Nursing Council Scraps Three-Strike Exam Failure Policy: What Students Need to Know

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has abolished its long-standing policy that dismissed nursing students after three failed attempts at professional examinations. The change takes effect from September 2025.

What Has Changed

Old Policy: Students who failed professional nursing examinations three times were permanently dismissed from the programme.

New Policy: Students can now retake failed examination components until they achieve a passing mark, provided they meet attendance requirements.

Key Requirements Under the New System

To qualify for re-sits, students must:

• Maintain at least 80% attendance in both lectures and clinical postings
• Retake only the specific examination component they failed (not the entire exam)

Each unsuccessful re-attempt will be counted against the institution, encouraging schools to provide better support for struggling students.

Why the Change?

The Council stated this shift reflects a commitment to a more student-centered approach that promotes achievement and success while still maintaining standards to control quackery in the profession.

Council Registrar Ndagi Alhassan explained that the previous elimination policy had become a concern, and the change aligns with global best practices in nursing education.

What This Means for Nursing Students

This is significant news for current and prospective nursing students:

• Less pressure: The fear of permanent dismissal after three failures is removed
• Focus on learning: Students can concentrate on mastering the material rather than exam anxiety
• Better support: Institutions are now incentivized to help struggling students succeed

The Registrar called on institution heads to implement strategies that will help all students succeed, especially those who may need additional support.