Expert OSCE training NI for healthcare professionals and organisations
Based in Northern Ireland. Specialists in OSCE Training and Support, Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) Adaption, Care Home Team Learning and Development Consultancy with Customised Training Delivery.
About Avant-garde
At Avant-Garde Learning & Development, we go beyond the tick-box approach to training, fostering meaningful development through reflection, discussion, and active learner involvement. Our extensive background delivering clinical education and supporting teams with induction and mentorship allows empathy with and deep insight into the challenges facing providers and individual team members.
OSCE Training for Nurses & Healthcare Organisations
Individual/group training (including OSCE)
Organisation training (including OSCE), learning and development consultancy services.
Understanding the OSCE Process
Accent Heading
Understanding the OSCE process is important, but why? The OSCE Background & Extensive changes in the exam since 2021-2022 highlight its significance. The OSCE (practical exam) is usually the final stage, crucial to an internationally educated nurse’s successful journey. An OSCE pass is just the starting point, equalling NMC registration and a whole lot of potential.
Customised Training and Support Packages
We offer a range of topics in our customised training and support packages. Listed below are just a few examples; for a comprehensive discussion and to tailor the training to your needs, please contact us confidentially.
- Safeguarding
- Medication Management
- Pressure Area Awareness
- Infection Prevention & Control
- Roles & Responsibilities
- Record Keeping
- Personal & Continence Care
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Moving & Handling
- Professional Communication
- Person-Centred Care & Care Planning
- First Aid & Management of Deteriorating Service User
- Wound Assessment & Care
OSCE Success Stories
Once a nurse, always a nurse’ however, ease yourself back in gently if you haven’t practiced certain skills for a while. Passing OSCE is possible, under a variety of circumstances.
‘Once a nurse, always a nurse’ however, ease yourself back in gently if you haven’t practiced certain skills for a while.
Passing OSCE is possible, under a variety of circumstances.
We are incredibly proud of all our learners and hope that sharing their success will inspire others, highlighting that hard work and strategic planning generally pays off, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Bear in mind that your experience is unique, therefore, OSCE preparation and support should be planned with this in mind. Individual OSCE skills focus and timeframes will be different for each nurse.
If you want to achieve something, there is various ways to plan and succeed. In which case, decide if it is the correct path for you and be proactive, as demonstrated by our former OSCE learners.
OSCE First Time Success Story – Team Husband and Wife
An amazing family team effort and demonstration of how professionalism, diligence, persistence, teamwork, and planning were instrumental to this dream team’s combined OSCE and UK RN career success.
Four years ago, Lekshmi passed the legacy (6 station) OSCE the first time, just after Ulster NMC Competence Test Centre (Ulster CTC) reopened for exams at the beginning of the pandemic.
Lekshmi was focused and determined during this challenging time and practiced as much as possible. It paid off for her, with a first-time OSCE pass/NMC registration and a care home nursing role to step into, with consistent, experienced mentors alongside.
Mukhil, also an internationally educated nurse, had been working for four years as a Health Care Assistant (HCA) in a care home setting, with the aim of sitting the Test of Competence/OSCE and registering with the NMC. Mukhil approached us for Adult OSCE preparation and support with a forward-thinking plan and, from day one, had his NMC registration goal as the top priority.
Individualised Plan Needed
Mukhil hadn’t worked as a nurse in a number of years, and although care assistant skills are fundamental within a care setting, he hadn’t used specific nursing skills recently, and his “nurse” brain (aka critical reasoning/thinking) needed some refreshing before approaching the OSCE and UK nursing practice. Understandable; the majority of nurses would need the same if faced with these circumstances.
Realistic Goals – One of the Keys to OSCE Success
Mukhil was realistic about what lay ahead, proactive, and always open to guidance.
He understood that:
The exam required added time and resources to prepare for, due to extensive changes.
He acknowledged:
A greater focus and time were needed to boost his confidence and competence for the exam and UK nursing practice.
This is a very realistic perspective and has, no doubt, been instrumental in Mukhil’s first-time OSCE success.
Sophy – OSCE Success Story – A Determined, Well-Planned, and Organised Approach
Clear communication, up-to-date knowledge, patience, professionalism, diligence, and consistent practice were Sophy’s modus operandi.
Individualised and Realistic Plan Needed
Approaching OSCE as a newly registered Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN), Sophy was up to date with the majority of widely accepted clinical practice standards.
She understood that:
Passing OSCE is only the beginning of each individual UK RN’s career.
Nursing competence and confidence develop over time following NMC registration, in whichever clinical area each individual nurse chooses.
Realistic Goals Contributed to Sophy’s NMC Registration Success
Sophy understood that despite being up to date, preparing for OSCE is not a “walk in the park” and that the following would increase her chances of OSCE success:
A person-centred OSCE preparation and support timeline.
Planning, knowledgeable and practical support, with opportunities for face-to-face learning and skills practice.
A combination of practice, rationale-based, classroom, and self-directed learning.
OSCE First Time Success Story – Team Husband and Wife
An amazing family team effort and demonstration of how professionalism, diligence, persistence, teamwork, and planning were instrumental to this dream team’s combined OSCE and UK RN career success.
Four years ago, Lekshmi passed the legacy (6 station) OSCE the first time, just after Ulster NMC Competence Test Centre (Ulster CTC) reopened for exams at the beginning of the pandemic.
