Imo State hosts several nursing training institutions recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), ranging from state-owned colleges of nursing sciences to private, mission-run schools and a full university nursing degree programme. This article lists the approved nursing institutions operating in Imo State, explains the type of certificate each one leads to, and breaks down what students should expect to pay for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Why Accreditation Status Matters Before Choosing a Nursing School
Nursing is one of the few professions in Nigeria where the training institution’s accreditation status directly determines whether a graduate can practice. The NMCN maintains a national register of approved Schools of Nursing, Schools of Midwifery, and university-based Departments of Nursing Sciences, and it reviews each institution’s accreditation status periodically. A school can hold full accreditation, which typically lasts five years, or provisional accreditation, which lasts two years and signals that the institution still needs to meet certain requirements. In some cases, the NMCN places an indefinite embargo on new admissions into a school until identified deficiencies are corrected and a fresh resource verification visit is conducted.
Because of this, any prospective nursing student in Imo State should confirm a school’s current accreditation status directly with the NMCN or the institution itself before paying any fees, rather than relying solely on a school’s own claims or older publications. An institution that was fully accredited in a previous admission cycle is not automatically guaranteed the same status going into 2026/2027, since accreditation is reviewed and renewed on a fixed cycle.
List of Approved Nursing Institutions in Imo State
The table below summarises the main nursing training institutions currently recognised as operating in Imo State, along with the type of programme each one runs and the certificate awarded on completion.
| Institution | Type of Institution | Programme(s) Offered | Certificate Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imo State College of Nursing Sciences, Orlu | State-owned college | General Nursing (3 years), Post-Basic Nursing (2 years) | Registered Nurse (RN) |
| School of Nursing and Midwifery, Emekuku, Owerri | State/mission-affiliated school | General Nursing, Midwifery | Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Midwife (RM) |
| College of Nursing Sciences, Mbano (CONSMBANO) | Private, mission-run college | General Nursing (3 years), Basic Midwifery (3 years), Post-Basic Nursing (18 months) | Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Midwife (RM) |
| St. Joseph College of Nursing Sciences, Umuseke-Okwudor, Njaba LGA | Private/mission-run college | General Nursing, Basic Midwifery | Registered Nurse (RN) |
| Department of Nursing Science, Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri/Orlu | State university | Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.NSc.), 5-year degree; Master’s in Nursing | B.NSc. degree, M.Sc. Nursing |
This list reflects institutions that have been consistently referenced in nursing training records for Imo State. Since the NMCN periodically updates its national list of approved schools, candidates should always cross-check a specific institution’s current status on the NMCN’s official approved schools list before applying, particularly for smaller or lesser-known private colleges.
Two Different Routes Into Nursing in Imo State
Prospective nursing students in Imo State generally choose between two distinct routes, and it helps to understand the difference before comparing fees:
- The College/School of Nursing route: This leads to a Registered Nurse (RN) certificate through institutions such as Imo State College of Nursing Sciences Orlu, CONSMBANO, or St. Joseph College of Nursing Sciences. These programmes typically run for three years for General Nursing, with an additional Post-Basic or Basic Midwifery track available in some institutions. Admission into these schools does not always require UTME, though many now conduct Post-UTME screening for JAMB candidates alongside their own entrance examinations.
- The university degree route: This leads to a Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.NSc.) through the Department of Nursing Science at Imo State University. This route runs for five years, including a dedicated clinical practice year, and strictly requires UTME registration with Imo State University as the institution of first choice, along with meeting the university’s departmental cut-off mark for Nursing Science.
Graduates from both routes register with the NMCN as Registered Nurses, but the university route additionally awards a bachelor’s degree, which can matter for candidates who intend to pursue postgraduate nursing education or specialised clinical or academic careers later.
