NMCN releases May 2026 nursing exam results with 69% overall pass rate
Abuja, 9 May 2026
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has officially released the results of the May 2026 Professional Examination in General and Post Basic Nursing Programmes.
A total of 11,835 candidates passed the examinations, achieving an overall pass rate of 69%. The results were announced today in an official circular signed by the Registrar/CEO, Ndagi Alhassan, PhD, RN, FWAPCNM, following approval by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
Results by programme
- General Nursing Programme: 9,906 candidates passed (70% pass rate)
- Foreign Trained Nursing (FTN): 308 candidates passed (52% pass rate)
- Post Basic Nursing Programmes: 775 candidates passed (72% pass rate)
- Community Nursing Programme: 846 candidates passed (58% pass rate)
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The strongest performance came from Post Basic programmes, while Foreign Trained Nurses recorded the lowest pass rate — a trend that continues to highlight the need for targeted support and orientation programmes for internationally trained professionals entering the Nigerian system.
What candidates and training institutions must do now
Heads of nursing training institutions are required to access their institutional results online from Wednesday, 13 May 2026, via the dedicated portal: app.nmcn.gov.ng.
Successful candidates should immediately visit the official NMCN licensing portal at myportal.nmcn.gov.ng to begin the online registration and licensing process. Full modalities will be published on or before 13 May 2026.
Key deadline: All registration and payment formalities must be completed within 90 days of today’s result release. Late registration attracts a penalty of ₦16,250 per applicant. An additional ₦6,562 per year applies for default on first licensing.
Next steps and important dates
- Next Professional Examination: Tuesday 3 November – Friday 6 November 2026
- Submission of statistics for November 2026 exams: On or before 30 July 2026 via exams@nmcn.gov.ng (late submissions will be rejected)
- Any suspected errors in results must be reported to the Registrar/CEO immediately. Complaints will not be entertained after 30 days.
Expert insight: A milestone for Nigeria’s nursing workforce
This release marks a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare human resources at a time when the country continues to face nurse shortages and increasing demand for quality care. The 69% overall pass rate demonstrates solid progress in nursing education standards, even as the Council maintains rigorous professional benchmarks in line with global best practices.
Fellow Nurses Africa commends every successful candidate and urges them to complete their licensing promptly. Registered nurses and midwives remain central to achieving Universal Health Coverage and delivering safe, compassionate care across primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
The Council has also extended sincere congratulations to all who passed and reiterated its commitment to excellence in nursing education and practice.
Further information
Full circular and updates are available on the official NMCN website: www.nmcn.gov.ng
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Fellow Nurses Africa is the independent voice of African nursing, we educate, inform and support nurses across Africa.
Kehinde Oluwatosin is one of the many editors here at Fellow Nurses Africa and fellownurses.com.
He is a registered nurse with a Master of Science degree in healthcare leadership from the University of Hull, United Kingdom. Kehinde is passionate about advancing the nursing profession across Africa. As Co-Founder of Fellow Nurses Africa, he plays a key role in shaping editorial direction, ensuring our content educates, informs, and empowers nurses continent-wide.
With expertise in leadership, patient flow, and healthcare operations, Kehinde brings valuable insights to nursing news, career development, and policy discussions. He is committed to amplifying the voice of African nurses and driving positive change in the profession.
