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Mature Student Nursing

We are Ireland’s No. 1 preparation course provider for the Mature Nursing Aptitude Tests taken by mature student nursing / midwifery applicants. 2025 Aptitude Test Preparation Course Now Available.

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Mature Student Nursing / Midwifery

Our Mature Student Nursing Preparation Course will give you the very best chance at success in the Mature Student Nursing Assessment. Developed by experts with over 35+ years experience. Take you Matrue Nursing Aptitude Tests with Confidence!

Each year we at Career Services successfully prepare hundreds of candidates just like you for the aptitude tests for mature nursing / midwifery applicants. We know it’s a daunting process but don’t worry our highly acclaimed course will give you all the tools you need to take your assessment with confidence!

"I was applying as a mature student to do nursing and I didn't know what to expect. Career Services helped me to gain not only a high grade in the assessment but also to get my number 1 choice in first round offers for mature students. It has been the best investment towards my career so far. I would highly recommend this course to any future mature student heading into nursing. Thank you for helping me reach my goal and get my number one offer. Forever grateful for the start of my career in Mental Health Nursing"

Alana Lafferty, Donegal

"I just wanted to send an email to thank all the team at Career Services! I completed the course for the nursing assessment and successfully passed the exam. I was offered my first choice of Midwifery in Trinity College and will be starting in September! I cant explain how happy I am and I want to thank you all because I would not have been able to complete the exam without this course. The information and support given was more than helpful! I have and will be recommending Career Services to everyone! Thank you again for all your help."

Niamh Glacken, Dublin

"Just want to say that thanks to the Career Services course I have been offered my first choice of midwifery. I have no doubt that if I had not invested in the course I would not be starting in September. Numerical would not be my strong point but the instructor made it easy to understand so I had no issues flying through the questions in the exam. If you have any doubts about the assessment at all I would absolutely recommend taking this course."

Sharon McMahon, Cork

"To say that I am impressed with your NMBI preparation courses is an understatement. I don’t know how to describe my joy and emotions. This is my first time of trying this assessment test and it is also the last time because I met the qualifying standard and I was also offered my first choice. I had zero confidence and zero knowledge of the Mature Nursing assessment tests. Taking the course with you gave me the knowledge, the speed and the confidence. I am forever grateful that I did this course with you and I will highly recommend this course to anyone who wants secure a place in nursing as a mature student."

Oge Onyia, Dublin

"I had heard about Career Services through a friend. I had a look at the website and booked in for a session. Maths was not my strongest subject, never had been, so I knew I needed the additional support...The online resources where amazing to practice...and gave me insight to what I should expect...I honestly can’t thank them enough, I was successful in so far as I’ve passed the assessment...If you’re seriously thinking of applying for nursing this is the way to go. Every section of the exam was covered in the learning materials. I can’t thank Career Services enough, and I will be recommending them to anyone."

Karina Whelan, Dublin

“Got my results – I got 202! Absolutely delighted with the results and really feel that I wouldn’t have achieved them without your course. I got into the program I wanted (Midwifery at TCD) despite the massive increase in points this year. Thank you so much!!! You provided an excellent program even with all the last minute changes to the test!”

Wendy Walton, Dublin

“I’ve just been offered my first choice general nursing. I want to thank the Career Service’s team for the fantastic webinar course I did, and for all the materials provided on the E- learning platform…I’ve been out of education for decades and I had lost all confidence in my academic abilities especially maths. I’m absolutely sure if I had not done the Career service prep course I definitely would not have met the qualifying grade let alone had got an offer. Just for all you mature students thinking about applying I recommend you do the Career Service course...It’s never too late. I’m 52 years old and this has been a life time dream.”

Jacqui Burke, Co. Kerry

“Highly recommended for Non-English speakers. English is my second language and I did not have a single trouble to understand the teachers nor the exercises. I would like to express my deep thanks and appreciation for all the efforts that you have exerted in preparing and presenting the practice program for the Nursing assessment...I got my top choice, General Nursing.”

Maria Recio, Co.Kerry

"As a mature student going forward to sit the aptitude test, Career Services went over and above for all their students. The online tutorials were amazing and the support was just fantastic. The online portal was extremely useful as students were able to practice mock tests as much as they wanted to so that they felt comfortable when it came to the real thing...I highly recommend them to students going forward! You won’t regret it.”

Rebecca Burke, Co. Kildare

"Delighted I passed the exam. My highest mark was in maths which I have struggled with all my life so I was really nervous with the exam. Would highly recommend the Career Services day to anyone thinking of doing nursing and midwifery. Thank you so much again for your support and endless amount of help and support.”

