Returner vacancies can be advertised by an NHSScotland Board or an independent employer, including care homes. Your programme fees will be paid by the Scottish Government, and you’ll use your area of employment as your practice placement while receiving a salary. Salaries may vary from employer to employer.
Revalidation
Once you have re-joined the register you will need to revalidate with the NMC every 3 years. It is an ongoing process throughout your career as a nurse or midwife and aims to:
- promote good practice
- maintain and strengthen public confidence in the profession
International nurses
The process of joining the NMC register is different for nurses and midwifes if you trained outside of the UK.
You’ll need to check if you are eligible to register and make an application. If you are successful, you’ll take the Test of Competence and complete your registration application.
Learn more about the process of becoming an NHS nurse or midwife if you trained outside of the UK.
Start your return to practice journey now.
Help with recruitment
We'll guide you through the recruitment process, from applying online to interview preparation.
Help with recruitment
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