Nursing and Healthcare CV Ireland: NMBI and HSE Guide

Healthcare is one of Ireland's most acute skills shortage areas and largest employment sectors. The HSE (Health Service Executive) is Ireland's public health system and one of the country's largest employers overall. Ireland actively recruits internationally for nurses, doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals — the Critical Skills Employment Permit covers most healthcare professions for non-EEA nationals, and Ireland has active overseas recruitment programmes targeting India, the Philippines, South Africa, and elsewhere.

NMBI registration — mandatory for nurses

All nurses and midwives practising in Ireland must be registered with An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann — the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). Practice without valid NMBI registration is unlawful. Registration divisions include:

• General (RGN): Registered General Nurse — the primary nursing registration
• Mental Health (RMN): Registered Mental Health Nurse
• Children's (RCN): Registered Children's Nurse
• Midwifery (RM): Registered Midwife
• Intellectual Disability (RNID): Registered Nurse Intellectual Disability

Include your NMBI registration number, division, and current registration status prominently on your CV: NMBI Registration: 12345678 | General (RGN) | Active.

Overseas nurses: Nurses trained outside Ireland and the EU must apply for NMBI registration through the overseas registration route. NMBI assesses whether your training is equivalent to Irish standards. This process takes several months and should be initiated before accepting a job offer. The NMBI Overseas Registration Pathway is the primary route for internationally trained nurses seeking to work in Ireland.

Medical Council of Ireland — registration for doctors

All doctors practising in Ireland must be registered with the Medical Council of Ireland. Registration divisions:

• General Division: For established practitioners
• Trainee Specialist Division: For doctors in recognised specialist training programmes
• Specialist Division: For consultants with specialist qualifications recognised by the Medical Council
• Supervised Division: For doctors who don't meet full registration requirements but work under supervision

HSE applications — the public sector process

The HSE recruits through its HR portal at hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs. Key features of HSE recruitment:

• Applications for most clinical roles require a formal competency-based application addressing the person specification
• Interview panels typically include HR, clinical managers, and a service user representative for senior roles
• Overseas nurses recruited by HSE may have their NMBI registration fees covered and receive relocation support
• HSE pay scales are set nationally and publicly available — Grade V Registered General Nurse: approximately €32,000–€47,000 depending on experience point

Private sector healthcare

Ireland's private hospital sector — including the Mater Private, Beacon Hospital (Sandyford), St. Vincent's Private, the Hermitage, and Bon Secours — typically pays above HSE scale, particularly for experienced nurses and consultants. Private sector applications go directly to hospital HR portals.

Irish healthcare salary benchmarks (2026, €EUR per year)

Sources: NMBI — Nursing registration (nmbi.ie, 2026); Medical Council of Ireland (medicalcouncil.ie, 2026); HSE — Nursing recruitment (hse.ie, 2026); Collins McNicholas Ireland Salary Guide 2026; WRC — Consultant contract (workplacerelations.ie, 2026)