Overseas Aptitude Test – General Nurse

How much to pay

The fee is €2,500 if:

• The fee is paid to RCSI by an employer who is entitled to a discount;

or

• The fee is paid by an agent who is paying on behalf of an employer (as clearly declared on the payment proof) who is entitled to the discount.

Prospective employers entitled to a discount include those who have a service level agreement (SLA) with the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at RCSI. Before paying the fee, contact your prospective employer regarding the relevant amount. The discount is only applicable at the point of application and will not be given retrospectively.

For all other applications the fee is €2,800.

Please note:

• You must allow for any transaction charges if applicable.
• The fee includes two attempts at each part of the test.
• The fee has, so far, remained unchanged since the first test in December 2015.

Proof of payment

Before paying the correct fee, it is essential that all the requirements regarding the proof of payment are fully considered to ensure full compliance as follows:

1. The proof of payment must be an official bank receipt. It must contain the following as part of the official receipt (not hand-written):
   - Name and address and logo of bank from where the money is being sent.
   - Official stamp from where the money is being sent.
   - The account number from where the money is being sent.
   - The full name of the account from where the money is being sent.
   - RCSI account number into which the money is being transferred.
   - Amount paid (in euro).
   - The full name of the applicant as per passport.
2. The relationship of the account holder to the applicant must be hand-written on the bottom of the receipt, as per one of the following:
   - Account holder is prospective employer who is entitled to the discounted fee (€2,500) – state name of prospective employer.
   - Account holder is agent paying on behalf of the prospective employer who is entitled to the discounted fee (€2,500) – state name of agent and the prospective employer.
   - Account holder is prospective employer who is not entitled to the discounted fee (€2,800) – state name of prospective employer.
   - Account holder is agent paying on behalf of the prospective employer who is not entitled to the discounted fee (€2,800) – state name of agent and the prospective employer.
   - Account holder is the applicant (€2,800) – state name of agent and prospective employer.
   - Account holder is other than above (€2,800) – state relationship to applicant.
3. The preferred test date 

Please note

• An application will not be processed and will be returned until the details above are correct.
• An invoice will not be issued. A receipt of the proof of payment will form part of your invitation email. If the fee was paid by someone other than you the applicant, then you must forward the invitation email to them. No other receipt will be automatically issued.

Administration charges for postponements on or after 1 March 2025
Postponements are happening because:

• Not allowing sufficient time for the various processes to be complete.
• Delayed application for AWS Letter of Approval or Entry Visa. Upon receipt of an invitation for the test, application should be ready to be submitted for Immigration documents (provided it is within the required timeframe).
• Not being prepared for the test despite having had the invitation for a number of months.

A suitable date should be considered at the point of application: a preferred date should be written on the bottom of the payment proof (from list of test dates in the Apply section). The preferred date should be achievable and be before your NMBI Decision Letter expires.

Postponements are problematic as tests have to be frequently cancelled or tests are running with vacant places coupled with the significant impact on resources including time involved in administration and processing. The knock-on effect of postponements on workforce planning is not helpful.

If there is a no-show or a response is not received to the booking confirmation by the due date and the applicant wishes to be placed on another test date then the charge is 20% of fee paid. The onus is on each applicant to ensure the booking confirmation email is received from RCSI. If not received two weeks prior to the test date, then immediately email marianeary@rcsi.com.

For the process to follow regarding postponements, refer to changes to test status in the Apply section.

Unused fees

There is no automatic refund of unused fees, except where an applicant is unsuccessful at the second attempt at the theory test, in which case the portion of the fee for the practical test will be refunded (as such an applicant would not be eligible to take this part if they are unsuccessful at the theory test).

Administration charges for refunds on or after 1 February 2025
a) If a fee has been paid by agent/prospective employer and the fee is going to be used for another applicant and the request is made in writing before the test date: then the administration charge is 10%. The unused fee must be used within three months of the withdrawal or a further administration charge may be added.

b) If a fee has been paid by agent/prospective employer and the fee is not going to be used for another applicant or if the fee has been paid by someone else (applicant or other) then the administration charge will vary depending on when the application is withdrawn and the refund requested, as follows:
i. If withdrawn and refund requested 30 or more days before the allocated test date, then the administration charge will be: 10% of the fee paid.
ii. If withdrawn and refund requested between 14 and 29 days before the allocated test date, then the administration charge will be: 15% of the fee paid.
iii. If withdrawn and refund requested 13 days or less before the allocated test date, then the administration charge will be: 20% of the fee paid.
iv. If there is a no-show or a response is not received to the booking confirmation by the due date then the administration charge will be: 20% of the fee paid.

For the process to follow regarding refunds refer to changes to test status in the Apply section.

These administration charges are necessary because of:

• The amount of additional resource implications including staff time involved in administration and processing.
• The necessary communication and follow-up required by the Aptitude Test manager.
• Not being able to ascertain, despite several endeavours to communicate/follow-up, if an applicant is coming to a test.
• The late reply that an applicant is withdrawing that often results in it being too late to offer the place to someone else which significantly impacts on workforce planning.
• Late application for a refund concurrently with information gaps including missing details.