How to apply Australian Nursing Registration for Internationally Qualified Nurses and Midwives.

Applying Registration in Australia

Are you an international qualified nurse? You will need to be registered with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia or also known as NMBA to be able to work as a Nurse in Australia.

These are the necessary steps to take when applying for Australian nursing registration.

1. Assessing eligibility to meet the registration Requirements.

Qualification criteria define the minimum acceptable education and training that IQNMs must have completed. Registration applicants must meet all registration standards and qualification criteria in order to be eligible for registration without conditions or limitations.

Registration Standards includes

• Criminal History
• International Criminal History Check (ICHC)
• If you are a new applicant seeking registration as health practitioner in Australia, you will be required to apply for an ICHC if you have lived in one or more countries other than Australia for six consecutive months or longer. Please click link: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Process/Criminal-history-checks/International-Criminal-History.aspx
• English Language Skills
• International English Language Test (IELTS)
• Score of 7 in all bands
• Occupational English Test (OET)
• Score of B in all category
• Pearsons Test of English Academic (PTE)
• Minimum score of 65
• Recency of Practice
• Recency of practice means that a nurse or midwife has maintained an adequate connection with, and recent practice in nursing and/or midwifery since qualifying for, or obtaining registration
• Statement of service in Letterhead format
• Professional Indemnity Insurance Arrangements
• Multiple Choice Question ( NCLEX )

Multiple-choice question (MCQ) exam

If you intend to register in Australia as a registered nurse (RN), Enrolled nurse (EN), or midwife, take note that there are separate exams for each role:

• The RN MCQ exam is the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) develops and offers the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE test centres in most countries.

2. Complete Self-Check

Who should complete the self-check

Only internationally qualified nurses or midwives should complete the Self-check. The Self-check cannot be completed by a third party or agent on your behalf.

Please note, where there is only one level of nursing in the country an IQNM obtained their primary qualification, they can only seek registration in Australia as a registered nurse (RN).

- There is no fee to use self- check. This will determine whether your nursing education qualification overseas meets the Australian standards and recency of practice.

- The assessment of qualifications are checked against the three criteria below and evidence must be provided in order to meet each of the criteria.

• Criterion 1: Qualifications recognized for registration
• Criterion 2: Quality assurance and accreditation
• Criterion 3: Academic level of qualification

Depending on the results AHPRA will then decide which stream should you follow.

Stream A:

Candidates who hold a qualification that is significantly equivalent to an Australian approved qualification and satisfy the compulsory registration standards. You’ll be eligible to apply for registration following completion of Orientation Part 1.

Stream B:

Candidates who hold a qualification that is relevant but not significantly equivalent to an Australian approved qualification and satisfy the compulsory registration standards. You'll need to pay the assessment fee and complete Orientation Part 1 before completing the Portfolio stage

Stream C:

Applicants who hold a qualification that is not significantly equivalent to an Australian approved qualification and satisfy the compulsory registration standards. It's recommended that you end your participation in the assessment process and upgrade your qualification if you wish to continue.

For those who are in a country listed who are unlikely to meet criterion 2. Stream B will be followed.

Stream B (Outcomes-based assessment)

Stream B candidates must first pay the IQNM assessment fee in order to proceed in the IQNM assessment process. Following payment, Stream B candidates must successfully complete the following assessment stages in the order shown to be eligible to apply for registration:

• Orientation Part 1 - an online learning course providing an introduction to Australia and the Australian healthcare context.
• Portfolio - provision of qualification and identification details and documentation
• Outcomes-based assessment (OBA) comprising:
• a multiple-choice question (MCQ) exam related to the profession/division in which they intend to register in Australia, and
• an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) related to the profession/division in which they intend to register in Australia.

After completion. NMBA will assessed for final registration and once completed, you will now be eligible to find employment in Australia or migrate.

Are you ready to begin your Self-check?

Ensure you have gone through the checklist before you begin. Click here to complete the Self-check.