The Nursing & Midwifery Council of Ghana is a statutory body of the Ghanaian government with a mandate to secure public interest by ensuring the utmost standards and training of nursing practitioners. The Registration Directorate of the NMC is charged with registering nursing professionals (nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants) who have successfully completed a program at an accredited institution, and passed the required licensing examination.
Professionals who are trained in foreign institutions or countries are also registered with the NMC if they meet the council’s requirements. So, the only thing standing between you and your NMC registration is your qualification. If you check all boxes for the requirements, then getting your NMC Ghana registration is an easy-peasy task as you would soon learn.
A Breakdown of The Basic Requirements for NMC Ghana Registration
There are different requirements for registration for locally and internationally trained nursing professionals. As a locally trained nursing professional, there are three basic requirements you must meet before proceeding with your registration.
- You must have received formal training in an accredited institution in Ghana.
- You must have sat for and passed the necessary licensing examination.
- You are expected to report to the council within 6 months of passing the examination.
Requirements For Foreign-Trained Nursing Professionals
For foreign-trained nursing professionals, the requirements are somewhat more demanding. You will need to present the following documents:
- An official transcript from your training institution
- Three copies of your recent passport photos
- The original copy of your certificate as issued by your institution’s registrar, for inspection only
- Some copies of your original certificate
- One copy of your birth certificate
- One copy of your marriage certificate, if married
- Testimonials from previous work experience, where the applicant worked as a professional for at least a year
- One copy of the appointment letter from your most recent organization
- Proof of registration from the professional body of your training institution/country
- Proof of English proficiency report
These documents are to be presented to the NMC and if found satisfactory, the applicant would be scheduled to take the (written) licensing examination. This examination is held twice yearly, in June and December. You will need to write and pass it before you can be registered with the NMC.
Step By Step Guide for NMC Ghana Registration
Once you meet the requirements above, either as a local or foreign-trained nursing professional, you can move on with registration. Nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants trained in Ghana go through different registration processes.
Registration Procedure For Nursing Professionals Trained in Ghana
- Visit the office of the NMC in the region where your training institution is situated
- Show your licensing exam result slip, as issued by the council
- Obtain the registration form and pay the registration fee
- Collect your provisional license, logbook, and national service code
- Undergo the national service/rotation and complete your logbook while at it
- Return your provisional license and logbook to the same NMC regional office you obtained them
- Receive your PIN or AIN and collect your certificate of registration
Voila! You’re now a registered NMC nursing professional!
Note: The completed form is to be submitted alongside two copies of the applicant’s passport (2×1.5 inches), which have been duly certified by either a Deputy Director or Principal/Senior Officer of Nursing, or a religious minister. Auxiliary professionals are to use red background while others use a white background. Also, the arm to the elbow of the applicant must be visible, showing the full sleeve of his/ her uniform.
Registration Procedure for Foreign-Trained Nursing Professionals
Nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants trained in other countries go through the following registration process:
- Obtain and fill a registration form. Nurses and midwives who are recently qualified, are required to pay to obtain a provisional license from the council
- Proceed to any teaching or regional hospital, as posted by the NMC, for three months intensive practical orientation program
- Get registered, if your performance in the program is deemed satisfactory
The Cost of Getting Ghana NMC Registration
The cost for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council usually varies yearly. The NMC released the fee for its 2020 session as follows:
| Service Charge | Badge and Code of Conduct and Ethics added to Registration | Induction Service | PIN/AIN | Log Book | Total Fee for Registration and Licensing |
| Basic Programs | GH₵ 220.00 | 220.00 (for Newly Qualified Nurses/Midwives) | GH₵ 55.00 | GH₵ 22.00 | GH₵ 517.00 |
| Post-Basic programs | GH₵ 220.00 | 220.0 (for Newly Qualified Nurses/Midwives) | — | — | GH₵ 440.00 |
| Auxiliary Programs | GH₵ 187.00 | 220 (Induction Service for Newly Qualified NAC and NAP) | 55.00 (AIN) | — | GH₵ 462.00 |
Applicants are required to get registered within six months of obtaining their licensing examination result. Nursing assistants are to register within two months. Failure to do so results in a late registration penalty fee which is paid with the current year’s registration fee.
