Nursing Council Ends Three-Attempt Exam Dismissal Policy
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has stopped the rule that dismissed students after failing exams three times. From September 2025, candidates will be allowed to keep retaking the exam parts they failed, as long as they meet attendance rules. Schools are asked to support students better and help them succeed.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has pulled the brakes on an old rule that once cut short the dreams of many nursing students. For years, failing the Council’s professional exam three times meant the end of the road. No more. As from September 2025, that rule is gone, swept aside to make way for a softer, more supportive approach.
Instead of pushing students out, the Council now says candidates can keep retaking only the part of the exam they failed. This means one bad score does not wipe away years of effort. For many, this comes as a lifeline, a chance to steady the boat after rough waters.
The New Guidelines
The Council’s new directive makes the policy plain:
- No student will be thrown out for failing three times.
- Candidates who stumble on any part of the exam will repeat only that section until they pass.
- Students must remain in school and maintain at least 80 percent attendance in lectures or clinical postings to qualify for a re-sit.
- Every failed attempt will be noted against the training institution.
This new arrangement keeps students in class while holding schools responsible too, a two-way street meant to balance fairness and quality.
What It Means for Training Schools
Heads of nursing schools have been asked to adjust, and not just on paper. The Council wants schools to create fresh ways to support learners, especially those who need extra time or guidance. No more leaving stragglers behind, the call is to pull them along until they cross the finish line.
A Wider Mission
In the Council’s own words, the focus is on building resilience, sparking lifelong learning, and cutting off quackery from the profession. The message is loud: Nigeria needs more nurses, not fewer, and pushing students out after three missteps only drains the pipeline.
Final Note
This decision, welcomed by many, changes the rhythm of nursing education in Nigeria. The Council has shown that rules can bend when fairness calls. For students, the path is clearer now, though not easier. Attendance still matters, discipline still counts, but the guillotine of “three strikes and you’re out” has been retired.
As some might say, the door has been left open a little longer, and sometimes that extra chance is all a student needs.
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