NMCN Announces 76.42% Pass Rate, Confirms Once-Yearly Post-Basic Nursing Examinations

FNA NEWS, 14th Of NOVEMBER, 2026

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has announced the release of the November 2026 Professional Examination results for Post-Basic Nursing programmes, with 5,422 candidates emerging successful out of the 7,095 who sat the examination.

👉 Join Fellow Nurses Africa on WhatsApp

The results represent an overall average pass rate of 76.42%, marking an important milestone for thousands of nurses who participated in the professional examination.

The announcement was contained in a circular dated 14 November 2026 and signed by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Dr Ndagi Alhassan, RN, FWAPCNM.

According to the circular, the Council’s Governing Board has approved the immediate release of the examination results.

The development is expected to bring relief and excitement to successful candidates who have been awaiting the outcome of the examination, particularly those seeking to advance their professional qualifications and strengthen their expertise in specialised areas of nursing practice.

NMCN Directs Institutions to Check Examination Results

👉 Join Fellow Nurses Africa on WhatsApp

Following the approval of the results, the Council has directed heads of nursing training institutions to check their respective institutions’ results online from Wednesday, 18 November 2026.

The directive places responsibility on the heads of the institutions to access the results and communicate relevant information to their candidates.

The Council has also requested that institutions acknowledge receipt of the results and immediately contact the Registrar/CEO if they identify any errors requiring rectification.

However, the NMCN warned that it would not entertain complaints submitted after 30 days from the release of the results.

Institutions and affected candidates are therefore advised to pay close attention to the results and report any discrepancies promptly through the appropriate channels.

Successful Candidates Have 90 Days to Complete Registration

The NMCN has reminded successful candidates that online registration formalities, including payment of the applicable registration fees, must be completed within 90 days of the release of the results.

Candidates who fail to complete the registration process within the stipulated period will attract a late registration penalty of ₦16,250 per applicant.

Additionally, the Council stated that a penalty of ₦6,562 would be charged for each year of default in obtaining the first professional licence.

Successful candidates are therefore encouraged to work with their respective institutions to ensure that all registration requirements are completed within the approved timeframe.

NMCN Confirms Once-Yearly Post-Basic Nursing Professional Examinations

👉 Join Fellow Nurses Africa on WhatsApp

Beyond the release of the November 2026 results, the Council has also provided an important update concerning the scheduling of future Post-Basic Nursing Professional Examinations.

The latest circular confirms that the next Professional Examination in General/Post-Basic Nursing will take place from Tuesday, 9 November to Friday, 12 November 2027.

This development reinforces the implementation of the Council’s previously announced policy mandating that Post-Basic Nursing Professional Examinations be conducted once a year.

The policy, announced on 16 January 2026, represents a significant change in the examination schedule for nurses undertaking Post-Basic Nursing programmes.

With the next examination scheduled for November 2027, candidates preparing for future sittings will need to plan their academic and professional requirements around the annual examination calendar.

What the Annual Examination Schedule Means for Post-Basic Nursing Candidates

The transition to once-yearly examinations has important implications for nurses undertaking specialist nursing programmes across the country.

Post-Basic Nursing education provides registered nurses with opportunities to acquire advanced knowledge and specialised competencies in different areas of clinical practice.

Consequently, the timing of professional examinations can influence how quickly candidates complete their programmes and progress towards obtaining recognised specialist qualifications.

Under the annual schedule, candidates who are unsuccessful or unable to participate in a scheduled examination may face a longer wait before their next opportunity, depending on the Council’s applicable eligibility and examination requirements.

This makes adequate preparation, timely completion of academic requirements and effective coordination between training institutions and the Council particularly important.

The policy also raises questions about how the new schedule will accommodate candidates who encounter academic, clinical or administrative challenges.

While structured examination scheduling may support institutional planning and examination administration, its implementation should also consider the potential impact of delays on nurses’ professional progression.

Clear communication about eligibility, resit arrangements and examination requirements will be essential to helping candidates navigate the new system.

NMCN Sets August 2027 Deadline for Examination Application Submissions

👉 Join Fellow Nurses Africa on WhatsApp

In preparation for the November 2027 examination, the Council has directed heads of nursing training institutions to conclude their pre-professional examinations and submit the required statistics using the Examination Application Checklist (EAC).

The completed documents must be submitted electronically to exams@nmcn.gov.ng on or before 30 August 2027.

The Council warned that any Examination Application Checklist received after the deadline would be outrightly rejected.

Training institutions are therefore expected to complete the necessary processes early to avoid complications with their candidates’ examination applications.

Key Dates and Registration Requirements

Candidates and nursing training institutions should take note of the following information contained in the NMCN circular:

• Number of candidates who sat the examination: 7,095.
• Number of successful candidates: 5,422.
• Overall pass rate: 76.42%.
• Institutional result checking begins: Wednesday, 18 November 2026.
• Registration deadline: Within 90 days of the release of results.
• Late registration penalty: ₦16,250 per applicant.
• First licensing default penalty: ₦6,562 per year.
• Next General/Post-Basic Nursing Professional Examination: 9–12 November 2027.
• Examination Application Checklist submission deadline: 30 August 2027.
• Result complaint deadline: Within 30 days of the release of results.

NMCN Congratulates Successful Candidates

On behalf of the Governing Board, Management and Staff of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the Registrar/CEO extended sincere congratulations to all successful candidates and wished them success in their future endeavours.

The Council also acknowledged the cooperation of stakeholders in promoting and maintaining excellence in nursing education and practice in Nigeria in line with global best practices.

For the successful candidates, the release of the results marks an important step in their professional development. However, completing the required registration formalities remains essential to progressing to the next stage of their professional journey.

As the Council prepares for the implementation of its annual Post-Basic examination schedule, attention will also turn to how the new arrangement affects specialist nursing education and the timely progression of nurses across the country.

Once-Yearly Examinations Raise Concerns Over Resit Opportunities and Career Progression

While the release of the November 2026 results brings relief to successful candidates, the Council’s decision to conduct Post-Basic Nursing Professional Examinations only once a year raises concerns about the implications for candidates who are unsuccessful.

Under the new arrangement, candidates who fail the examination may have to wait until the next annual examination sitting before they can attempt it again, potentially extending their training and professional qualification timelines.

For nurses pursuing specialist qualifications, this could mean an additional year of waiting before completing the required professional examination and progressing to the next stage of their careers.

The concern is particularly significant for candidates who have already invested considerable time and resources in their Post-Basic Nursing programmes. An unsuccessful examination attempt could now carry a longer waiting period, depending on the Council’s eligibility and resit arrangements.

👉 Join Fellow Nurses Africa on WhatsApp

Fellow Nurses Africa is the independent voice of African nursing, we educate, inform and support nurses across Africa.