The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) is the authoritative regulatory body entrusted with overseeing and advancing the nursing and midwifery professions in Nigeria. As a pivotal entity within the healthcare landscape, NMCN plays a critical role in ensuring the quality, competence, and ethical standards of nurses and midwives across the country.
With a commitment to excellence, NMCN shapes the educational standards, practice guidelines, and registration processes that underpin these vital healthcare professions, contributing significantly to the delivery of safe and effective patient care. Through its regulatory functions and dedication to upholding the highest standards, NMCN stands as a cornerstone in promoting quality healthcare services and professional growth within the nursing and midwifery sectors in Nigeria.
About Nursing And Midwifery Council Of Nigeria (NMCN)
The singular entity responsible for overseeing all classifications of nurses and midwives in Nigeria is none other than the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, often abbreviated as NMCN.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria operates as a category B parastatal under the purview of the Federal Ministry of Health. Its establishment dates back to Decree No. 89 of 1979, which has since been reconstituted as the Nursing and Midwifery (Registration etc) act, Cap. N143, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. This Council holds the status of a body corporate, characterized by perpetual succession and possession of a common seal.
Endowed with unique legal and administrative authority, the Council stands as the sole entity designated to undertake specific duties on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Its principal objective revolves around ensuring the provision of safe and efficacious Nursing and Midwifery care to the public, achieved through the promotion of quality education and adherence to optimal practices. By virtue of its statutory mandate, the Council assumes responsibility for the regulation of standards governing Nursing and Midwifery Education and Practice within Nigeria. Moreover, it remains tasked with the periodic revision of these standards to accommodate evolving societal health requirements.
Objectives of NMCN
The core aims of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria are:
- Assurance of elevated standards in Nursing and Midwifery education within the country.
- Upholding of exemplary levels of professional nursing and midwifery practice
- Effective enforcement of discipline within the nursing professional sphere.
List Of Approved School Categories
Currently, Nigeria boasts a total of four hundred (400) accredited Nursing Training Institutions. Listed hereunder are the Nursing Training Institutions in Nigeria that have received the endorsement of the Council as of August 2022.
- SON – School of Nursing (Basic)
- SOMBP – Schools of Midwifery (Basic/ Post Basic)
- SOPN – Schools of Post Basic Nursing Specialties
- DON – Departments of Nursing Sciences
- CMP – Community Midwifery Programme
- CNP – Community Nursing Programme
See a List of 50 Accredited school of Nursing in Nigeria.
Functions of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN)
- NMCN Collaborate with recognized organizations interested in introducing new programs for Basic and Post Basic Education of Nurses and Midwives, including entities like the National Universities Commission, World Health Organization, and others.
- Provide accreditation to training institutions and clinical practice sites utilized for educating all classifications of Nurses and Midwives in Nigeria.
- Administer Professional Examinations for all categories of Nurses and Midwives across Nigeria.
- Register all levels of nursing and midwifery students upon the initiation of their training.
- Develop and periodically revise various curricula implemented for educating all categories of Nurses and Midwives.
- Establish and manage Registers containing the details of individuals qualified to practice Nursing and Midwifery in Nigeria.
- Conduct Registration assessments for Nurses and Midwives trained outside of Nigeria who are seeking authorization to practice within the country.
- Issue and renew Professional Practicing Licenses every three years for all categories of eligible Nurses and Midwives.
- Foster and support Research endeavors in pertinent domains of Nursing and Midwifery.
- Uphold discipline within the Nursing and Midwifery field in Nigeria through the Nurses and Midwives Tribunal.
- Initiate legal actions against unauthorized Training Institutions.
- Govern and oversee the practice of Nursing and Midwifery in all its facets.
- Provide Professional Certificates to all classifications of Nurses and Midwives upon the completion of their training.
- Exercise the authority to revoke or reinstate Professional Certificates as deemed appropriate.
- Define and uphold standards of knowledge and proficiencies in Nursing and Midwifery Education and Practice throughout Nigeria.
- Arrange and execute Mandatory Continuing Professional and Educational Development Programs for all cadres of Nurses and Midwives.
Entry Requirements for Basic and Post Nursing Programs in Nigeria
The current endorsed prerequisite mandates the attainment of at least five (5) O’level credit passes, achieved within two (2) sittings, in the subjects of Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. These credits must be obtained from any of the subsequent examination bodies:
- West African Examination Council (WAEC)
- National Examination Council (NECO)
- National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB)
For candidates presenting foreign examination board results, the submission of an evaluation report or an equivalent grading assessment from the Federal Ministry of Education is mandatory, in conjunction with the provided result. Additionally, a formal request for result verification from the issuing organization to the Council is requisite.
IMPORTANT: The permissible age range for admission into the Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery training programs is between 16 and above.
List of Approved Nursing Programs by NMCN
Below is a list of approved Nursing programs rendered by different nursing schools in Nigeria.
