ENTRY REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC TO MATURE COURSE CODE APPLICANTS 2009
OVERVIEW
An applicant must be successful at the NCC written assessment and the NCC interview before being considered for an offer as a mature code applicant.
However, success at the NCC written assessment and interview does not guarantee an offer of a place.
The NCC written assessment and interview are year specific and results may not be carried forward to a future year (unless a deferred entry has been granted by a HEI).
The onus is on each applicant to ensure that she is in receipt of all communication from the NCC and the PAS. The NCC and the PAS accept no responsibility for communication not accessed or received by an applicant.
If you change any of your contact details you must immediately inform the CAO in writing. Do NOT contact the NCC or the PAS regarding such changes.
Success at any stage of the competition does not guarantee an offer of a place.
THE WRITTEN ASSESSMENT
The written assessment is carried out by the PAS on behalf of the NCC.
It consists of three obligatory competitive pencil and paper tests that are in multiple choice short-answer format. They have been designed so that they are fair to all applicants.
The answers to these tests are objectively scored using a standardised answer and score key.
There are no penalties for incorrect answers on any of the tests.
It is important to put maximum effort into each of the tests as they all contribute to an applicant’s overall test result. A minimum standard is required on each of the three tests. A final overall score is awarded.
Test 1: Skills/Experiences Questionnaire
This questionnaire is about the applicant and her experience, interests and achievements. The purpose of collecting this information is to compare an applicant’s preferences with characteristics that have been identified as being necessary for a career in nursing/midwifery, in a way that is fair and consistent with everyone.
Test 2: Verbal Test
This test is designed to measure the ability to understand relationships between pairs of words.
Test 3 Numerical Test
This test is designed to measure the ability to work out the relationships between numbers.
Preparing for the Written Assessment
An applicant must fully appraise herself with the publication: Test Familiarisation Booklet. It is important to have the most up-to-date issue. The 2009 issue is on the Publications section of the NCC website. The 2010 version will be placed on the PAS website in March 2010: www.publicjobs.ie As this is not being sent by post, the onus is on each applicant to download/print off this document from the website.
In response to feedback by applicants requesting suggested reading, the following books (which are by no means definitive) may be of assistance. These books are not necessary in order to perform well at test sessions. Books about sitting selection tests should be available from bookshops and/or the local library.
Mike Bryon and Sanjay Modha (1998) How to Pass Selection Tests. Kogan Page
David Cohen (1999). How to Succeed in Psychometric Tests. Sheldon Press
Paul Pelshenke (1993) How to Win at Aptitude Tests. Torsons.
However, it should be emphasised that the most useful material that an applicant could read in advance of the testing session is the Test Familiarisation Booklet. This provides comprehensive information on the format of the tests, practice questions and useful hints and tips. It contains information about the different tests being used, how the actual test booklets and answer sheets work, the time limits for each test and how the tests are scored. Practice questions are provided for each test. Familiarisation with the exercises in advance of the testing session will help optimise performance on the day.
The PAS, the NCC, and An Bord Altranais do NOT endorse, nor contribute to, any private/commercial preparatory courses for the written assessment.
Checklist of what to bring to Written Assessment
Do NOT send any of the below to the NCC or the PAS either before or after the written assessment.
- A print-off of the invitation to attend the written assessment with your name and number identifier
- Photographic identification: Driving Licence/Passport
- 1 recent passport size photograph (signed on the back including your CAO Number)
- 2 soft pencils
- 1 eraser
- 1 pencil sharpener.
Proceeding in the Competition Those who do not pass the written assessment or those who do not attend the written assessment cannot proceed further in the mature code competition for nursing/midwifery for that year.
The result is final and there is no appeals mechanism. Results will not be given over the telephone or discussed with a third party.
THE INTERVIEW
An applicant who achieves the required standard at the written assessment will receive a letter of invitation to attend for interview, together with an Interview Information Pack and Interview Preparation Questionnaire.
It is important to have the most up-to-date version of the Interview Information Pack and Interview Preparation Questionnaire. The 2009 version is on the Publications section of this website Click Here. The 2010 version will be placed in the publications section of the NCC website towards the end of March 2010.
The Interview Information Pack comprises:
- An overview of the interview format
- Guidance on preparing for the interview
- Guidance on how to do best during the interview
- Guidance for completing the Interview Preparation Questionnaire
The Interview Preparation Questionnaire There are six areas on the Interview Preparation Questionnaire. All six areas in relation to the interview must be passed.
The first five areas relate to the Experiences/Skills/Qualities that have been identified as required by a Student Nurse/Midwife. The applicant will need to give examples from her experience that shows an ability to handle the five areas:
- Communication, Interaction and Teamwork
- Taking Responsibility
- Caring/Helping and Sensitivity to Others
- Motivation to Do Things Well
- Ability to Make Decisions.
The sixth area deals with the applicant’s Awareness and Understanding of Nursing/Midwifery. It is essential that an applicant familiarises herself with the pre-registration honours degree programmes, including reading Nursing/Midwifery A Career for You (2009), Requirements and Standards for Nurse Registration Education Programmes Third Edition (February 2005) and Requirements and Standards for the Midwife Registration Education Programme Third Edition (December 2005); all available in the Publications section of this website. The applicant should also familiarise herself with other aspects in relation to nursing/midwifery, including other items on this website.
The PAS, the NCC, and An Bord Altranais do NOT endorse, nor contribute to, any private/commercial preparatory courses for the interview.
