OSCE preparation course NZ

The Council's own course

The course runs for two days, through Nurse Maude, with the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch. It costs NZ$500 and is included in the first OSCE booking. The handbook highly recommends repeating it before a resit, but it is not required and you pay for it. Its information video costs nothing to watch.

What to study

• All ten station types, listed on the stations page.
• ISBAR for handover and escalation: Identification, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.
• The New Zealand early warning score on the national adult vital signs chart, from the Health Quality and Safety Commission.
• The basic life support algorithm and the five moments of hand hygiene.
• The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights.
• Cultural safety, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and whānau-centred care.
• Medicines references such as Medsafe and the NZ Formulary. We could not confirm which one the exam expects.

Comparing paid coaching

One provider, New Careers Academy, lists online live coaching over 3 months with a mock OSCE. We saw INR 95,000 for a 2 to 4 month programme on 6 November 2026 (not confirmed), and no price in New Zealand dollars. We found no prices for other providers.

Remember the Council costs first: about NZ$3,500 for a first sitting, and NZ$3,000 for each resit. Ask any provider for the price, the number of mock stations and whether feedback is per station.

Practising on your own

The exam allows no coaching or prompting, so practise saying and doing care without help. Try one station free with an AI patient, no sign-up needed. Our feedback is estimated. See pricing and what an OSCE is.

Common questions

Is there a mandatory OSCE preparation course in NZ?

Yes, the two-day Orientation and Preparation Course, NZ$500, bundled in the first OSCE booking.

Does the Nursing Council recommend a coaching provider?

No. The Council says it does not endorse any preparation provider.

What should I study for the NZ OSCE?

The ten station types, ISBAR, early warning, basic life support, the Code of Rights, cultural safety and medicines references.

Can I get coaching during the exam?

No. The exam allows no coaching, prompting or feedback.