Lekshmi was focused and determined during this challenging time and practiced as much as possible. It paid off for her, with a first-time OSCE pass/NMC registration and a care home nursing role to step into, with consistent, experienced mentors alongside.
Mukhil, also an internationally educated nurse, had been working for four years as a Health Care Assistant (HCA) in a care home setting, with the aim of sitting the Test of Competence/OSCE and registering with the NMC. Mukhil approached us for Adult OSCE preparation and support with a forward-thinking plan and, from day one, had his NMC registration goal as the top priority.
Individualised Plan Needed
Mukhil hadn’t worked as a nurse in a number of years, and although care assistant skills are fundamental within a care setting, he hadn’t used specific nursing skills recently, and his “nurse” brain (aka critical reasoning/thinking) needed some refreshing before approaching the OSCE and UK nursing practice. Understandable; the majority of nurses would need the same if faced with these circumstances.
Realistic Goals – One of the Keys to OSCE Success
Mukhil was realistic about what lay ahead, proactive, and always open to guidance.
He understood that:
The exam required added time and resources to prepare for, due to extensive changes.
He acknowledged:
A greater focus and time were needed to boost his confidence and competence for the exam and UK nursing practice.
This is a very realistic perspective and has, no doubt, been instrumental in Mukhil’s first-time OSCE success.
- Lekshmi and Mukhil
Sophy – OSCE Success Story – A Determined, Well-Planned, and Organised Approach
Clear communication, up-to-date knowledge, patience, professionalism, diligence, and consistent practice were Sophy’s modus operandi.
Individualised and Realistic Plan Needed
Approaching OSCE as a newly registered Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN), Sophy was up to date with the majority of widely accepted clinical practice standards.
She understood that:
Passing OSCE is only the beginning of each individual UK RN’s career.
Nursing competence and confidence develop over time following NMC registration, in whichever clinical area each individual nurse chooses.
Realistic Goals Contributed to Sophy’s NMC Registration Success
Sophy understood that despite being up to date, preparing for OSCE is not a “walk in the park” and that the following would increase her chances of OSCE success:
A person-centred OSCE preparation and support timeline.
Planning, knowledgeable and practical support, with opportunities for face-to-face learning and skills practice.
A combination of practice, rationale-based, classroom, and self-directed learning.
- Sophy
consistently high first time and 100% learner pass rates since 2019.
Celebrating learner achievements – recent first-time Adult OSCE learner pass rate 89%. (Aug-Dec 2025). 100% NMC OSCE learner pass rates retained since 2019 ⭐ It makes me feel very proud to have been a tiny part of over 450 nurse’s journeys to date.
So, how did they do it and how do these figures compare to current national UK NMC OSCE pass rate stats?
The individualised support I provide equips nurses to make safe, independent decisions on their OSCE day. I don’t recommend or use shortcuts, rote learning or “hacks” because this reduces, instead of increasing confidence and can create unnecessary stress for OSCE candidates.
Why? Critical thinking and rationale are key to NMC OSCE success and most importantly, promote patient safety. Overall, the learners that I support prepare thoroughly over a period of months, considering evidence and rationale throughout.
Generally, the nurses who passed OSCE the first time, covered all potential adult stations (10 APIEs, PV/EBP-various and 20 clinical skills-correct as of December 2025) using a mixture of learning methods and access to individual pastoral and teaching support.
In contrast to a short, intensive course, this approach maximises the chances of a first-time pass and learning is more likely be retained longer term, which can have a positive impact on the post-NMC registration period.
Even if you are studying without educator support, it is sensible to use up to date resources (based on NMC OSCE preparation materials).
If you are a potential OSCE candidate or supporting someone for OSCE, it is well worth reading “Factors which affect OSCE pass rates” to understand the reality and reasons for OSCE candidates not passing the exam. Referenced from NMC – Test of Competence pass rates and number of candidates – The Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Between July – September 2025 (across 5 competence test centres), a total of 4,070 candidates sat OSCE and 80% achieved a pass. Worth noting, that across the 5 competence test centres, first-time pass rates are: lowest – 28% and highest – 51%. (Ref. NMC 2025).
With these figures in mind, it is sensible to prepare for Adult OSCE covering all potential stations, minimising your stress and additional costs. This thorough approach maximises your chances of a first-time pass. Please don’t leave it to chance!
Demonstrated success with Avant-Garde Learning’s NMC OSCE preparation support – 100% success rate maintained since 2019.
I am proud of each one of the now 450 nurses that I have supported to pass OSCE. Their collective hard work and dedication to preparing for NMC OSCE paid off with a consistently high first-time pass rate and continued 100% success rate since 2019. Nurses also report that they remember and use a lot of what they learned for OSCE during interviews and in their post-OSCE NMC registered practise.
Don’t compare yourself to others, as this puts unnecessary pressure on you and can increase stress levels, as well as long term costs (resits, delays etc). Prepare thoroughly, based on what is best for your individual circumstances, professional background, location and commitments and please, don’t rush the process. Remember – “Slow but steady wins the race.” – Aesop.
If you are preparing for OSCE, I wish you all the very best!
~ Olivia – Avant-Garde Learning & Development nurse educator and experienced UK NMC registered nurse.
