Nursing Training and Nursing Council of Kenya Registration

Diploma Route Through KMTC

The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) runs the country's main diploma pathway into nursing. Its Faculty of Nursing offers several diploma tracks, including Kenya Registered Nurse (KRN), Kenya Registered Community Health Nurse (KRCHN), Kenya Registered Nurse Midwife (KRNM), and Kenya Registered Nurse Midwife Health Promotion (KRNMHP). Each combines classroom instruction with supervised clinical placement in hospitals and health centers.

KMTC campuses run across the country, not just in Nairobi, which spreads training capacity into counties that would otherwise depend entirely on nurses trained elsewhere. Admission requirements are set by KMTC and typically include a minimum grade in KCSE with specific subject requirements in biology and chemistry.

Degree Route Through Universities

KMTC and several public and private universities also offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSc Nursing), the graduate-entry route into the profession. The degree takes longer than the diploma and adds broader coursework in research and nursing management alongside clinical training.

Both diploma and degree graduates fall under the same regulatory framework once they finish training, so neither path bypasses the licensing exam that follows.

The Final Qualifying Exam and NCK Licensure

Diploma and certificate students at KMTC and similar institutions sit their Final Qualifying Exam (FQE) after completing coursework and clinical hours. Passing the FQE triggers the next step: the Nursing Council of Kenya licensure exam.

Once FQE results are out, the NCK contacts successful candidates with a link to register for the licensure exam. The council runs its licensure exam in an online format, with results announced periodically through its official channels.

Registering With the Nursing Council of Kenya

After passing the NCK licensure exam, complete an online registration and licensing application through the NCK portal. This requires uploading your documents, including your result slip, and paying the applicable fees before the council issues your registration.

Every nurse practicing in Kenya must be registered and licensed with the NCK, a requirement set out in the Nurses Act Cap 257 of the Laws of Kenya. Practicing without this registration is not legally permitted, regardless of where you trained.

Renewing Your Practising Licence

NCK registration requires periodic renewal to remain active. Track your licence status through the NCK portal rather than assuming your initial registration covers you indefinitely, since renewal cycles and requirements change over time.