OSCE Exam Cost UK 2026: £794 Fee, Resits & Full Breakdown

If you’re preparing for UK nurse registration, here’s the answer up front: the NMC OSCE costs £794 for a first attempt and £397 for a reduced resit (if you fail seven or fewer stations). These are the official NMC test fees, unchanged since April 2019, and they’re the same no matter which approved test centre you choose.

That fee, though, is only one part of what candidates actually spend. This guide breaks down the exact NMC charges, what a realistic total budget looks like once you add training, travel and accommodation, which test centres are currently open in 2026, and how to avoid the resit costs that catch so many candidates out.

What Is the OSCE Exam?

The OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) is the practical second stage of the NMC’s Test of Competence for internationally educated nurses, midwives, and nursing associates. Where the CBT tests theoretical knowledge, the OSCE tests whether you can actually deliver safe, competent care in a simulated ward environment.

You’ll rotate through 10 timed stations, each lasting roughly 15–20 minutes, assessed against four domains:

OSCE Exam Fee UK 2026 (Official NMC Charges)

• First attempt (all 10 stations): £794
• Reduced resit (1–7 failed stations): £397
• Full resit (8–10 failed stations): £794

That last point trips a lot of candidates up. The NMC only offers the discounted £397 resit rate if you failed seven stations or fewer. Fail eight, nine, or all ten, and you’re paying the full £794 again  which is exactly why structured preparation before your first sitting matters more than most candidates expect.

You’re allowed up to three attempts at the OSCE. If you don’t pass by your third try, your application closes and you must wait at least six months and reapply from scratch, retaking the full 10-station exam.

OSCE Test Centres in the UK (2026 Update)

This is where a lot of guides are out of date. As of 2026, only three NMC-approved OSCE centres remain active:

• Ulster University (Derry/Londonderry)
• University of Northampton
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Two centres that previously ran the OSCE have closed: Oxford Brookes University stopped taking new bookings after 10 July 2026 and closed fully at the end of that month, and Northumbria University closed on 19 February 2026. If you previously sat your first OSCE at either centre and still need a resit, you’ll need to book that resit with a different NMC-approved centre.

This matters practically: fewer centres means tighter availability, particularly around Northampton and Leeds, so book as soon as your Authorisation to Test (ATT) comes through rather than waiting.

Total Cost of the OSCE Journey (Realistic Breakdown)

The £794 exam fee is rarely the full amount a candidate spends. Most international nurses underestimate the surrounding costs  travel, accommodation, and preparation  because guides tend to quote the exam fee alone.

Realistic total: roughly £2,000–£4,000+, before any resit. These figures are indicative estimates based on typical candidate spending patterns, not fixed prices  your actual cost depends heavily on where you’re travelling from and how much preparation you choose to pay for.

The single biggest lever candidates have over that total isn’t the exam fee  it’s whether they need a resit at all. A £397–£794 resit, plus a second trip’s worth of accommodation and time off work, is usually a bigger cost than the difference between preparation options.

How to Book the OSCE Exam

1. Pass the CBT. The OSCE can only be booked after you’ve passed the Computer-Based Test, taken via Pearson VUE.
2. Complete your NMC application and submit the required qualification and identity documents.
3. Receive your Authorisation to Test (ATT) from the NMC, confirming you’re eligible to book.
4. Choose your test centre  currently Ulster, Northampton, or Leeds.
5. Book and pay directly through your chosen centre’s booking system.

Bookings typically close a few days to two weeks before the test date, depending on the centre, so book as early as your ATT allows.

How Long Is the OSCE Exam?

The full OSCE takes around 3–4 hours, made up of 10 stations at roughly 15–20 minutes each, plus rest and transition time between stations. Time management inside each station is one of the most common reasons candidates lose marks  not lack of clinical knowledge, but running out of time to complete every required step.

Why Candidates End Up Paying More Than Expected

Underestimating the OSCE almost always comes down to one of these:

• Booking the exam before completing structured preparation
• Applying home-country clinical practice instead of UK-specific protocols
• Documentation errors that fail an otherwise strong performance
• Weak time management across the 10 stations
• Underestimating how much communication and professionalism are scored

Each of these leads to the same outcome: a resit, plus the accommodation, travel, and lost time that comes with it. A £397–£794 resit fee is rarely the real cost of failing  the surrounding logistics usually cost more than the fee itself.

OSCE vs CBT vs OET

If you’re still working through the earlier stages, our step-by-step NMC registration guide covers the full CBT-to-PIN pathway, and our OET cost breakdown covers that stage’s fees in detail.

Is OSCE Preparation Worth the Extra Cost?

There’s no guaranteed pass rate anyone can promise you  but the maths is straightforward. Structured preparation costs a few hundred pounds. A resit costs £397–£794 in fees alone, before adding a second trip’s travel and accommodation. For most candidates, preparation isn’t really an “extra” cost  it’s what stands between paying once and paying twice.

If you’d like guidance on which preparation format fits your registration route  adult, mental health, midwifery, paediatric, or nursing associate  you can explore Medax’s OSCE preparation programmes or get free advice on which pathway applies to you.

For a closer look at where candidates typically lose marks, our guide on common OSCE mistakes is worth reading alongside this one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the OSCE exam in the UK for nurses?

£794 for a first attempt. A reduced resit costs £397 if you failed seven or fewer stations; failing eight or more means paying the full £794 again.

What is the OSCE exam?

A practical clinical exam run by the NMC to confirm that internationally educated nurses meet UK clinical, communication, and safety standards.

How long is the OSCE exam?

Around 3–4 hours in total, across 10 stations of 15–20 minutes each.

Which test centres currently run the OSCE?

As of 2026, three centres remain active: Ulster University, University of Northampton, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Oxford Brookes and Northumbria have both closed.

Can I pass the OSCE without training?

It’s possible, but riskier most candidates who pass first time have completed some form of structured preparation covering UK-specific protocols and documentation standards.

How many times can I retake the OSCE?

Up to three attempts. Each resit costs £397 (1–7 failed stations) or £794 (8–10 failed stations), and you must wait at least 10 days between attempts.

Planning Your OSCE Budget

Understanding the OSCE exam cost UK candidates actually face means looking past the £794 headline fee to the full journey training, travel, accommodation, and the very real cost of a resit if preparation is skipped. Get the fee right, choose your test centre early given the reduced number now available, and budget realistically, and the OSCE becomes a manageable, well-planned step rather than an expensive surprise.

If you’d like help working out which preparation route fits your budget and timeline, get free guidance from Medax’s advisors before you book.