- Registration after six months – GH₵ 110.00
- Registration after one year – GH₵ 165.00
- Registration after two years – GH₵ 220.00
- Registration after five years – GH₵ 1100.00
- Registration after ten years – GH₵ 2200.00
The registration fee, with code of ethics, for foreign-trained professionals, varies as follows:
- Registration for Non-Ghanaians – $352.00
- Registration for Ghanaians – $209.00
- Temporary Registration – $137.50 or the Ghana cedi equivalent
Here’s How to Pay For Your NMC Registration
Applicants are to pay the registration fee in either Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) or Agricultural Development Bank of Ghana (ADB), based on their Region. Applicants in Upper East, Greater Accra, Eastern, Nothern, and Brong Ahafo are to pay in GCB while those in Western, Central, Ashanti, Volta, and Upper West are to pay in ADB.
The payment procedure is as easy as the following steps:
- Pick a smart-pay or deposit slip at the bank
- Fill in appropriate details (name of practitioner, PIN/ AIN, what the service payment is for i.e. registration, name of the institution i.e. NMC, amount being paid, and contact number of practitioner)
- Pay the fee and collect a stamped receipt from the teller
- Proceed to the regional office of NMC where you obtained your training with a copy of the stamped receipt and obtain a General Counterfoil receipt
What Is PIN or AIN?
Your PIN is the Professional Identification Number which the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Ghana, issues to duly registered nurses and midwives, who have met all the requirements and passed the licensing examination. AIN is a similar number issued to nursing assistants following due registration with the body. It means Auxiliary Identification Number.
These numbers are renewable every year. The PIN/AIN is issued to newly registered nursing professionals at 352.00 GHC. Annual renewal costs 55.00 GHC, changing an unexpired PIN/AIN card costs 44.00 GHC, and replacement of a misplaced PIN/AIN card costs 48.00 GHC.
How Much Does The Licensing Examination Cost?
The licensing examination fee (in Ghana Cedi) for the different nursing cadres varies as follows:
Registered General Nursing, Registered Midwifery, Registered Community Nursing, Registered Mental Nursing, Post Basic Midwifery
- First attempt: 495.00
- A second attempt (resit): One paper 165.00
- Two papers 231.00
- Three papers 313.50
- Above three papers 495.00
Public Health Nursing, Ophthalmic Nursing, Peri-Operative/ Critical Care, and Ear, Nose, and Throat
- First attempt: 495.00
- A second attempt (resit): One paper 198.00
- Above two papers 495.00
Nursing Assistants (Preventive/ Clinical)
- First attempt: 401.50
- A second attempt (resit): One paper 178.20
- Above three papers 401.50
Candidates are also required to pay an additional 10 GHC as a result checking fee, remarking attracts a fee of 2200 GHC.
Foreign-trained graduates pay an examination fee of 440.00 Ghana Cedis.
Answers to FAQs About NMC Ghana Registration
Why Must I Be Registered With the NMC?
If you desire to practice in Ghana as a nurse, midwife, or nursing assistant, you must register with the NMC. The legality of this registration is covered under Section (55 b & c) of Act 2013, Act 857.
In essence, the NMC provides a professional cover for its registered members by fulfilling the following responsibilities:
- It verifies that a member has met and satisfied all requirements for practice.
- It certifies that a member’s name has not been removed from the NMC register, due to any case of misconduct.
- It certifies that a member is part of the regulated nursing profession in Ghana.
What Are My Duties As a Registered NMC Member?
If you seek registration with the NMC Ghana then you must know what roles will be required of you, if successful.
