Physician Associate vs Nurse in the UK: Roles, Training and Registration
Physician associates and nurses work side by side in the NHS, but they train differently, answer to different regulators and sit different exams. This guide compares the two careers and explains how each route to UK registration works, including for internationally educated nurses.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Physician associate vs nurse at a glance
| Physician associate (PA) | Registered nurse | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | General Medical Council (GMC) | Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) |
| Typical training | Life science degree, then a 2-year postgraduate PA programme | 3-year nursing degree in one of four fields |
| Model of care | Medical model, working under a supervising doctor | Nursing model, with autonomous nursing practice |
| Exams to register | National PA written exam and clinical OSCE | UK graduates: degree; trained abroad: NMC CBT and OSCE |
| Prescribing | Not currently able to prescribe | Can become an independent prescriber with further training |
| International route | No standard route for overseas-trained PAs | Well-established: NMC Test of Competence |
What does a physician associate do?
Physician associates work within a medical team under the supervision of a named senior doctor. Typical work includes taking histories, examining patients, requesting and interpreting investigations, and helping to plan management. PAs train in the medical model, so their exams look much more like medical school finals than nursing assessments.
How PAs qualify
Most PAs complete a life science or healthcare degree first, then a two-year postgraduate PA programme. To practise they must pass the national PA assessments (a written knowledge exam and a clinical OSCE) and register with the General Medical Council (GMC).
What does a registered nurse do?
Registered nurses assess, plan and deliver patient care across four fields: adult, children's, mental health and learning disabilities nursing. With further training, nurses can become independent prescribers, advanced clinical practitioners or specialist nurses.
How nurses qualify
UK nurses complete a three-year nursing degree in one of the four fields and then register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Nurses trained outside the UK take the NMC Test of Competence instead.
Joining the NMC register as an internationally educated nurse
Preparing for the NMC CBT: NMCMATE
Just as PAs revise for their national exam with question banks, internationally educated nurses prepare for the NMC computer-based test (CBT) with practice questions. NMCMATE is an independent NMC CBT and OSCE practice platform built for nurses preparing for UK registration. It is not affiliated with the NMC.
A set of free NMC CBT questions every day, with no card required.
Mocks that mirror the real CBT format and timing.
Drug calculation practice for the numeracy section that catches many nurses out.
Simulated patient stations with automated marking to prepare for Part 2.
If you are a nurse, or know one preparing to move to the UK, you can start with NMCMATE's free NMC CBT practice test.
Preparing for the PA national exam
For physician associates, the written exam rewards steady, daily question practice across the whole curriculum. PLABABLE for PA offers a PA question bank with a detailed explanation for every answer, plus revision guides and OSCE preparation.
Frequently asked questions
Is a physician associate a nurse?
No. Physician associates are a separate profession regulated by the GMC and trained in the medical model. Nurses are regulated by the NMC.
Can a nurse become a physician associate?
Yes. Nurses with a degree can apply for a postgraduate PA programme. They then need to pass the PA exams and register with the GMC, which is separate from their NMC registration.
Which exam do internationally educated nurses take?
The NMC Test of Competence. Part 1 is a computer-based test (CBT) of clinical knowledge and numeracy, which can be taken in many countries. Part 2 is a practical OSCE taken in the UK.
How can I practise for the NMC CBT?
Timed practice questions are the most effective preparation. NMCMATE (nmcmate.com) offers free daily NMC CBT questions, full mock exams, numeracy drills and OSCE practice for internationally educated nurses.