School Fees for Colleges and Schools of Nursing in Imo State
Fees at the college/school of nursing level in Imo State are considerably lower than what students typically pay at private universities, since most of these institutions are state-owned or mission-subsidised. The table below gives a realistic guide for the 2026/2027 session based on how these institutions have historically structured their charges.
| Institution | Approximate Session Fee (Freshers) | Application/Screening Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Imo State College of Nursing Sciences, Orlu | ₦120,000 – ₦180,000 | Around ₦18,500 |
| School of Nursing and Midwifery, Emekuku, Owerri | ₦100,000 – ₦160,000 | Varies by intake |
| College of Nursing Sciences, Mbano (CONSMBANO) | ₦50,000 – ₦100,000 (General Nursing/Basic Midwifery) | Around ₦18,200 – ₦18,500 |
| St. Joseph College of Nursing Sciences, Njaba LGA | ₦80,000 – ₦150,000 | Varies by intake |
These figures cover tuition and standard institutional charges only. Additional costs commonly apply on top of the listed session fee, including uniform and clinical wear, textbooks, hostel accommodation for students who choose to live on campus, and clinical posting or practical fees tied to hospital-based training. Candidates should budget for these extra costs separately, since they are rarely included in the headline school fee figure a school advertises.
School Fees for the Nursing Science Degree at Imo State University
Imo State University operates a subsidised fee structure that treats indigenes of Imo State very differently from non-indigenes, and this distinction carries over into the Nursing Science programme.
| Student Category | Approximate Session Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Imo State Indigene (Verified) | ₦80,000 – ₦100,000 | Indigenes pay no formal tuition, but must pay ancillary charges covering medical services, sports, and other institutional costs |
| Non-Indigene | ₦150,000 – ₦190,000 | Non-indigenes pay a higher base school fee across most professional courses, including Nursing Science |
| Acceptance Fee (New Students) | ₦25,000 – ₦30,000 | One-time, non-refundable, paid after receiving an admission offer |
Because Nursing Science is one of IMSU’s more competitive and resource-intensive programmes, its departmental cut-off mark is also higher than the university’s general baseline. Candidates should confirm both their indigene/non-indigene status verification process and the exact departmental fee schedule directly with IMSU’s Bursary or the Department of Nursing Science, since ancillary charges can be adjusted from one session to another.
General Admission Requirements for Nursing in Imo State
While specific requirements vary slightly between institutions, the following pattern applies broadly across both the college/school of nursing route and the university degree route in Imo State:
- Age requirement: Applicants are generally expected to be at least 17 years old at the time of admission.
- O’Level requirements: Five credit passes, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, obtained in not more than two sittings through WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination body.
- UTME requirement: Mandatory for the university Nursing Science degree route, and increasingly required by some colleges of nursing that now conduct joint Post-UTME screening for JAMB-registered candidates. Colleges and schools of nursing that do not use JAMB typically conduct their own internal entrance examination instead.
- Entrance examination and interview: Most college/school of nursing programmes in Imo State combine a written entrance examination with an oral interview before finalising admission.
- Medical fitness: Candidates are generally required to undergo a basic medical examination to confirm fitness for clinical training before admission is finalised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I study nursing in Imo State without sitting for UTME?
Yes, for the college/school of nursing route. Most Schools of Nursing and Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Imo State admit students through their own entrance examination rather than requiring JAMB. However, the Bachelor of Nursing Science degree at Imo State University strictly requires UTME registration.
Is the college/school of nursing route cheaper than the university degree route?
Generally, yes. Colleges and schools of nursing tend to charge lower session fees than the university route, though the exact comparison depends on whether a candidate qualifies as an Imo State indigene at the university level, since indigenes benefit from significantly subsidised fees.
Do all nursing institutions in Imo State lead to the same certificate?
No. College/school of nursing programmes award a Registered Nurse (RN) certificate through the NMCN, while the university route awards a Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.NSc.) degree in addition to NMCN registration eligibility.
How can I confirm if a nursing school in Imo State is currently accredited?
The most reliable method is to check the NMCN’s official approved schools list, which is updated periodically and shows each institution’s current accreditation status, or to contact the NMCN directly to confirm a specific school before applying.
Does the school fee include hostel accommodation and clinical materials?
Usually not. Most nursing institutions in Imo State charge hostel accommodation, uniforms, clinical wear, and practical/posting fees separately from the main session school fee, so candidates should budget for these as additional costs.