THE FIELDS
Choose who you care for
NHS Health Careers lists adult, children's, learning disability and mental health nursing. Children's nurses work with patients from newborns to adolescents.
Compare the routesStart
HOW NURSE TRAINING WORKS
Pick a field,
then a route.
Every registered nurse trains in one of four fields.
Adult, children's, learning disability or mental health. You then reach the register by a university degree or a degree apprenticeship, with half your training spent in practice and a final step with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
FOUR FIELDSone register
Find your routeKeep in mind
- Choose a field
- Choose a route
- Join the register
- Three steps to a registered nurse
THE SHORT ANSWER
Four fields,
a few routes in.
The field decides who you care for.
The route decides how you study.
THE TRAINING
Half of it is practice
NMC rules set a minimum of 4,600 hours over at least three academic years, split evenly between theory and practice learning.
See the numbers
THE REGISTER
Then you join the NMC
Your university sends your details and a health and character declaration. You pay a £143 fee and apply through a MyNMC account.
The stepsA QUICK ROUTE CHECK
Where are you
starting from?
Pick the route closest to your situation to see how it works. The bar shows how directly that route leads to registration as a nurse.
Based on NHS Health Careers, GOV.UK, NHS Business Services Authority and NMC information. Entry requirements vary by university and employer.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
A big register,
a lot of practice.
One figure on the size of the profession,
one on how much training it takes.
867,935
People on the NMC register
The NMC's data for April 2025 to March 2026 shows a record high, 14,228 more than a year earlier. Of 41,542 new joiners, 26.4% were educated outside the UK.
THE REGISTER · NMC
4,600 hours
Minimum hours in a nursing programme
Split half and half between theory and practice learning, over at least the equivalent of three academic years. Up to 600 practice hours can currently be simulated.
TRAINING TIME · NMC
In 2026 the NMC consulted on cutting the minimum to 3,600 hours, with at least 1,800 each of practice and theory and the three-year minimum kept. It says the proposals are not finalised.
FROM STUDENT TO NURSE
Four steps
to the register.
Whichever route you take, the end point is the same: an NMC-approved programme, then an application to join the register.
Step 1
Choose your field
Adult, children's, learning disability or mental health. You train in one, so read up on each before you apply.
Step 2
Pick a route that fits
A university degree, a degree apprenticeship through your employer, or a nursing associate role as a first step.
Step 3
Check the funding
In England, the NHS Learning Support Fund offers a £5,000 a year Training Grant, plus £2,000 a year Parental Support if you qualify.
Step 4
Apply to the NMC
After your course, create a MyNMC account, pay the £143 fee and declare any cautions or convictions. If nothing else is needed, you are on the register in 2 to 10 working days.
THE FINAL STEP
Finishing is not
the same as registering.
You can only work as a registered nurse once you are on the NMC register. Your university uploads your course details and a declaration of your good health and character, and the NMC then writes to you about setting up your account.
The NMC says that if you apply more than six months after finishing your course, you will need to give more information, and different standards apply if you apply more than five years after finishing.
Questions
Questions on the way
What are the four fields of nursing?
NHS Health Careers lists adult, children's, learning disability and mental health nursing. You train in one of them, and each focuses on a different group of patients.
How long does nurse training take?
NMC rules require at least the equivalent of three academic years and a minimum of 4,600 hours, half in practice learning. The minimum award is a Bachelor's degree.
Can I train as a nurse while working?
Yes. GOV.UK describes a nursing degree apprenticeship for new or existing NHS or social care staff, with part-time university study and practice placements towards a level 6 degree.
Is there funding for student nurses?
In England, eligible nursing students can apply to the NHS Learning Support Fund for a Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year, pro rata for part-time students, with extra help for parents and placement travel.
How do I join the NMC register?
Your university sends the NMC your details and a health and character declaration. You then apply through MyNMC and pay a £143 fee; if nothing else is needed, registration takes 2 to 10 working days.
Destination