Checklist of what to bring to Interview
Do NOT send any of the below to the NCC either before or after the interview.
Checklist page (p 12 of interview information pack) signed, of what to bring to interview.
- The original completed Interview Preparation Questionnaire (7 pages) with recent photograph attached, with one staple on the top left corner. Do NOT bind. Do NOT bring CD or any other device containing the information as facilitates to use such devices will NOT be available.
- Three copies of the completed Interview Preparation Questionnaire, each one stapled separately, with one staple on the top left corner. Do NOT bind. Photocopying facilities will NOT be provided at the interview venue.
- The letter inviting you to attend for interview with name and number identifier.
- An official document that contains a recent photograph, i.e. Driving License or Passport.
- Your Birth Certificate (if your official document is your PASSPORT you do not need to bring your Birth Certificate)
- Evidence of English Competence.
Mature code applicants who are successful at the written assessment and whose first language/primary mode of expression is not English must bring a clear copy of evidence of English competence (documented in English) to the NCC interview. Put your CAO number on top of every page and staple pages together. If you have any query regarding this matter, contact the HEI/s for which application for nursing/midwifery has been made. Do not contact the NCC regarding English competence.
Proceeding in the Competition
Those who do not pass the NCC interview or those who do not attend the NCC interview cannot proceed further in the mature code competition for nursing/midwifery for that year.
The result is final and there is no appeals mechanism. Results will not be given over the telephone or discussed with a third party.
Timetable for Mature Code Applicants 2010
| What |
How and When |
Important Notes To Applicants |
| Letter with Nursing/Midwifery A Career For You 2010 |
Posted on Friday 12 March 2010 |
If not received by 18 March 2010 contact the NCC. If you received a deferral and you have complied with the deferral requirements, you do not need to retake the written assessment or interview |
| Special Request re Written Assessment |
Applicant contacts PAS, in writing or email, no later than Friday 19 March 2010 |
|
| Details of Written Assessment, including time and venue |
Placed on PAS website www.publicjobs.ie on Wednesday 24 March 2010 |
Details are NOT automatically sent by post. If you have difficulty accessing the informtation, contact the PAS on Wednesday 24 March 2010. See Venue Allocation below |
| Written Assessment |
Saturday 10 April 2010 in Cork, Dublin, Galway |
When signing in on the day of the written assessment, the onus is on each applicant to ensure that she is signing opposite the correct name and number identifier |
| Special Request re Interviews |
Applicant contacts NCC, in writing or email, before Monday 19 April 2010 (we are aware that this is before the results of the written assessment). Requests after this date may not be accommodated |
|
| Results of Written Assessment |
Posted on Thursday 06 May 2010 |
Results are ONLY available by post. If not received b Wednesday 12 May 2010 contact the NCC |
| Invitation to attend interview including time and venue (to those who were successful at written assessment) |
Posted on Thursday 06 May 2010 |
If not received by Wednesday 12 May 2010 contact the NCC. Refer to Checklist of What to Bring to Interview |
| Interviews |
Monday 17 May 2010 to Friday 21 May 2010 only (or earlier depending on numbers) |
When signing in on the day of the interview, the onus is on each applicant to ensure that she is signing opposite the correct name and number identifier |
| Results of Interview |
Posted Friday 11 June 2010 |
Results are ONLY available by post. If not received by 18 June contact the NCC. An applicant, who is successful at both the NCC written assessment and the NCC Interview, will receive her score at the written assessment plus the highest and lowest score achieved, in the letter with the interview result |
Venues for Written Assessment & Interviews 2010
If the address that you put on your CAO Application Form is as below, then the tick in the venue box indicates the County (Cork or Dublin or Galway) where you will be automatically called for the written assessment.
Details of the exact venues for the written assessment in the three counties listed below will be available on 24 March 2010 on the PAS website www.publicjobs.ie
All interviews will be held at the Public Appointments Services, Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1. Please refer to their website www.publicjobs.ie for a map.
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SPONSORSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE EMPLOYEES WISHING TO TRAIN AS NURSES/MIDWIVES
The Sponsorship Scheme, whereby a candidate’s salary is paid for the duration of the programme, is open to Irish public health service employees, such as healthcare assistants and ward attendants, who are directly involved in the delivery of care to patients/clients within a nursing/midwifery context.
There are a minimum of 54 places available and these are part of the quota of places for mature code applicants.
An applicant must:
- Meet all conditions as outlined in HSE HR Circular 007/2007
- Apply as a Mature Code Applicant to the CAO
- Be successful at the NCC written assessment and interview
- Have applied for Sponsorship to the relevant Nursing and Midwifery Planning Development Unit (NMPDU) by the closing date as specified by the NMPDU
- Be offered a place in nursing/midwifery as a mature code applicant by the CAO. An offer of a place does not guarantee an offer of sponsorship
- Meet the required terms and conditions as determined by a Higher Education Institution and Healthcare Agency.
For details of the scheme, contact the NMPDU in the region where you work. Refer to LINKS section of this website.
SCORES FOR MATURE COURSE CODE APPLICANTS 2003 to 2009
The following table shows the scores required for each programme from 2003 to 2009.
Not all on these scores may have been offered a place (i.e. where random-generated scores occured).
Of the 762 mature course code applicants who were placed on the order of merit lists for nursing/midwifery 2009, the lowest overall score was 122 and the highest overall score was 215.
Not all were offered a place.
For the final scores 2009, check this website in December 2009.
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