The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has officially scrapped its long-standing policy of expelling candidates after three failed attempts at the council’s professional examinations.
Under the new directive, affected students will now be allowed to retake only the section of the examination they did not pass, as many times as necessary, provided they maintain at least 80 percent attendance in both lectures and clinical postings.
The reform was announced in a circular dated September 1, 2025, and signed by the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the council, Ndagi Alhassan. The memo, titled “Nursing Education Reform: Elimination of Students After Three Professional Examination Attempts,” was addressed to key stakeholders, including Commissioners and Secretaries of Health Services, Nigerian universities offering Bachelor of Nursing Science programmes, Chief Medical Directors, and other institutions.
According to the NMCN, the decision is aimed at fostering a more student-centred and supportive academic environment, while still safeguarding professional standards. The council emphasized that the previous “three-strike” rule had become a source of concern and that reforms were necessary to align nursing education with global best practices.
Alhassan stated:
“It is imperative to move from a policy of mere elimination to one that promotes student achievement and success while maintaining the integrity of the profession and curbing quackery.”
Effective September 2025, students who fail any component of the examination will be permitted to retake only that part until successful. However, institutions will be held accountable, as every unsuccessful resit attempt will count against the training school’s overall performance.
The council further urged heads of institutions to implement strategies that provide additional support for struggling students, ensuring no candidate is left behind due to lack of guidance or resources.
This policy shift reflects NMCN’s broader commitment to reviewing and updating nursing education and practice standards to meet Nigeria’s evolving healthcare needs, while aligning with international benchmarks.