Nikita Murray, Dublin

“I was successful in the Assessment, I feel absolutely thrilled. I thank you for the assistance of Careers Services! Highly would recommend to a friend...I must make ye aware that their service is top class! I was never interested in school. But with the help of careers service I’m successful in a stepping stone to my dream career of nursing. And I can’t thank ye enough!”

Aileish Hardiman, Co. Galway

Steps for Mature Student Nursing Applicants

Choose the 'Getting Started' button below to find out the general process and steps involved for applying as a mature nursing / midwifery applicant.

Thinking of Applying?

So, you have decided to or are thinking about the brave decision of going back to college to study for a nursing / midwifery degree as a mature student. That’s fantastic! Maybe this is the career you have always wanted to pursue or maybe it’s just something you have recently decided upon, either way, becoming a nurse or midwife is an exceptional career decision.

Being a nurse / midwife provides individuals with a great deal of personal fulfilment. In addition, nurses and midwives understand that they are making a difference in the lives of the people they care for on a daily basis.  Hence, it is a very popular career path for mature students.

However, this popularity also means that each year the number of mature applicants is significantly higher than the number of places available and subsequently the selection process for mature students for nursing / midwifery degree courses in Ireland is highly competitive.

We are here to help make sure that you succeed, and the purpose of this page is to give you the knowledge that you require to help you achieve your goal. We believe our ‘Getting Started’ section is always a good place to begin.

Getting Started
careerservices -A Student's Experience

Excited about pursuing nursing but worried about the Assessment Test?

You are not alone! Those that went before you all felt the same way. Many applicants worry about these kinds of tests. We often hear concerns like “Maths isn’t my strong point”, “I am not a fast reader”, “I find numbers difficult”, “I panic in exams” …

Sound familiar?

Our Preparation Course is proven to reduce these fears and boost your confidence for the assessment test.

We are here for you through the process and will guide you all the way.

Want to see what applicants say after attending our course?

See Testimonials

Some Useful Guidance

Preparing for the Assessment Test

The Assessment Test usually takes place in April of each year.   The assessment test usually has three test sections: Numerical, Verbal and Job Simulation Exercises. You must be successful in Assessment Test before being considered for on an offer for your chosen nursing degree course.

Here at Career Services we provide the number one preparation course for The Assessment Test. Our course has had unprecedented success and has helped thousands of applicants achieve their dream of being accepted into their chosen nursing / midwifery degree course. When you hear your colleagues referring to a preparation course for this exam, it is the Career Services preparation course that they are talking about! But don’t just take our word for it, see what mature students just like you have to say about our course here: Testimonials

Preparation Course
careerservices -Preparing for the Assessment Test

CAO Application

When filling out your CAO application, mature student nurse applicants should apply to as many colleges as possible and also to the different forms of nursing courses available. You can apply for up to 10 courses and by doing this you are increasing your chances of success because it is easier to get into some courses and colleges than others.

Watch the CAO’s Guide Video for Mature Applicants here 

Remember: You must read the CAO Handbook and follow the instructions provided in the application form before submitting an application.

No Regrets!

Some former applicants have regretted that they did not utilize all their options in their CAO application form and learned afterwards that they would have been successful if they chose other nursing courses (Children’s and General Nursing, General Nursing, Intellectual Disability Nursing, Midwifery, Psychiatric Nursing) or other colleges which had lower entry requirements. You should not allow geographical distance or different types of nursing courses to prevent you from completing the ten choices available. You can always decline or accept an offer of a place but at least that opportunity of acceptance or rejection may not have been provided to if you if you had not filled in the ten options in the CAO form.

Central Applications Office, 
Tower House, 
Eglinton Street, 
Galway, Ireland. 
Tel. +353-(0)91-509800 
Fax +353-(0)91-562344

Website:  www.cao.ie

Best of luck!

Why choose us?

What is it worth knowing that you are giving yourself the best opportunity to succeed in the assessments?

Our experience has shown us that the most serious applicants do not believe in taking shortcuts. Neither do we. We focus on providing the highest quality preparation and have done so for over 30 years. As a result, our courses are the best in the market.

Simply put, we give you the best opportunity of succeeding!

Preparation Course
careerservices - Why Us

Mature Nursing Assessment Preparation Courses

Please note: Career Services is a privately run education company. We have no affiliation to the Nursing and Midwifery Board Ireland, the CAO or the Test provider. We base our preparation courses on the types of tests that have appeared in previous years and have had great success with this method. Our courses aim to give candidates the very best tuition with the information that is available at the time of the preparation course but obviously we can take no responsibility for any future changes that the NMBI make to the exam.

Access Duration: Courses are exam year specific, therefore the duration of access to online materials will be available up until after the official Mature Nursing assessment of each respective exam year.

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