The Nursing Associate (NA) role is now an established and regulated part of the nursing workforce in England. It was introduced to bridge the gap between health care support workers and registered nurses.

Since the first pilot programme in 2017, the role has grown significantly. From January 2019, qualified NAs have been able to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and join the workforce in England. In 2024, the NMC agreed to extend regulation of the NA role to include Wales, in addition to England.

If you’ve completed relevant education or training in another country, or in a different part of the UK, you may be eligible to:

• apply to a nursing associate programme in England and have your previous learning considered, or
• apply for registration through the route designed for applicants from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the EU, or other international locations.

Many NAs are employed in the NHS, but increasing numbers now work in primary care, social care, community services, hospices and the independent sector, including GP practices.

At the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), we’ve been closely involved in the development of the role and recognise the important contribution NAs make to delivering high-quality patient care.

We provide guidance and resources for:

• Nursing associates — to support career development and professional practice.
• Registered nurses and employers —to ensure effective team integration and safe delegation.