Last Update on 17/12/2020

Practising as a Nurse

General Information

In order to practice as a nurse in the Republic of Cyprus, one must be entered in the Nursing Register by the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and obtain a practice licence, to the provisions of “The Nursing and Midwifery Law of 1988 (214/1988)”, as periodically amended.

The term “registered nurse” means a person registered in the Register of Nurses under the Nursing and Midwifery Law of 1988 (214/1988).

Please note that the European Professional Card (EPC) is available for this profession. The EPC is an electronic procedure you can use to have your professional qualifications recognised in another EU country (in this case the 27 EU Member States). It is easier and quicker to manage than traditional qualification recognition procedures, and more transparent. For more information on how to apply click here.

Any natural person shall be entitled to register as a nurse, provided that the Nursing Registrar is satisfied that the following criteria are met:

(a) is at least 21 years old;

(b) is a citizen of the Republic, a spouse or child of a citizen of the Republic and is habitually resident in Cyprus or is a national of a Member State;

(c) holds a nursing diploma awarded by the Nursing School of the Ministry of Health or by the Department of Nursing of the School of Health Sciences of the Cyprus University of Technology or by universities whose curriculum is approved by the Council or holds one of the diplomas, certificates or other qualifications listed in Annex II or holds a diploma, certificate or other nursing qualification not listed in Annex II but complies with the conditions set out in Annex III, recognised by the Cyprus Council of Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications (KY.S.A.T.S.) and approved by the Council or covered by the provisions of Article 8A;

(d) is a person of good character.

Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council
Ministry of Health
1 Prodromou & 17 Chilonos Str.
1448 Nicosia, Ayios Andreas,
Cyprus
Tel.: +357 22605477, +357 22605455
Fax : +357 22605789
E-mail: mevangelou@moh.gov.cy, nmccyprus@gmail.com

  1. Supporting Documents to be submitted along with the Application for Registration in the Nursing Register – General Nursing:

    a) Duly completed application form for the Nursing Register – General Nursing;

    b) Copy of Identity Card or Passport (as a Proof of nationality);

    c) Certified Copy of Title in General Nursing (Degree/Diploma/Certificate as evidence of professional qualifications); d) Certified copies of Certificate of Registration and Practice of Nursing Licence from the Competent Authority of the country of origin;

    e) Certified Copy of the Certificate of Current Professional Status/Practice of the applicant issued by the competent authority of the country of origin (should clearly state the official professional title of the applicant and whether the title complies with the European Directive
    2005/36/EC and if there are any limitations on the applicant’s practice as well as the professional character of the applicant; that he/she is not prohibited from practising, even temporarily, at the moment of delivering the certificate);

    f) Certification of professional practice since the acquisition of the qualification and a reference letter from the last employer must be enclosed;

    g) Original certificate of Clear Criminal Record issued by the Competent Authority (Police) dated within three months of the date of application. Please note that in that case where the applicant has been residing in Republic Cyprus for a period of six months or more, the Clear Criminal Record Certificate must be issued by the Cyprus Police;

    h) Two identical, recent passport-sized photographs;

    i) Proof that the applicant possesses the necessary, elementary level of knowledge of the Greek language in order to practice nursing in the Republic of Cyprus. In order to assess this, the Nursing and Midwifery Council conducts personal interviews by which it establishes the level of knowledge of the Greek language; after the registration to the Nursing Register and before issuing the Practice Licence;

• The application fee for registration in the Nursing Register is €35.

• The fee for the issuance of the Registration Certificate and the annual Licence for Practising the Profession is €35

The Council shall certify receipt of the file of the person concerned within one month of such receipt and inform him of any missing documents.

The Council adopts a reasoned decision within three months of the submission of the full dossier of the person concerned.

The duration of the license is 4 years from the date of registration of the professional.

The renewal fee is €40.

The renewal of this licence shall require documentation of practising the profession; at least 25 days per year and 32 hours and/or 20 International Points of continu0us professional training.

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

A person who is not satisfied by a Council decision may, within twenty (20) days of the date on which the Council’s decision is notified to him/her, challenge that decision by written Administrative Action to the Minister of Health; this provision is regulated in the Health Professionals Registration Councils (Exercise of Hierarchical Administrative Action) Law of 2017.

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative Court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:

I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such a decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated.

However, such a revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

Please see the related documents in the “Applications and Documents”