Registered Nursing Associates
Registered Nursing Associate’s bridge the gap between healthcare assistants / healthcare support workers and registered Nurses. The role offers career development opportunities and longer term, can provide an alternative route towards becoming a registered Nurse.
Registered Nursing Associates are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and work across various health and social care settings. They provide person-centred care across all four fields of Nursing. The Registered Nursing Associate role is a vital part of the nursing team as they contribute to the planning, delivery and evaluation of care.
How to become a Registered Nursing Associate?
To become a Registered Nursing Associate, an individual is required to complete a two-year foundation degree (Level 5) through a NMC-approved Nursing Associate programme. There are two training pathways available: direct entry and an apprenticeship.
- Direct entry requires an individual to apply direct to a higher educational institution and is responsible for the tuition fees.
- An apprenticeship is a paid, work-based training program which allows an individual to learn about the profession whilst working for an employer. It combines on-the-job training (usually 80%) with classroom-based study (at least 20%), enabling an apprentice to earn a wage, gain experience, and achieve a nationally recognised qualification.
- An Apprenticeship Levy can be applied for to fully fund the training and assessment fees for the student Nursing Associate program, provided the individual is enrolled on an approved apprenticeship standard and the employer uses an approved training provider. It is important to note, the levy funds only cover training and assessment, and does not cover salaries, travel, or supervision costs. The Department for Education provides further details regarding the apprenticeship levy: How are apprenticeships funded and what is the apprenticeship levy? – The Education Hub
Requirements to commence study for the student Nursing Associate Apprenticeship
- Those wishing to complete an apprenticeship must have their employer’s approval and hold a contract of employment for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
- Higher educational institutions require applicants to hold English and Maths GCSE Grade C & above, or Functional Skills level 2 Maths & English.
- Applicants must have lived in the UK for 3+ years and hold a visa that would support the apprenticeship for the entire length of the programme, including end point assessments. Some exceptions may apply. Details can be found in the apprenticeship funding rules: Apprenticeship funding rules 2025 to 2026 , along with some examples shared at the end *
- If the 3 year UK residency status does not apply to an individual, please speak with the higher educational institution to discuss further.
- Applicants must demonstrate compassion, professionalism, and a willingness to learn, aligned with the UK NMC standards.
What is included in the student Nursing Associate apprenticeship?
Academic learning takes place through modules and practice placements. There are two practice placements per academic year, which last for six weeks. There will also be opportunities for clinical skills development, reading and study periods, self-directed learning (physical/online), simulation, shadowing, assessment activities, collaborative learning sets and teaching within the workplace.
Where can the student Nursing Associate apprenticeship be studied?
There are various options available for completing the student Nursing Associate Apprenticeship.
- The University of Gloucestershire is the local higher education institution who provides an in person taught program. Please follow the link for more information: Nursing Associate FdSc – University of Gloucestershire
- The Open University offer a remote approach to complete the apprenticeship. Please follow the following link for more information: Foundation Degree in Nursing Associate Practice | Open University | X20
For further information about the student Nursing Associate Apprenticeship, please contact the Primary Care Training Hub glicb.pcwc@nhs.net
The following NHS England website also provides some supportive information for applying to be a student Nursing Associate
Applying to be a student nursing associate | NHS England | Workforce, training and education
* Apprenticeship funding rules- examples of some exceptions:
26.2. Is able to complete the apprenticeship within the time they have available, including the end-point assessment. If the provider knows an individual is unable to complete the apprenticeship in the time they have available, (e.g. because their visa will expire or because they have a fixed term contract which is shorter than the duration of the apprenticeship), they must not be funded.
Non-UK nationals 325. Non-UK nationals are eligible for funding if: 325.1. They have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for at least the previous 3-year period on the first day of their apprenticeship; 325.2. Whose ordinary residence in the UK and Islands has not during any part of that period been wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education; and 325.3. Have permission granted by the UK government to live in the UK and such permission is not for education purposes only.
334. Any individual with any of the statuses listed below, is eligible to receive funding and is exempt from the 3-year residency requirement rule but will need to be ordinarily resident in the UK since the grant of their status. Providers must have seen the individual’s immigration permission (see the evidence requirements for learner eligibility) in these circumstances.
Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme
To access the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme Repository page for Nursing Associate/Student Nursing Associates (SNA) which includes
- What the role can do
- Nursing guide handbook
- Entry requirements
- Training pathway
- Funding information
- Case studies
- and more …
Please click here.