How an International Nurse Can Become a Registered Nurse in Australia?

There are a lot of international nurses who aspire to become a Registered Nurse in Australia, so that they can live a quality life over there. Australia is a dream destination for the Nurses and there is a huge demand for qualified nurses in Australia. But when compared with the countries producing the most number of nurses such as India, Philippines, China etc, the hospitals in Australia are of world class standards and these nurses cannot come straight away and start working in Australian hospitals as registered nurses. There are a lot of criteria and formalities to be undergone, before becoming a nurse in Australia.

There are many factors such as IELTS score, nursing qualifications etc which plays a key role in building a successful nursing career in Australia. One of the most important stepping stone for a nursing course in Australia is the bridging course or adaptation course which equips the nurses to work in the unique hospital environment in Australia. The bridging course is officially known as the Initial Registration For Overseas Registered Nurses (IRON) Program. Without successfully completing an IRON program from an accredited institute in Australia, an international nurse will find it difficult to work as a nurse in Australia unless the nurse is from US, UK or other countries whose hospitals has the same working style and environment.

Before taking the IRON course in Australia, you should receive the decision letter from AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). Once you have completed the bridging program in Australia, you will be eligible to search for a nursing job and work as a nurse in Australia. Remember that the nurses in Australia have a pretty decent remuneration when compared with other professions and can easily lead a decent style of living in Australia. The ever growing demand for qualified healthcare professionals have paved the way for international nurses to work in Australia, provided they meet the above said criteria.

Usually the IRON program takes from 9 to 12 weeks depending upon different institutes and there are certain institutes which guarantee job placements. At the same time there are other institutes that do not guarantee jobs, but will certainly assist you in getting one. Once you get a job as a Registered Nurse in Australia, then you will be on a new career path and to stay ahead of the competition, you need to maintain or improve you CNE (Continued Nursing Education) points on an yearly basis. You can also take other short term healthcare courses to specialize in a particular nursing field.

If you are an international nurse and wish to work as a nurse in Australia, then first apply through AHPRA and follow the steps that will lead you to become as a Registered Nurse in Australia.