The Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) has shared a detailed process that nurses and midwives must follow to have their professional credentials verified when seeking to emigrate to other countries.
In a notice, the council noted that this process begins with accessing the Outmigration page on the official NCK website, where applicants are required to fill in the application form for verification for emigration.
Along with the completed application form, nurses must submit a copy of their National Identity (ID) Card or passport, as well as copies of their NCK-issued professional certificates and a valid practice license. Proof of payment of the prescribed verification fee is also a mandatory part of the application.
Nursing Council of Kenya outlines Emigration Verification Process
For nurses intending to move to Canada through the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), three additional documents are required.
These include a recommendation letter from the nurse’s current employer or immediate supervisor, a recent medical report, and a valid Police Clearance Certificate.
For those applying to the United Kingdom under the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), there are more comprehensive requirements. Applicants must submit a recommendation letter from their current employer or immediate supervisor, a medical report, and a Police Clearance Certificate.
They are also required to provide a well-structured Curriculum Vitae (CV) and proof of registration with the National Employment Authority (NEA). Furthermore, UK-bound applicants must submit pass results for either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Occupational English Test (OET) and ensure that both the CV and English test results are in the prescribed format.
Also Read: How Kenyans Could Be Affected as Trump Approves Student and Foreign Workers Visa Changes
Nurses are encouraged to ensure that all the required documents are complete and submitted accurately to avoid delays in the verification process.
For any questions or further assistance regarding the emigration verification process, nurses can contact the Nursing Council of Kenya via email at [email protected].
UK opens the door for Kenya’s clinical officers
In July this year, Kenya’s clinical officers also received a major boost after the UK formally affirmed they can work there as Physician Associates (PAs). This decision followed a report published on July 16, 2025, known as the Gillian Leng Review, which confirmed that PAs remain vital to the UK health system.
The report recommended that PAs continue operating under doctor supervision and that their title be changed to “physician assistants.”
This development came after a temporary suspension of the migration process for clinical officers, following growing calls within the UK to scrap the PA role altogether.
The UK’s General Medical Council (GMC) had initially announced in January that clinical officers from Kenya and 14 other countries would be eligible to register and practice in the UK as Physician Associates.
Also Read: Duale Revokes Internships of Hundreds of Nurses with Immediate Effect
The announcement in July paved the way for formal recognition and employment opportunities for Kenyan clinical officers, aligning them with the country’s nurses and doctors who have long sought better-paying jobs abroad.
In response to this development, Health Principal Secretary, Mary Muthoni, confirmed that the government will formally request the UK to include clinical officers in existing labour agreements, which currently support the migration of hundreds of Kenyan nurses to the UK.
She emphasized that this recognition reflects the quality of Kenya’s medical training and opens significant global opportunities for the country’s health professionals.
The Global Association of Clinical Officers and Physician Associates (GACOPA), led by a Kenyan, has already engaged with key stakeholders, including Labour PS Shadrack Mwadime and PS Muthoni, to chart the way forward.
GACOPA President Austin Oduor stated that the government has committed to amending the bilateral MoU between Kenya and the UK to include clinical officers alongside nurses.
Clinical Officers in Kenya are trained through either a three-year Diploma in Clinical Medicine or a four-year Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Medicine, both followed by a one-year internship. Degree holders also have the option of advancing to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) program to become doctors.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
