OSCE NZ nursing for overseas nurses
The OSCE NZ nursing exam is the clinical competence assessment that the Nursing Council sets for some internationally qualified nurses. The registered nurse version has 10 stations of 12 minutes each, and it is held only at Nurse Maude in Christchurch. Not every overseas nurse has to sit it, because the Council decides after reviewing your application. New to the format? Read what an OSCE is.
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Free · no sign-up · uses your one free station
Open the full station (charts, voice, result letter) →The exam at a glance
| RN stations | 10 stations; the enrolled nurse version has 8 (Council FAQ) |
|---|---|
| Time per station | 12 minutes: 2 reading, 8 scenario, 2 movement |
| Venue | Nurse Maude Simulation and Assessment Centre, Christchurch, in person only |
| OSCE fee | NZ$3,000, and NZ$3,000 for each resit |
| Attempts | Three in total |
| Result | By email within six weeks |
Who sits it and in what order
The Council directs some internationally qualified nurses to a competence assessment after it reviews the application. The usual sequence is document verification, Council assessment, an online theory exam and then the clinical competence assessment.
The clinical assessment is a two-day Orientation and Preparation Course plus the OSCE. Both are run through Nurse Maude in Christchurch. You also complete the online Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand programme before registration.
How the OSCE runs
Each RN station lasts 12 minutes: 2 minutes reading, 8 minutes for the scenario and 2 minutes to move on. One examiner is in the room and marks against set criteria linked to the RN standards of competence.
It is a regulatory exam. There is no coaching, prompting or feedback, and you must show skills, not just talk about them. It is set at entry-level RN and also looks at your English comprehension and communication. See the stations page.
Results and attempts
You are not told the result on the day. You get an email within six weeks. If you fail, you receive a performance report that marks each station Met or Not met. You have three attempts in total, and you sit all 10 stations each time. Read more on passing rate and what Met means.
- OSCE NZ stations
- OSCE NZ price and fees
- OSCE NZ passing rate
- OSCE preparation course NZ
- Our pricing for practice with an AI patient
- Registering in Ireland instead? See the RCSI OSCE.
15 original NZ nursing OSCE practice stations
Mental health
Focused assessment
Pain management
Patient communication
Ethics, consent & capacity
Basic life support
Aseptic technique
Medication administration
Handover and escalation
Care planning
Vital signs
Clinical skills
Common questions
How many stations are in the NZ nursing OSCE?
The registered nurse version has 10 stations. The enrolled nurse version has 8.
How long is each station?
12 minutes: 2 minutes reading, 8 minutes scenario and 2 minutes movement.
Where is the OSCE held?
At the Nurse Maude Simulation and Assessment Centre in Christchurch, in person only.
How many attempts do I get?
Three in total, with all stations sat each time.
Practise every day until it feels routine.
One pass opens every exam on the site, including the NZ nursing OSCE. From US$25 for 7 days, with no automatic renewal.
See passesSources
- Nursing Council competence assessment process
- Nursing Council competence assessment FAQ
- Nursing Council RN clinical competence assessment handbook (v2.4, September 2026)
Checked 2026-11-06. Fees and rules change, so confirm them with the regulator before you book.