How to become a nurse in the UK
Registered nurses in the UK are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and typically enter the profession via an approved BSc or MSc in Nursing. Newly qualified nurses join NHS Agenda for Change Band 5, earning £32,073 to £39,043 in England in 2026/27.
What a registered nurse does
Registered nurses assess, plan and deliver nursing care for patients across NHS hospitals, community services, GP practices, care homes and independent providers. Care is delivered against the NMC Code, which sets out professional standards for practice and conduct in the UK.
- Assess patient needs, plan care and evaluate outcomes.
- Administer medication and manage clinical treatments.
- Work with doctors, allied health professionals, healthcare assistants and social workers as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Advocate for patients and safeguard vulnerable adults and children.
Fields of nursing
Registered nursing in the UK is split into four fields of practice. Applicants apply to a field-specific degree from the start:
- Adult nursing — the largest field, working with adults across acute, community and long-term care.
- Children and young people’s nursing — care for babies, children and young people up to 18.
- Mental health nursing — supporting people with mental health conditions across inpatient and community teams.
- Learning disability nursing — supporting people with a learning disability across health and social care.
Registration and regulator
Every practising nurse in the UK must be on the register held by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Registration requires successful completion of an approved pre-registration nursing programme and evidence of good health and character. Nurses must revalidate their registration with the NMC every three years.
- Regulator: Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- SOC 2020 occupational code: 2232–2237 (registered nursing professionals).
- Employment: NHS, private and voluntary sector employers.
Salary
Most newly qualified NHS nurses in England start on Agenda for Change Band 5, which pays £32,073 to £39,043 in 2026/27, with a 3.3% uplift applied from 1 April 2026. High Cost Area Supplements add up to around £8,750 in Inner London. Progression to Band 6 (specialist and senior roles) pays £39,959 to £48,117.
Entry routes
There are three main routes into registered nursing in the UK:
- School leaver: A levels or a Level 3 vocational qualification into a BSc in Nursing at an NMC-approved university.
- Adult learner: An Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) — a Level 3 QAA-regulated diploma, widely accepted by UK nursing schools as an alternative to A levels.
- Nursing degree apprenticeship: Employer-funded route combining paid work with an approved nursing degree over about four years.
Access to HE — the adult route in
The Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) is a Level 3 qualification designed for adults returning to education without A levels. It is accepted by UK universities as an entry qualification for pre-registration nursing degrees and can be studied online. Successful completion is typically enough to meet the academic entry requirement for an NMC-approved BSc in Nursing.