How many stations are in the NMC midwifery OSCE and how long does it take?

The midwifery OSCE has 10 stations and takes around 3 hours: four linked APIE stations, four clinical-skills stations (at least one an acute emergency), and two silent stations (professional values and behaviours, and evidence-based practice).

What is the pass mark for the NMC midwifery OSCE?

Each station is marked pass or fail against essential criteria, and a candidate must pass every station to pass overall. A red flag can be applied for any action that could harm the woman or baby, which can fail that station.

How much does the NMC OSCE cost in 2026?

The NMC OSCE fee is £794. If you fail 7 or fewer stations you pay a reduced resit fee of £397 and only resit the stations you failed; failing 8 or more requires a full resit at £794.

Is the midwifery OSCE taken at a Pearson VUE centre?

No. The OSCE is delivered in person at NMC-approved university test centres in the UK, such as the University of Northampton, Oxford Brookes University and Ulster University. Pearson VUE delivers only the Part 1 computer-based test.

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Immediately after birth of the baby, what does the Normal Birth marking criteria require the midwife to do to promote bonding and thermoregulation?

Place the baby on the woman's abdomen and support immediate skin-to-skin contact

Bathe the baby before any contact

Take the baby straight to the nursery

Weigh and dress the baby before giving to the mother

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Sample NMC Midwifery OSCE Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NMC Midwifery OSCE exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1At the start of an Antenatal APIE assessment station, before approaching the woman, what is the FIRST action the marking criteria expect the midwife to take?

A.Assess the safety of the scene and protect the woman's privacy and dignity

B.Auscultate the fetal heart with a Pinard stethoscope

C.Perform urinalysis on the provided sample

D.Write the diagnosis on the MEOWS chart

Explanation: The NMC Antenatal APIE assessment grid lists assessing scene safety and the woman's privacy and dignity as the opening criterion, before hand hygiene and introductions. Establishing a safe, dignified environment is a professional-values expectation that examiners look for from the outset.

2When checking a woman's identity at an antenatal station, what is the MINIMUM combination the NMC marking criteria require?

A.Her first name only

B.Her name plus either date of birth or hospital number, verified verbally and against documentation

C.Her postcode and next of kin

D.Her NHS number written on the MEOWS chart only

Explanation: The criteria state the person's name is essential plus either their date of birth or hospital number, checked verbally, against the wristband where appropriate, and against documentation. This two-identifier rule is a recurring essential criterion across every APIE and skills station.

3A woman attends at 38 weeks with reduced fetal movements. Which set of maternal observations does the Antenatal APIE assessment grid expect the midwife to verbalise?

A.Blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and per vaginam loss

B.Blood pressure and pulse only

C.Capillary blood glucose and weight

D.Apgar score and cord pH

Explanation: The antenatal assessment criteria require a full set: blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and per vaginam (PV) loss. A complete observation set lets the midwife screen for deterioration on the MEOWS chart.

4During the antenatal assessment, how should the midwife confirm fetal wellbeing in a way that distinguishes the fetal heart from the maternal pulse?

A.Record only the cardiotocograph trace without palpation

B.Auscultate the fetal heart with a Pinard while simultaneously palpating the maternal radial pulse to differentiate the two rates

C.Assume any rate over 100 bpm is the fetal heart

D.Use the woman's reported fetal movements as the sole measure

Explanation: The criteria require auscultating the fetal heart (Pinard) and differentiating between fetal and maternal heart rate. Palpating the maternal pulse while auscultating prevents the dangerous error of mistaking a maternal rate for the fetal heart.

5Which measurement does the Antenatal APIE grid expect the midwife to take to assess fetal growth?

A.Estimated fetal weight from maternal BMI

B.Maternal mid-upper arm circumference

C.Symphysis-fundal height measured with a tape measure

D.Crown-rump length

Explanation: Measuring symphysis-fundal height is listed as part of assessing fetal wellbeing in the antenatal station. Plotting fundal height helps detect small- or large-for-gestational-age growth and triggers referral when off the centile.

6Before performing urinalysis at the antenatal station, what does the marking criteria require the midwife to do?

A.Send the sample directly to the laboratory

B.Catheterise the woman to obtain the sample

C.Discard the sample as it is not relevant antenatally

D.Put on disposable gloves and apron

Explanation: The grid specifically requires donning disposable gloves and apron before handling the urine sample and performing urinalysis as per the manufacturer's instructions. Appropriate PPE is an essential infection-control criterion scored throughout the station.

7An antenatal woman's blood pressure is 158/104 mmHg with new proteinuria (protein ++) at 37 weeks. On the MEOWS chart this triggers a red score. What does this most likely indicate?

A.Normal late-pregnancy physiology requiring no action

B.Dehydration to be managed with oral fluids only

C.Pre-eclampsia requiring urgent escalation and obstetric review

D.A laboratory error to be ignored

Explanation: New hypertension (>=140/90, here 158/104) with proteinuria after 20 weeks defines pre-eclampsia. A red MEOWS trigger requires the midwife to identify the concern and escalate for urgent obstetric review, reflecting NICE hypertension-in-pregnancy guidance.

8In the Antenatal Planning station, after identifying abnormal findings, on what must the midwife base the documented plan of care?

A.Personal preference unsupported by guidance

B.Current, evidence-based best practice in line with NICE guidelines

C.The fastest option to finish the station

D.Whatever the woman's relative suggests

Explanation: The planning criteria require that midwifery interventions are current, evidence-based and based on best practice in line with current NICE guidelines. Examiners reward plans that are explicitly grounded in national guidance rather than habit or convenience.

9What feature of care planning does the Antenatal Planning grid specifically reward beyond writing the clinical plan?

A.Recognising the need to involve the woman in the care-planning process

B.Using abbreviations to save time

C.Omitting review times to keep the plan concise

D.Planning without reference to the assessment findings

Explanation: Both antenatal and postnatal planning criteria explicitly require recognising the need to involve the woman in care planning. Partnership and shared decision-making are central NMC Code values that examiners assess across the OSCE.

10In the Antenatal Implementation (medicines) station, before administering any prescribed drug the midwife must verbalise a set of checks. Which list matches the NMC criteria?

A.Drug colour, batch number and manufacturer only

B.Person and drug only

C.Cost of the drug and stock level

D.Person, drug, dose, date and time of administration, route and method of administration

Explanation: The implementation grid requires verbalising person, drug, dose, date and time of administration, and route and method of administration, having first checked allergies. These align with the long-standing safe medicines-administration rights.

About the NMC Midwifery OSCE Practice Questions

Verified exam format metadata for NMC Test of Competence Part 2 - OSCE (Midwifery) is pending. The practice questions above remain available while official exam length, timing, passing score, fee, and administrator details are reviewed.