Getting your NMCN license is the single most important thing you will do after completing your nursing or midwifery training in Nigeria. Without it, you cannot legally practice. The process involves several distinct stages — indexing, examination, post-exam registration, and license issuance — and each stage has its own portal, requirements, and fees. This guide walks you through everything from the very beginning.
Understanding the NMCN Registration Process
Before anything else, understand that "NMCN registration" is not one single step. It is a sequence of four main stages:
Stage 1 — Indexing: Getting officially recognized by NMCN as a student/candidate before the qualifying exam.
Stage 2 — Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE): Sitting and passing the NMCN CBT and practical examinations.
Stage 3 — Post-Examination Registration: Applying for your name to be entered into the official NMCN Register after you pass.
Stage 4 — License Issuance and Renewal: Obtaining your practicing license via the license portal.
Most people who ask "how do I register for NMCN license" are either at Stage 1 (indexing before exams) or Stage 3 (registration after passing). This guide covers both fully, plus license renewal.
The primary portals you will use are:
- portal.nmcn.gov.ng — for indexing and examination registration
- myportal.nmcn.gov.ng — the newer NMCN portal for registration applications
- licence.nmcn.gov.ng — for license issuance and renewal
STAGE 1: Indexing (Before You Can Sit the Exam)
Indexing is the process of registering your credentials with NMCN before your examination. You cannot apply to sit the NMCN professional qualifying examination without first being indexed. Indexing applications are submitted through the NMCN portal at portal.nmcn.gov.ng.
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Documents You Need for Indexing
Gather these before you go near the portal. Everything must be scanned and properly formatted.
The following documents are required for indexing:
- One recent colour passport photograph (not more than 15kb, dimensions 130px wide by 182px tall, JPEG format only)
- O'level examination certificates — WAEC, NECO, or GCE (not more than 200kb, JPEG format only)
- Birth certificate or declaration of age (not more than 200kb, JPEG format only)
- Testimonial (not more than 200kb, JPEG format only)
If you are a female applicant whose marital status is married, divorced, or widowed, you must also submit a marriage certificate (not more than 200kb, JPEG format) and a newspaper publication showing your marriage details (not more than 200kb, JPEG format).
Pay special attention to the file size and dimension requirements on the passport photograph — this is the most common reason applications are rejected. Use a photo editing tool to resize to exactly 130px × 182px and compress the file below 15kb before uploading.
Step 1: Submit Your Indexing Application
Visit the NMCN registration portal at portal.nmcn.gov.ng. Under the Indexing tab, locate and click the appropriate application form:
- Apply for Basic Indexing — if you are a student in a basic nursing or midwifery programme
- Apply for Post Basic Indexing — if you have already been registered and are applying for a post-basic specialty programme
For Basic Indexing, fill in the application form and click the save button. For Post Basic Indexing, provide your Registration Number first, click the start application button, then fill in the application form. Click Save to view your applicant details page, then click Submit Application.
You will be prompted with a message informing you that modifications will no longer be possible after submission — click yes. Copy and keep your Application Number displayed at the top of the page, or check your email for notifications from the council.
Do not proceed until you have your Application Number safely saved somewhere. This number is your reference for everything that follows.
Step 2: School Clearance
After submitting your application, report to your School Officer to obtain clearance. Your Clearance Officer will validate your application and submitted credentials. After successful validation, your school officer will clear your application on the portal so you can proceed to payment. nmcn
This step is entirely dependent on your school's administrative speed. Follow up with your school officer regularly. Any application that is not paid for before the closure date will not be attended to by the NMCN, and a late entry registration fee will be charged to both the school and the applicant.
Step 3: Pay the Indexing/Application Fee
Once your school officer clears you on the portal, you can make payment through Remita.
To pay: visit portal.nmcn.gov.ng, go to the Indexing menu item and click Pay Application Fee. Provide your Application Number and date of birth, then click Retrieve Application. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Proceed to Payment, then click Pay Fee Now. You will be connected to the Remita payment gateway.
Payment options available through Remita include paying at a bank, through your eWallet, or with a credit/debit card.
