NMC Midwifery OSCE exam-day guide
NMC Midwifery OSCE · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Booking confirmation and any pre-exam paperwork
Bring the confirmation email/letter your test provider sent when you booked, plus anything they asked you to complete beforehand. Some centres ask for a printed copy, so check the instructions in your booking email rather than assuming.
Valid passport or photo ID used for your NMC application
ID is checked on arrival and must match the details on your booking. Check with your provider whether a second form of ID is required and whether photocopies are accepted - requirements differ between centres.
Your NMC PIN or candidate/reference number
Have it written down or saved offline on a device you can access before entering the venue, in case reception asks for it at sign-in.
Clinical uniform that meets the provider's dress code
Many centres expect clinical uniform with sleeves that allow hand hygiene; some allow smart casual. Confirm the dress code, and whether changing facilities are available, with your provider before the day.
Watch with a seconds display and a stethoscope
You may need these for observation-taking and assessment stations, but some centres supply equipment and some restrict what you can carry into the circuit. Confirm the permitted equipment list with your provider.
Flat, closed-toe shoes and hair tied back
Expect standard clinical presentation: no nail polish or gel nails, short nails, minimal or no jewellery, no strong perfume. Exact rules are set by the centre, so check their candidate guidance.
Black ballpoint pens (x2)
Written stations are usually handwritten. Confirm whether the centre supplies stationery or expects you to bring your own pens and whether any notes or paper are permitted.
Travel plan with a realistic buffer
Aim to be at the venue well before your registration time - typically 30–45 minutes, but check the arrival time stated in your booking. Plan the route in advance and note the nearest transport links and parking.
Overnight accommodation if you are travelling far
Staying locally the night before removes travel risk and lets you arrive rested. Book somewhere quiet and within easy reach of the venue.
Re-read the candidate handbook and station instructions
Know the structure of the day, the number and type of stations, and what is expected in each, so nothing on the day is a surprise. Use the materials issued by your own provider.
Only permitted items in the station area
Leave valuables and large bags at home or in the provided storage. Phones and smart devices normally have to be switched off and stored away from the circuit - confirm the centre's policy.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook and your booking confirmation; check ID, arrival time, address and travel route. Practise the core skills aloud in real time - hand hygiene, introductions, consent, observations, medicine administration checks, documentation - talking through your clinical reasoning as you would to an assessor. Pack your uniform, ID, pens and equipment. Stop learning brand-new content; consolidate what you already know and protect your sleep.
Do a light review only: station structure, safety checks, communication phrases. Lay out clothes, ID, confirmation and equipment. Eat properly, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at a normal time. If you become unwell, contact your provider straight away to ask about their absence and rebooking policy - do not simply not attend.
Eat breakfast and stay hydrated. Arrive at the venue with a generous buffer. Complete registration and ID checks, store belongings as directed, and attend the briefing. Use the waiting time for calm breathing and a brief mental walk-through, not last-minute cramming.
Listen carefully to every instruction and read each station's candidate instructions fully before starting. Introduce yourself, confirm identity and consent, and explain what you are doing. Apply infection prevention consistently - hand hygiene before and after contact, correct use of PPE. Verbalise your assessment, your reasoning and your plan so the assessor can follow your thinking. Keep an eye on time, move on if you are stuck rather than dwelling, and prioritise safety and escalation if something is going wrong. If an instruction is genuinely unclear, ask the station assessor or the circuit lead.
Leave the station area as directed and do not discuss station content with other candidates. Note anything you found difficult while it is fresh, for your own reflection, and wait for your result through the official channel.
Rules to check
Bring only what your provider permits into the circuit. Mobile phones, smart watches and notes normally have to be switched off and stored away - confirm the exact list with your provider.
Carry the ID specified in your booking and present it when asked. If your name or ID details have changed since booking, contact your provider before the exam date.
Follow all instructions given by assessors and circuit staff, and stop immediately if told to. Treat simulated patients and equipment with the same respect and safety standards as real clinical practice.
Keep station content confidential. Do not share, record or discuss scenarios, questions or station materials with other candidates, before or after the test.
Take breaks only at the times and places the centre directs. If you need to leave a station or the circuit for any reason - illness, toileting, personal need - tell a member of staff immediately rather than leaving unannounced.
If you are unwell or unable to attend, contact your provider as early as possible and follow their absence and rebooking process; do not attend if you have an infectious illness.
Scoring is carried out by trained assessors against set criteria for each station. The overall pass standard and any station-level requirements are set by the NMC and your provider - confirm these in the candidate handbook rather than relying on hearsay.
Do not attempt to bring in, use or reference pre-prepared notes, cue cards or unauthorised equipment. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, ask your provider in advance.