Failed OSCE candidates from October 2025 onwards will finally receive a detailed OSCE Performance Report — and New Zealand Skill Connect is ready to help you use it.
Why This Matters
For years, internationally qualified nurses failing the NZ OSCE had no idea why — no station breakdown, no criteria feedback, no pathway to improve. That changes now.
The Problem That Led to This Change
The New Zealand Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is not a simple practical test. It is a rigorous, psychometric-based assessment that evaluates clinical reasoning, patient safety, professional communication, and decision-making across 10 structured stations.
Yet for years, candidates who received a failed result walked away with almost nothing to guide their next attempt. No station-by-station breakdown. No feedback on which competencies were not met. No explanation of whether the issue was communication, clinical structure, documentation, or safety.
“There’s no transparency. We should be allowed to know what they’re looking for.”
— Internationally qualified nurse speaking to The Press NZ
This frustration was documented publicly when Felix Rexy, Director of New Zealand Skill Connect, raised concerns about the high fail rate and lack of feedback among candidates he worked with. His advocacy — covered by The Press NZ — highlighted stories of nurses spending over $30,000 on registration costs, failing twice, and still not understanding where they went wrong.
The Nursing Council of New Zealand has now responded with a significant policy change.
What Is the OPR? (OSCE Performance Report)
The OPR — OSCE Performance Report is a new feedback system being introduced by the Nursing Council of New Zealand. It is designed to give failed candidates a meaningful, structured understanding of their performance so they can prepare more effectively for a subsequent attempt.
Key Fact
Any candidate who received a failed OSCE result from
1 OCTOBER 2025 ONWARDS
is eligible to receive an OPR. If you failed after this date, you can request your report.
What the OPR Includes
- Performance feedback across all 10 OSCE stations
- Identification of which stations fell below the required standard
- Breakdown of specific competency areas that affected your result
- Insight into how psychometric scoring was applied to your performance
- Clear indication of performance gaps to address before the next attempt
What Failed Candidates Could NOT Get Before
- No station-level feedback — just a pass or fail outcome
- No explanation of which Nursing Council criteria were unmet
- No way to know if the issue was communication, clinical reasoning, safety, or documentation
- No structured guidance for the next attempt — leading to repeated mistakes
Why This Is a Significant Change
The introduction of the OPR represents one of the most meaningful reforms to the OSCE process since its implementation. For internationally qualified nurses — many of whom travel to New Zealand from India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, the UK, South Africa, and beyond — the financial and emotional cost of failing without understanding why has been enormous.
Data-Driven Preparation
Candidates can now target specific weaknesses rather than re-studying everything broadly.
Reduced Financial Cost
Smarter preparation reduces unnecessary retake costs — each exam costs $3,500 plus accommodation.
Aligned Expectations
Candidates will finally know what examiners are assessing in each station.
Break the Repeat Cycle
Without feedback, candidates repeated the same errors. OPR breaks this cycle.
Why This Is a Significant Change
At New Zealand Skill Connect (NZSC), we have spent years working directly with OSCE candidates — understanding not just the clinical content, but the precise assessment framework, psychometric scoring structure, and communication standards the Nursing Council uses during examinations.
When you receive your OPR, the data inside it is only as useful as your ability to interpret and act on it. That is where our team steps in.
Our OPR Review Process
Step 1 — Receive your OPR
Once you have your OSCE Performance Report from the Nursing Council, share it securely with our team.
Step 2 — Expert analysis
Our OSCE educators and examiners analyse your report station by station, mapping your gaps to exact Nursing Council competency criteria.
Step 3 — Structured feedback session
We walk you through what the report means in plain terms — what went wrong, why it matters, and what examiners expect to see instead.
Step 4 — Targeted preparation plan
We build a structured preparation plan focused specifically on your identified weak areas, not a generic re-study programme.
Step 5 — Next attempt with clarity
You approach your retake understanding the exact standard required — not guessing, not hoping, but preparing with purpose.
🚨 Free Offer
Free Initial OPR Review — Limited Availability
To support candidates during this transition period, NZSC is offering a FREE initial OPR Review with our experienced OSCE educators. If you failed your OSCE after 1 October 2025, contact us today.
📍 Christchurch, New Zealand · Preparing Nurses Beyond Scripts.
Free Webinar — Understand the New OSCE Changes & OPR
At New Zealand Skill Connect (NZSC), we have spent years working directly with OSCE candidates — understanding not just the clinical content, but the precise assessment framework, psychometric scoring structure, and communication standards the Nursing Council uses during examinations.
Free Webinar Understand the New NZ OSCE Changes & OPR Implementation
- Date
- Wednesday, 27 May 2026
- Platform
- Microsoft Teams (Live)
- Cost
- Free — Limited Seats
Join from your timezone:
Topics covered: new OSCE assessment criteria · how psychometric scoring works · what the OPR card includes · how to use the OPR to improve · strategic preparation for your next attempt.
Webinar attendees receive: a free OPR review with an NZ OSCE Examiner + 15% off all OSCE Training Packages.
The Voice Behind This Change
The push for greater OSCE transparency did not happen in a vacuum. Felix Rexy, Director of New Zealand Skill Connect, has been one of the most consistent voices advocating for internationally qualified nurses facing the OSCE process.
His concerns were documented in a widely-read article in The Press NZ, which reported on candidates spending upwards of $30,000 on registration costs while failing twice with no explanation. Felix’s call for the Nursing Council to restructure the process — offering transparency, feedback, and encouragement to candidates — directly contributed to the policy review that has now resulted in the OPR system.
“My humble request to the Nursing Council is to restructure the process a little bit. We are inviting them to come here and become nurses, so we need to be supportive and not give them a reason to not trust the system.”
— Felix Rexy, Director, New Zealand Skill Connect (The Press NZ)
The introduction of the OPR is a meaningful step in that direction — and NZSC is committed to helping every candidate make the most of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any candidate who received a failed OSCE result on or after 1 October 2025 is eligible to request their OSCE Performance Report from the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
Contact the Nursing Council of New Zealand directly to request your report. Once received, NZSC can help you review and interpret it. Reach us at hello@nzskillsconnect.com or via WhatsApp at +64 22 517 2614.
The initial exam costs approximately $3,500, with each retake costing around $3,000. Additional costs include accommodation, travel to Christchurch, and document authentication — meaning multiple failed attempts can cost well over $20,000.
Yes. For a limited period during this transition, NZSC is offering a free initial OPR review to failed candidates. Contact our team to arrange yours.
Candidates are permitted to retake the OSCE twice before needing to restart the full competence assessment process. The OPR aims to help candidates use those retake opportunities more effectively.
Your Nursing Future Starts Here
Whether you are preparing for your OSCE, starting your CGFNS application, applying for your visa, or pursuing PR in New Zealand or Australia — NZ Skills Connect is your complete, trusted partner from day one.
Contact Us to Enroll Today:
🌐 Website: www.nzsc.ac.nz
📱 WhatsApp (NZ): +64 22 093 2915
📱 WhatsApp (NZ) : +64 210 808 7982
📱 WhatsApp (NZ): +64 22 501 1797
📞 Student Care (India): +91 81390 05565
✉️ Email: Info@nzsc.ac.nz
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