If you choose to pay at a bank, select Bank and click Continue. View the list of participating banks, click Continue, and print your Payment Acknowledgment Slip with Transaction ID and Application Number. Take this slip to a participating bank. Upon making payment at the bank, you must be issued a Remita e-receipt containing a RRR Number.
Whether you pay at the bank or online, always save your RRR (Remita Retrieval Reference) number. You will need it to confirm your payment.
STAGE 2: Applying for the Professional Qualifying Examination
After your indexing is approved and processed, you become eligible to apply for the NMCN Professional Qualifying Examination. Under the Examination tab on the portal, locate and click the appropriate application form based on your situation:
- Apply for Fresh Basic Examination — for first-time applicants in a basic nursing or midwifery programme
- Apply for Fresh Post Basic Examination — for first-time applicants in a post-basic specialty programme
- Apply for Resit Basic Examination — for basic programme candidates who have referred papers from a previous examination
- Apply for Resit Post Basic Examination — for post-basic candidates with referred papers
Your examination number and/or index number will be sent to your email after your application has been approved by the council. Numbers are only allocated to candidates approved by the council. If your application is disapproved, an email will be sent to you listing all deficiencies and reasons for disapproval. You can then log onto the portal, modify your application, and re-submit — re-submitting attracts no additional fee.
The NMCN examination consists of a Computer-Based Test (CBT) component and a practical/clinical skills assessment. The CBT uses multiple-choice objective questions drawn from nursing sciences, anatomy, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, and other core nursing domains. Prepare using past questions and targeted study materials.
Exam sittings are conducted periodically throughout the year. For 2026, the application for the May examination batch was open until April 13, 2026, and the registration application for candidates successful in the March 2026 examinations is currently ongoing.
STAGE 3: Registration After Passing Your Examination
This is what most candidates mean when they say "NMCN license registration." Once your results are out and you have passed, you must apply for registration within the approved window.
All eligible candidates are required to complete their registration within the approved 90-day timeline effective from the result release date. Do not delay. If you miss this 90-day window, you will attract a penalty fee on top of the standard registration fee.
What Registration Fees Are Involved?
The registration fees are as follows:
- Basic registration (General Nurses): N42,967 (non-refundable), paid through Remita
- Midwives and Psychiatric Nurses (Post Basic): N61,092 (non-refundable), paid through Remita
- Other Post Basic Nurses: N44,500 (non-refundable), paid through Remita
- Late registration penalty (applied after the 90-day window): N77,500 per school or N16,250 per individual
These fees can be updated by the Council at any time, so always verify current figures on nmcn.gov.ng before making payment.
Step 1: Initiate Your Registration Application on the Portal
The registration application for successful candidates is submitted through the Council's portal at myportal.nmcn.gov.ng.
Go to myportal.nmcn.gov.ng and click on "Apply for Registration." You will need to verify your identity and credentials to begin. The portal requires you to verify your NIN and professional nursing/midwifery credentials. The secure system protects your identity while streamlining the verification process.
Have the following ready before you start:
- Your NIN (National Identification Number)
- Your NMCN examination/index number
- Your O'level certificates
- Your school completion/graduation certificate
- Recent colour passport photograph (white background)
- Birth certificate or declaration of age
Fill in all fields carefully. Double-check your name spelling against your O'level certificate because the name entered at this stage is what will appear on your Certificate of Registration and all future NMCN documents. Any discrepancy will require a formal name correction later, which involves additional fees and delays.
Step 2: Upload Required Documents
Upload your nursing/midwifery educational certificates, clinical experience records, and professional references through the portal. All scanned documents should be clear, legible, and within the file size specifications the portal specifies. Blurry or cropped scans are a common reason applications are queried or rejected.
Step 3: Make Payment Through Remita
All fees are payable through Remita. The NMCN Registration Unit does not accept cash payments directly from individuals or schools. Nmcn
Whether you pay online or at a bank branch, ensure you receive and save your Remita e-receipt with the RRR number. Upload or present this as proof of payment when required.
