Applying to be a student nursing associate

Taking your first steps towards a nursing associate career

Becoming a nursing associate is a rewarding career choice that allows you to provide high-quality care to patients and support families across all healthcare settings. If you're passionate about making a difference to people's lives, enjoy working as part of a team, and want to develop your clinical skills in a supportive environment, becoming a nursing associate could be the perfect career for you.

This guide, alongside our nursing associate website and health career nursing associate webpage, will help you understand what's involved in applying for nursing associate education and how to strengthen your application.

Understanding the nursing associate role

Before applying, it's important to fully understand what nursing associates do and the environments they work in.

What do nursing associates do?

Nursing associates work with healthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver care for patients and the public. Nursing associates work across all four fields of nursing: adult, children's, mental health, and learning disability. Your skills and responsibilities will vary, depending on the care setting you work in. You'll provide hands-on care and support whilst developing your clinical expertise and working collaboratively within healthcare teams.

Where do nursing associates work?

Nursing associates practise in hospitals, community services, care homes, GP practices and specialist units. You'll be part of multidisciplinary teams working alongside registered nurses, doctors, healthcare support workers, and other healthcare professionals across diverse care settings.

The rewards and challenges of a nursing associate

The nursing associate role offers the opportunity to make a real difference to patients' lives and develop a fulfilling healthcare career working across the four different nursing fields, but it also involves shift work, emotional challenges and responsibility for providing safe, effective care in various healthcare environments.

Hear from nursing associates about their career journey, what they love about the role, and the realities of working across different health and social care settings.

Essential resources for understanding nursing associate roles

Health careers: Nursing associate – comprehensive information about nursing associate careers, working conditions, and career progression

NHS England nursing associates – overview of the nursing associate role, education programmes, and career development opportunities

National careers service: Nursing associate – overview of nursing associate roles, salary expectations, and career development opportunities

Royal College of Nursing – professional guidance on nursing associate career pathways and support

Nursing and Midwifery Council – official regulatory information about nursing associate registration and standards

Skills for care – information about nursing associate opportunities in social care settings.

Entry requirements and course selection

Nursing associate programmes have specific entry requirements that may vary between education providers, but all require a commitment to caring for others and for you to demonstrate your potential to succeed in healthcare across all four fields of nursing.

Typical entry requirements for nursing associates

Academic qualifications

Most education providers require GCSEs in English and mathematics at grade C/4 or equivalent. Some programmes may require additional subjects or qualifications, make sure you check specific requirements for each course.

Support with qualifications

Functional skills training and examination is free for any learner who doesn't hold maths and/or English GCSE at grade 4 (C) or above (or equivalent such as level 2 functional skills). The Government website has information about ways to improve English, maths and IT skills, and there's a NHS England Functional Skills Toolkit which provides further guidance and resources.

English language requirements

If you're from a non-English speaking country, you'll also need to have successfully completed a recognised English language test.

Healthcare and caring experience

Voluntary or paid experience in healthcare, social care, or other caring roles strengthens your application significantly. This could include working as a healthcare assistant, care worker, or volunteering with health-related charities across different care settings and nursing fields.

Personal qualities

Education providers look for evidence of compassion, communication skills, resilience, and commitment to person-centred care. You'll need to demonstrate the values and behaviours of the NHS Constitution and show adaptability to work across different nursing specialties.

Employment requirements

Many nursing associate programmes require you to be employed by an NHS trust, care provider, or other healthcare organisation during your education. Some providers offer apprenticeship routes that combine work and study across various healthcare settings.

Choosing your nursing associate course

Research different education providers and programme types to find the best fit for your circumstances. Consider factors such as:

• programme structure (apprenticeship, university-based, or employer-led)
• education locations and placement opportunities across different nursing fields
• support available for students
• entry requirements and application processes
• opportunities with the education provider across adult, children's, mental health, and learning disability services

UCAS nursing associate course search – search and compare nursing associate programmes across the UK, including entry requirements and course content.

Getting practical experience

UCAS open days and events – find university open days and information events specifically for nursing associate programmes.

Strengthening your application

To improve your chances of acceptance onto a nursing associate programme:

Gain relevant experience

Seek opportunities to work or volunteer in healthcare or caring environments across different fields. This demonstrates your commitment and helps you understand the realities of healthcare work in various settings.

