How to become a nurse in the UK — routes to NMC registration

There are several routes to NMC registration as a nurse: a nursing degree (a ~3-year BSc in a chosen field); a Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (~4 years, earn-while-you-learn); or qualifying first as a Nursing Associate (a 2-year foundation degree with its own NMC registration) and later topping up to Registered Nurse. All routes lead to NMC registration and a PIN, subject to meeting the NMC’s education, English-language and health-and-character requirements.