The answer
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a unique reference number issued by a UK employer that holds a Home Office sponsor licence. You quote it in your visa application to UK Visas & Immigration.
Most CoS for nurses are issued under the Health & Care Worker route, a sub-category of the Skilled Worker visa. The role must be on the eligible occupation list (registered nurse is) and the salary must meet the route's minimum threshold.
The path is: pass NMC CBT → apply to a sponsor → interview → conditional offer pending OSCE pass → CoS issued → visa application → arrival in UK → OSCE prep + sit → NMC PIN → start work.
Be wary of "agents" who claim to issue CoS for a fee. Only the employer can issue it. If someone else is taking the money, it's a scam.
If that was confusing, here it is in plain English
A CoS is the document the UK employer gives you that lets you apply for the visa. Only the employer can give it. No "middleman" can issue one.
See the UK pathway page for typical CoS-issuing employer types.
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