The Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) has warned students against enrolling in nursing courses that have not been approved by the council.
In a notice dated April 20, 2026, NCK flagged a program at the Northlands International Medical Training College, reiterating that “Nurse Aid” or “Nursing Assistant” training is not recognized under its framework.
“Any course offered without NCK’s approval is not recognized and does not meet the required standards of training and professional practice. Further, we caution the public that Nurse Aid or Nursing Assistant training is not a recognized programme by the Nursing Council of Kenya,” read part of the statement.
The regulator urged prospective students and guardians to verify the accreditation status of institutions before enrolling and directed the public to its official website for a list of approved training centers as of April 20, 2026.
NCK Warns Public Against Unaccredited Courses
NCK said that it is the sole authority responsible for regulating nursing and midwifery training programs and institutions in Kenya.
The council noted that the advisory is intended to protect the public from enrolling in substandard programmes and does not aim to discredit any individual or entity.
It also stated it will not be held liable for any losses arising from reliance on unapproved training providers.
Members of the public seeking clarification have been advised to contact the council through its official email channels.
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How Nursing Programmes Are Approved in Kenya
The Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) is the statutory body mandated to approve all nursing and midwifery training programmes in the country.
To date, the council has accredited 145 institutions offering training at degree, basic diploma, and post-basic diploma levels across various nursing and midwifery specialties.
Any institution seeking to offer a nursing or midwifery course must first apply for approval from the council.
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This involves a comprehensive inspection to assess whether the institution has the required facilities, faculty, and resources to deliver quality training.
Once a program meets the required standards, it is granted initial approval, allowing the institution to admit students. This approval is valid for five years.
After this period, institutions must undergo a renewal process in which the council conducts an evaluation visit to confirm continued compliance with established standards.
The council also conducts ongoing monitoring to ensure that institutions adhere to the Standards of Nursing Education and Practice in Kenya, which guide the training of safe, competent, and professional nurses and midwives.
For a list of approved institutions and programs, one can visit NCK’s official website via (https://nckenya.com/approved-training-institutions/).