- Basic Midwifery
- Post
- Basic Nursing
- Basic Midwifery
- Post Basic Peadiatic Nursing
- Post Basic Peri-Operative Nursing
- Post Basic Occupational Health Nursing
- Post Basic Intensive Care Nursing
- Post Basic Ear, Nose and Throat Nursing
- Dept. of Nursing- BNSc
See complete list of Courses Offered in School of Nursing in Nigeria
Registration for Nursing and Midwifery Council Of Nigeria
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria invites all qualified nurses within the country to register as a professional nurse practitioner. The Council’s Registration Unit bears the responsibility of enlisting the names of eligible General Nurses, Midwives, as well as seventeen (17) distinct Post Basic Nursing Programmes into the official registers. Additionally, this Unit manages the registration process for Foreign Trained Nurses who have duly fulfilled the stipulated criteria for registration set forth by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
NMCN Basic Registration
NMCN have two (2) major categories of membership under Basic Registration; general nurse and basic midwifery.
The application forms for registration are sent to Nursing Training Institutions alongside the result file, specifically the release of results for the Council’s Final Qualifying Examination for General Nurses and Basic Midwives.
- Applicants are required to duly complete the application forms, furnishing all necessary details (which must align with the information provided during indexing). It is important to note that a change of name for females is only permissible due to marital reasons (surname only), while the Council does not allow name changes for males.
- Upon completion, the application forms should be signed and stamped by the Head of Department, Coordinator, or Principal of the respective training Institution.
- Each applicant needs to provide six (6) recent, identical passport photographs showing a clear, full face against a white background, and without eye glasses.
- To proceed, a non-refundable application/registration fee of N42,967.00 must be remitted to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria through REMITA at any bank.
- For late registration, a penalty is applicable, payable within 90 days after the result is released:
- N77,500.00 per school
- 16,250.00 per individual
- All fees should be remitted to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria’s account via Remita. Cash payments are not accepted by the Registration Unit from either individuals or schools.
- The Head of Department, Coordinator, or Principal should send the application package along with the duplicate teller and computer printout as evidence of payment. This should be accompanied by a covering letter detailing the list of applicants, addressed to the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
- Furthermore, a designated staff member should be authorized with a letter addressed to the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. This letter must be duly signed and stamped by the Head of Department, Coordinator, or Principal.
NMCN Post Basic Registration
Eligible candidates for this category are those who have satisfactorily completed their Basic Nursing/Midwifery training and have successfully undertaken an authorized Post Basic Nursing specialty.
- The applicant is required to submit a fully filled-out application form along with the subsequent documents:
- A letter of identification from the school of training, directed to the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
- The original copy of the certificate or statement of result for validation purposes.
- A photocopy of the certificate for the most recent qualification.
- A photocopy of the certificate for any prior qualification or registration with the Council.
- Present and valid license.
- For individuals holding a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nursing or Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) who are applying for Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) or MSc in Nursing Education, original transcripts are necessary.
The application packages should be sent to the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria by the school. This package must be accompanied by the duplicate teller and computer printout as evidence of payment, and it should be accompanied by a covering letter detailing the list of applicants.
To proceed, a non-refundable application/registration fee of N61,092.00 is applicable for Midwives and Psychiatric Nurses, while a fee of N44,500.00 applies to other Post Basic Nurses. These fees should be remitted to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria’s account via REMITA at any bank.
A late registration penalty is enforceable after 90 days from the result release:
- N77,500.00 per school
- N16,0250.00 per individual
The Council does not accept cash payments from either individuals or schools.
Upon completion of the registration process, the applicant should acquire a notification of registration (for individual applications).
Moreover, a letter addressed to the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, duly signed and stamped by the Head of Department, Coordinator, or Principal, should authorize a designated staff member.
You can visit the NMCN Registration page for more information.
Nursing Categories Supported By NMCN
Below is the list of Nurse categories supported by the council;
- General Nurses
- Midwives
- Mental Health Nurses
- Public Health Nurses
- Public Health Nurse Educator
- Nurse Educators
- Midwife Educators
- Nurse Administrators
- Orthopaedic Nurses
- Nurse Anaesthetists
- Perioperative Nurses
- Ophthalmic Nurses
- Accident and Emergency Nurses
- Paediatric Nurses
- Cardio-thoracic Nurses
- Burns and Plastic Nurses
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Ear, Nose and throat Nurses
- Intensive Care Nurses
See Also: School of Nursing in Nigeria without JAMB
Contact
The Council’s central operational hub resides in Abuja, complemented by Zonal Offices strategically situated in Sokoto, Kaduna, Bauchi, Enugu, Port Harcourt, and Lagos.
Address: Plot 713, Cadastral Zone Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja
Phone: 07029234588, 08150837364
Email: info@nmcn.gov.ng
Website: www.nmcn.gov.ng
Social Media: twitter.com/nigeria_nmc