Develop your knowledge

Learn about current healthcare challenges, the NHS Constitution, and the nursing associate role across all four nursing fields. Stay informed about developments in health and social care.

Practice your communication skills

Strong verbal and written communication are essential when working with diverse patient groups. Consider courses or opportunities that help develop these skills.

Reflect on your motivation

Be clear about why you want to become a nursing associate and what you hope to achieve working across different healthcare settings. This will help with application forms and interviews.

Prepare for selection processes

This may include interviews, group activities, numeracy and literacy tests, and health checks. Practice common interview questions and scenarios related to working in different nursing fields.

Preparing your personal statement

UCAS Personal Statement Toolkit – step-by-step guidance on writing compelling personal statements for applications.

Your personal statement should include:

• your motivation for choosing nursing associate programme
• relevant experience and what you learned from it
• understanding of the challenges and rewards of the nursing associate profession
• personal qualities that make you suitable for the profession
• career goals and commitment to lifelong learning 

Understanding the application process for direct entry

UCAS application – all direct entry nursing associate programmes use the standard UCAS application process, with specific deadlines and requirements.

Interview preparation – most higher education providers interview nursing associate applicants, often including practical scenarios and questions about motivation and values.

Health and character declarations – successful applicants must complete health and character declarations in line with The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards. These declarations ensure you meet the professional standards required to practice as a nursing associate and include declaring any health conditions, criminal convictions, or other circumstances that might affect your fitness to practice.

Enhanced DBS checks and references – you’ll need to pass enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks and require satisfactory references before you can start your nursing associate programme. This process protects vulnerable people and ensures all student nursing associates meet the safety standards required for clinical practice.

Academic preparation – consider taking relevant A-level subjects or access courses if you don't meet entry requirements.

Financial guidance and support

Understanding the financial support available for nursing associate education is crucial for planning your education and future career.

Apprenticeship route

If you're applying for a nursing associate apprenticeship, your tuition fees will be paid for, and you'll receive a salary while you train. This funding goes directly to your employer. Typically, in the NHS, nursing associate apprentices are paid at band 2 or 3 on the NHS agenda for change pay scale, which provides financial support throughout your education period.

Government financial support

Student finance – you can find comprehensive information about student finance on the Government website. This covers tuition fee loans, maintenance loans, and grants available to eligible students.

Enhanced support from September 2023 – the government has increased financial support to make healthcare studies more affordable. Key changes include:

• travel and accommodation support for healthcare students raised by 50 percent
• raising of the means-testing threshold for the NHS Bursary Scheme

Student finance explained: NHS employers infographic – an overview of student finance available to those studying undergraduate healthcare degrees.

Practical money management

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) student money guide – although developed for student nurses, this useful and interactive, student-friendly guide includes information about budgeting, saving and general money advice specifically for healthcare students, including nursing associates.

Financial planning for nursing associate students

Living costs

Consider accommodation, travel, and living expenses during your programme, including costs for clinical placements across different locations.

Professional expenses

Factor in costs for uniforms, equipment, professional registration, and membership of professional bodies like the Royal College of Nursing.

Placement-related costs

Budget for additional travel and accommodation costs when attending clinical placements that may be far from your university base.

Work during studies

While some part-time work is possible, nursing associate programmes are intensive with significant clinical placement hours, so prepare for this and plan your finances accordingly.

Professional standards and registration for nursing associates

Understanding professional requirements

Professional standards

All nursing associate programmes must meet NMC standards, ensuring graduates are competent to practice safely and effectively.

Ongoing requirements

Registered nursing associates must complete continuing professional development and revalidate their registration.

Preparing for professional practice

Professional behaviour

Universities expect high standards of professional conduct from the start of your programme, including clinical placements and academic work.

Fitness to practice

Students must maintain good health and character throughout their education to be eligible for professional registration.

Ready to start your nursing associate journey?

Once you've successfully applied and been accepted onto a nursing associate programme, you'll begin an exciting journey that combines academic learning with hands-on clinical experience. Your programme will prepare you to join the nursing associate profession and make a real difference to patients and their families across all health and social care settings.

Studying and placement support – access comprehensive resources, study aids, and support designed specifically for healthcare students throughout their education programme.

Choosing nursing associate as a career is choosing to be part of providing essential healthcare across all four fields of nursing: adult, children's, mental health, and learning disability.

Your dedication to supporting patients and families across diverse healthcare settings makes you a valuable future addition to the nursing associate profession.