Can Other State Candidates Apply for OSSSC Nursing Officer Exam?

The OSSSC Nursing Officer Recruitment is one of the largest healthcare recruitment drives in Odisha, offering 5,989 Nursing Officer (District Cadre Group-C) vacancies under the Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Odisha. Conducted by the Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC), the recruitment provides an excellent opportunity for qualified nursing professionals to secure a government job and serve in healthcare institutions across all 30 district establishments of the state.

Given the scale of vacancies and the prestige associated with working in Odisha’s public healthcare system, many nursing graduates from across India are interested in applying. A common question among aspirants is whether candidates from other states are eligible for the recruitment. The good news is that there is no domicile restriction, and candidates from any state can apply, provided they fulfill the prescribed eligibility conditions.

Odia Language Proficiency is Mandatory

One of the most important eligibility conditions for the OSSSC Nursing Officer recruitment is knowledge of the Odia language. Every applicant must be able to read, write, and speak Odia. In addition, candidates must possess documentary proof of their Odia language proficiency through any one of the following qualifications:

• Passed the Middle School Examination with Odia as a language subject.
• Passed Matriculation or an equivalent examination with Odia as the medium of examination in non-language subjects.
• Passed Odia as a language subject in the final examination of Class VII or above from a school or educational institution recognized by the Government of Odisha or the Central Government.
• Passed a test in Odia of M.E. School standard conducted by the School & Mass Education Department of Odisha.
• Candidates who are unable to provide valid proof of Odia language proficiency will not be considered eligible for the recruitment process.

Registration with the Odisha Nursing Council

Another crucial requirement for all applicants, including those from other states, is registration with the Odisha Nursing Council. Candidates must hold a valid Registration or Renewal Certificate issued by the council on or before the date of submission of the online application.

During the document verification stage, candidates will be required to produce a Certificate of Registration in the Nursing Council of the State of Odisha. Therefore, candidates who are currently registered with nursing councils of other states must obtain registration with the Odisha Nursing Council before applying for the post.

Failure to meet this requirement can lead to rejection of the application or cancellation of candidature during verification.

Educational Qualification Requirements

Apart from the state-specific conditions, candidates must also satisfy the standard educational qualifications prescribed for the Nursing Officer post. Applicants should have:

• Passed +2 under the 10+2 system or an equivalent examination.
• Obtained a Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) or a B.Sc. Nursing degree from a medical college, hospital, or institution recognized and approved by the Indian Nursing Council.
• These educational qualifications are mandatory for candidates from Odisha as well as those from other states.

Can Candidates Registered in Other States Apply Directly?

Candidates who are registered with nursing councils in states other than Odisha cannot rely solely on their existing registration. Before submitting their application, they must secure registration with the Odisha Nursing Council and obtain the required certificate. Similarly, they must ensure they possess valid proof of Odia language proficiency as prescribed in the notification.

Final Verdict

Candidates from other states are fully eligible to apply for the OSSSC Nursing Officer Exam, as there is no domicile restriction in the recruitment rules. However, they must meet two key Odisha-specific requirements: proven proficiency in the Odia language and valid registration with the Odisha Nursing Council. Along with these conditions, candidates must also fulfill the prescribed educational qualifications. Applications lacking any of these mandatory documents or certificates are liable to be rejected during the selection process.