Requirements for Registration – Nurses Trained in Kenya

The Nursing Council of Kenya determines applicants eligibility to write the exam by evaluating their conduct, academic and practical progress at the training school. Candidates are allowed a maximum of 4 resits and must satisfy the Board of Examiners for each of the papers before they are eligible to apply for enrollment/registration.

Each nurse practicing in Kenya is required to be registered and licensed with the Nursing Council of Kenya in accordance with the Nurses Act Cap 257 of the Laws of Kenya.

Requirements for Registration – Nurses Trained in Kenya

Upon passing the Council’s national licensing examination, successful candidates are required to submit an application for registration and licensing within 30 days following the release of the results.  Once registration and licensing is completed, nurses will be provided with a registration certificate and a nurse practicing license.

Requirements for Registration – Nurses Trained outside Kenya (TOK)

TOK nurses who wish to be entered into the Nursing Council of Kenya register are required to show that they have attained the required competency by Kenyan Standards. Applicants may contact us to begin the registration process.

The Council will communicate with your training school to evaluate training received. If the Council is satisfied, you will be invited for an oral interview by the Registration and Licensing Committee. Based on the results of the oral interview, you may be invited to sit a written exam or proceed for a clinical placement to acquaint yourself with health care systems in Kenya for a period to be determined. Upon successful completion of the required clinical placement, you will be eligible for registration.

The application must be completed in full and be presented to the Registrar, Nursing Council of Kenya through your institution of training.

All applications must be accompanied with a copy of your National Identity Card [ID]/passport. Applicants for re-entry to examination must also attach the previous NCK Examination Result Slip.

The entry/re-entry to examination fee is Ksh 5000 for Basic Programmes and Ksh 7000 for Post-Basic Specialization Programmes. All payments to the Council should be made through the following bank accounts:

Cooperative Bank Kibera Branch 01136098613400 or

Barclays Bank Queensway Branch - 094-8023954

Please note that if names provided are different from the Legal Names in the National Identification Card [ID]/Passport, documentary evidence of legal change of name/affidavit must also be attached to this form.

To take the Nursing Council of Kenya Licensing Exam, using the Entry/Re-Entry to Licensing Examination Form, you will need to register with an approved regional examination center.

There are over 20 centers around the country and all of them are inspected by the Council to ensure that they meet our standards.

All examinations, wherever they are held, take place on the same dates and at the same times in line with the published timetables.