If you are a nurse or midwife, your duties will be to use your training and knowledge in assessing the needs of patients and managing their health by providing healthcare, advice, and support to individuals. You would be required to dispense these duties in collaboration with other healthcare professionals, as well as supervise the roles of other nursing professionals, i.e. nursing assistants.
As a nursing assistant, your duties will be to basically assist the nurse or midwife in carrying out their activities, according to professional regulations. They work under the supervision of nurses and/ or midwives in providing healthcare to individuals.
What Differentiates a Nurse, Midwife, and Nursing Assistant?
The Nursing and Midwifery Council, Ghana, recognizes nursing professionals of varying cadres. The professionals, with their mode of professional training, are listed below.
General nurses receive training in accredited institutions, either completing a diploma (three years) program or degree (four years) program.
Midwives receive training in midwifery in accredited institutions, for three years. There’s also a post-NAC/NAP Midwifery training course offered in accredited institutions, as a one-year program.
Auxiliary nursing professionals receive training in Community Health Nursing or Health Assistant Clinical programs as follows:
- Preventive Nursing Assistants receive training in Nursing Assistant (Preventive) while Clinical Nursing Assistants receive training in Nursing Assistant (Clinical) in accredited institutions, both as a Post Basic program for two years.
- Community (Health) Nurses receive training in Community Health Nursing in accredited institutions, as a Diploma course for three years.
- Mental Nurses receive training in Mental Health Nursing in accredited institutions, for three years.
Nurses can also undergo post-basic training for the following cadre:
- Public Health Nurses receive training in Public Health Nursing in accredited institutions, as a Post Basic program for one year.
- Ophthalmic Nurses receive training in Ophthalmic nursing in accredited institutions, as a Post Basic program for one year.
- Peri-Operative/Critical Care Nurses receive training in Peri-Operative/Critical Nursing in accredited institutions, as a Post Basic program for one year.
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Nurses receive training in Ear, Nose, and Throat Nursing in accredited institutions, as a Post Basic program for one year.
What Is National Service or Rotation?
The National Service Scheme is a program designed by the Ghanaian government for graduates of her tertiary institution to serve the country. The one-year compulsory employment is for graduates under 40 years of age, and it’s done as a service to the country.
Nurses and midwives undergo their service in a hospital environment, teaching, or regional. During the year, they are rotated around various units and departments so they can acquire more training and first-hand experience.
To register for the scheme follow these steps:
- Visit the website of the National Service Scheme, nssghana.org
- Go to ‘Enrollment’, you will gain access using the code issued to you by the NMC during registration
- Complete your registration
- Another code/NSS number will be generated for you on the site (for checking your posting).
How to check your posting:
- Visit the website of the National Service Scheme, nssghana.org
- Go to postings and input the new code/ NSS number
- Print your posting letter and form
- Proceed to the NSS office in your region for submission and registration
- Visit the Director of Health Services in charge of your region, to obtain further/specific posting instructions.
My Documents Are In a Language Other Than English, What Do I Do?
The Nursing and Midwifery Council recommends that all documents in languages other than English be translated to English. Also, a copy of the original document should be attached to the translated one for submission, following the guidelines above.
Who Conducts The Licensing Examination?
The Examination Unit of the Nursing and Midwifery Council is in charge of the licensing examination. Their duties include:
- Reception of exam candidates
- Preparation of test items
- Arrangement of examination centers
- Provision of exam invigilators and examiners
- Examination scripts assessment, and
- Publication of results
Before registering for the licensing exam, candidates must have satisfactorily fulfilled all the theoretical and clinical training requirements for their program at the training institution, including passing the examination conducted by the institution.
What Happens If I Fail The Licensing Examination?
There’s no limit to the number of times one can write the exam. NMC allows candidates who fail their first attempt to rewrite until they pass the examination.
Can I Change My Name After Registration?
If a female practitioner gets married after registering with the council and has officially changed her maiden name, she is also eligible to change her name with the council. To this effect, she will present a clear copy of her marriage certificate, a gazette or newspaper publication, and a change of name application letter.