NMC – Fraudulent IELTS Certificate and Successful Appeal on Character Grounds

An overseas-trained midwife’s application for NMC registration was refused after the British Council confirmed that her uploaded IELTS Test Report Form was “an entirely counterfeit document.” Although she subsequently met the NMC’s English language requirements through verified OET results, the Assistant Registrar refused her application on character grounds, finding her account inconsistent and not credible.

The midwife instructed Jon Meadows of Regulation Resolution Solicitors to appeal under Article 37(1)(a) of the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001. The strategy was to demonstrate that she had genuinely travelled from Iran to Turkey to sit the test through a third-party agency, and that she was a victim of fraud rather than a knowing participant in dishonesty.

Regulation Resolution undertook detailed investigatory work, obtaining passport stamps, contemporaneous British Council emails, WhatsApp communications with the agency, and character references from her UK colleagues attesting to her honesty and integrity. Witness evidence was prepared from colleagues who had travelled with her, who could explain the logistical realities of cross-border travel from Iran under sanctions and the use of unregulated agencies.

At the appeal hearing, the panel heard evidence from the midwife and her witnesses. The defence case emphasised that, for the NMC’s theory to be correct, the midwife would have had to fabricate British Council emails within hours of the NMC’s request, falsify multiple passports, and persuade several independent professionals to participate in an elaborate deception—a scenario the panel found implausible.

The panel accepted the evidence on appeal. It found that the documentary and witness evidence was consistent with the midwife’s account, that she had been defrauded by a bogus agency, and that she had no reason to knowingly submit a false document. Weight was placed on her unblemished UK practice and strong testimonials from colleagues.

The appeal was allowed. The decision was quashed, and the Registrar was directed to admit the midwife to the NMC register.

What this means if you’re facing similar allegations

Being the victim of a fraudulent third party is very different from acting dishonestly yourself, but the burden often falls on you to prove it. Thorough evidence-gathering — documents, travel records and independent witnesses — can rebuild a credible account and overturn an adverse decision on appeal. If your registration has been refused on character grounds, a properly evidenced appeal may still succeed.

Facing a NMC case? Learn more about our Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) defence services, or contact us for a free case evaluation.