Jobs for Diploma in Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing (KRCHN) Graduates

The diploma route into nursing

The Diploma in Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing (KRCHN) is the most common nursing qualification in Kenya, offered by Kenya Medical Training College campuses and other accredited colleges over about three to three and a half years. It trains nurses in both hospital care and community health, including midwifery, which makes KRCHN graduates the backbone of nursing in health centres and county hospitals.

Registration and licensing

Graduates sit the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) licensure examination and must be registered and hold a valid practising licence before they can work as nurses. Follow NCK's current requirements on internship and registration closely, because they have been updated in recent years and employers will ask for proof.

Jobs for KRCHN nurses

• Registered community health nurse in county health centres, dispensaries and hospitals
• Ward nurse, maternity nurse and outpatient nurse in private and faith-based hospitals
• Community and programme nurse roles with NGOs in HIV, immunisation and maternal health
• School nurse, occupational health nurse and home care nurse

Entry requirements

Government-sponsored places, including at KMTC, are applied for through KUCCPS. The usual minimum is a KCSE mean grade of C (plain) with specified grades in English or Kiswahili, Biology and a science or Mathematics; check the current cluster requirements before applying.

Getting hired

County governments recruit nurses in batches when budgets allow, often advertising through their county public service boards, while private hospitals hire throughout the year. Locum work is a common way to build experience between permanent posts. Employers ask for your NCK licence, academic certificates, KRA PIN, certificate of good conduct and sometimes HELB clearance, so keep scanned copies ready.

Upgrading and specialising

Many KRCHN nurses upgrade to a BScN through university bridging programmes, which typically take less time than the full degree. Others take higher national diplomas in areas such as critical care, theatre, nephrology, ophthalmology or midwifery. Both routes lead to higher job groups in the public sector and better pay in private facilities.