Step 4: Await Processing and Notification
After payment confirmation, NMCN processes your application. Once approved, your name is entered into the official NMCN register pursuant to sections 8 and 9 of the Nursing and Midwifery Registration Act (Cap. N143, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004), and a notification of registration is issued to you.
Your Notification of Registration is a formal letter from the Registrar/CEO of NMCN confirming that your name has been entered into the register for your category (Registered Nurse, Midwife, etc.). This document is issued with a validity date. Nmcn Keep the original carefully — this is the document you will need when applying for jobs, NYSC posting, or traveling abroad for nursing work.
STAGE 4: Obtaining and Renewing Your License
Registration and licensing are related but distinct. Your Certificate of Registration confirms you are on the register. Your practicing license confirms you are currently authorized to practice. The license is issued to eligible applicants after registration with the Council.
How to Get Your Initial License
After your registration notification is issued, go to licence.nmcn.gov.ng to initiate your license application.
The process requires you to:
- Initiate an online application for license on the Council's license portal at licence.nmcn.gov.ng
- Upload a scanned copy of your original recent coloured passport photograph with white background
- Upload a scanned copy of your original Certificate of Registration issued by the Council
Complete all fields, upload the required documents, and proceed to payment via the portal.
How to Renew Your License
Nurses and midwives are required to renew their license annually. Renewal fee is N13,125, paid through Remita on the renewal portal. The penalty for each year of default (non-renewal) is N6,562.
To renew, initiate an online application at licence.nmcn.gov.ng and upload: a scanned copy of your original recent coloured passport photograph with white background; your original Certificate of Registration issued by the Council; and your original Certificate of attendance for the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP).
The MCPDP certificate is particularly important and often overlooked. You cannot renew without it. The MCPDP is the continuing professional development programme required by NMCN to confirm that you are keeping your clinical knowledge current. Ensure you attend an accredited MCPDP session before your renewal window opens.
All nurses and midwives registered with NMCN, whether living within or outside Nigeria, are expected to update their profile on the portal regardless of whether their license has expired or not.
If you have not renewed in multiple years, the portal will automatically calculate the total amount owed, broken down by penalty and renewal cost. The total amount will be displayed to you when you start the application — just go ahead and begin the application and it will show you the breakdown.
Important Notes and Common Mistakes to Avoid
Do not pay before school clearance. During indexing, payment is only possible after your school officer has cleared you on the portal. Attempting to pay before clearance will fail.
Never pay cash directly to anyone claiming to collect on behalf of NMCN. All fees are payable only through Remita. The Registration Unit of the Council does not accept cash payments from individuals or schools.
Name consistency is critical. Your name across your O'level certificate, birth certificate, and NMCN application must be identical. Any mismatch will cause delays and may require a sworn affidavit, newspaper publication, and formal name correction application — all at extra cost and time.
Track your 90-day window. All eligible candidates are required to complete their registration within the approved 90-day timeline from the result release date. Mark the deadline on your calendar from day one.
Save every receipt. Your RRR number, Remita e-receipt, Application Number, and Index Number are all documents you will need again — possibly months or years later. Screenshot them, email them to yourself, and keep printed copies.
Check the portal announcements regularly. The NMCN portal at myportal.nmcn.gov.ng announces examination dates, registration opening dates, and deadline extensions. Don't rely on secondhand information from social media groups.
NMCN Contact Information
- Website: nmcn.gov.ng
- Registration Portal: portal.nmcn.gov.ng
- New Portal: myportal.nmcn.gov.ng
- License Portal: licence.nmcn.gov.ng
- Email: info@nmcn.gov.ng / registration@nmcn.gov.ng
- Phone: 0810-457-7415 / 0811-887-2076
If your registration number cannot be found on the license portal, or if you are experiencing any technical issue, send a message through the support page on the license portal and the council will confirm why your record is not showing up.
This guide reflects the current NMCN process as of June 2026. Fee amounts and specific portal procedures are subject to change by the Council — always verify the latest figures directly on the NMCN official websites before making any payment.