To register as a locum nurse in the UK, you need current Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration, evidence of your right to work and the checks required for your intended role. A recruitment agency will also review your experience to understand which nursing placements may suit you.
You can start by sending the agency your details. However, submitting a form does not mean you are ready to begin a shift. Your information must be checked, and any requirements for the particular placement must be completed.
This guide explains what to prepare, what the agency needs to check and what to ask before accepting work.
Understand the three stages of registration
“Registration” can mean different things during your application. Keeping these stages separate makes the process easier to follow.
| Stage | What it means |
|---|---|
| NMC registration | Your professional registration as a nurse. |
| Agency registration | The agency gathers and checks your details, experience and supporting documents. |
| Ready for a placement | The required checks for a particular role are complete, and your start arrangements have been confirmed. |
The Nursing and Midwifery Council maintains the professional register for UK nurses. Joining an agency does not replace NMC registration.
Agency registration also does not guarantee that a suitable shift will be available. Ask which roles match your experience and preferred locations.
Before applying: explain the work you are looking for
A recruiter needs more than your job title to understand what may suit you.
Prepare a short summary of:
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Your field of nursing and recent work experience.
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The clinical settings you are familiar with.
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Relevant qualifications and specialist skills.
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Your preferred locations and travelling distance.
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Your availability for day, night or weekend shifts.
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Any training, support or adjustments you may need.
Be clear about the work you can safely do and where you would need more support. This helps the agency assess your suitability for a role.
If you are newly qualified
Ask which opportunities, if any, are suitable for your current experience.
Requirements can vary between agencies and placements. Do not assume that NMC registration alone makes you eligible for every agency nursing role.
A useful question is:
“What experience does this role need, and what support would I receive when I start?”
If you trained overseas or your registration has lapsed
If you trained outside the UK and have not yet joined the register, follow the NMC’s international registration guidance.
If your registration has lapsed, check the NMC’s guidance on returning to the register.
An agency application cannot replace either process.
Get your registration documents ready
Ask the agency for its current checklist before gathering documents or paying for additional checks.
The NHS employment-check framework covers six areas: identity, right to work, professional registration and qualifications, employment history and references, criminal records, and work health assessments.
The exact evidence needed will depend on your circumstances and the role. Use this table to prepare for the conversation.
| Area | What to prepare or ask |
|---|---|
| Identity | Ask which identity and address documents are accepted and how they will be checked. |
| Professional registration | Have your NMC registration details and relevant qualification certificates ready. |
| Work history | Update your CV with accurate employment dates and explanations of any gaps. |
| References | Prepare suitable referee names and contact details. Ask which roles or periods your references must cover. |
| Right to work | Confirm which documents or online checks apply to you. |
| Criminal-record checks | Tell the agency about any existing certificate or relevant scheme membership. |
| Health and training | Ask which health assessment, training records and evidence of clinical skills the placement requires. |
Use the agency’s approved, secure method to send sensitive documents.
Keep a simple record of what you have supplied and what still needs to be checked. A document being received does not necessarily mean it has been verified.
Check which requirements apply to your circumstances
Some parts of agency nurse registration need more explanation than a document list can provide.
Your right to work
NMC registration and permission to work in the UK are separate matters.
Follow the GOV.UK guidance on proving your right to work, then ask the agency which checking route applies to you.
If your permission to work has restrictions, clarify whether they affect the proposed shifts or placement before accepting work.
Your criminal-record check
For work in England and Wales, the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check depends on the role. GOV.UK explains the criminal-record checks employers can request.
Having an existing DBS certificate does not automatically mean it can be accepted for every placement.
If you subscribe to the DBS Update Service, the organisation needs your consent and must be legally entitled to carry out the check. Your certificate must match the workforce, type and level of check required. This includes whether the role involves work with adults, children or both.
The DBS Update Service guidance explains these conditions. Ask the agency to check whether your existing certificate is suitable before paying for a new one.
Different systems apply elsewhere in the UK:
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Scotland: check the relevant Disclosure Scotland and PVG requirements.
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Northern Ireland: follow the relevant AccessNI guidance.
Your professional indemnity cover
Professional indemnity provides cover for claims arising from your professional work. The NMC requires an appropriate indemnity arrangement when you practise.
Do not assume that cover linked to a permanent job also covers separate agency shifts.
Confirm who provides your cover, which work it includes and whether you need your own arrangement. This is particularly relevant if you combine permanent employment with agency nursing.
Find out what still needs to be completed
There is no single registration timescale that applies to every nurse.
Rather than relying on a general estimate, ask:
“Which checks are complete, what are you waiting for, and is there anything I need to do?”
This helps you understand whether the next step belongs to you, the agency or another organisation.
It also separates documents received from checks completed. For example, providing a referee’s contact details is different from the agency receiving and reviewing the reference.
Before making plans around a start date, ask for confirmation that the requirements for that placement have been met.
Before accepting your first shift
Once your registration checks are complete, review the details of the actual assignment.
The advertised location and hourly rate are only part of the decision. You also need to understand the work, the terms and the support available.
| Question to ask | What you need to establish |
|---|---|
| Does this role match my skills and experience? | The clinical setting, patient group and duties expected of you. |
| Is anything still required before I start? | Whether any checks, training or assessments remain incomplete. |
| Where do I go, and who should I report to? | The arrival time, location and contact person. |
| What induction will I receive? | How you will learn the local procedures and systems needed for your work. |
| How will payment work? | The agreed rate, deductions, timesheet process and payment arrangements. |
| What happens if the shift changes or is cancelled? | The relevant terms and who will contact you. |
| Who can I contact for help? | The appropriate support contact before and during the shift. |
Read the terms provided and ask about anything you do not understand. The Royal College of Nursing’s agency-worker guidance explains what to check about your contract and each assignment.
Start your registration conversation with YHG
Your Healthcare Global offers nursing recruitment support for locum, temporary and permanent roles.
Share your nursing experience, preferred locations and availability with the team. Ask which opportunities match your background and what you need to prepare for registration.
Register your interest with YHG to start the conversation.