Procedures to Become a Registered Nurse in Australia

If you are an internationally qualified nurse/ midwife who is interested in working in Australia, then it is important for you to review the following important information about immigration to Australia, and registration and employment as a nurse or midwife in Australia.

To work as a nurse/midwife in Australia, you should apply for and be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). You also need to apply for a visa issued by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (Australian Immigration Department).

These two application processes are entirely separate and success in one does not automatically guarantee the success in the other.

Immigration to Australia

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) is an independent organization that is gazetted by the Minister for Immigration to perform skills assessment for migration purposes. ANMAC assesses the skills of internationally qualified nurses and midwives who are looking to migrate to Australia under the General Skilled Migration program.


Registration and employment as a nurse or midwife in Australia
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) assesses the applications for registration from internationally qualified nurses and midwives on behalf of the NMBA. The NMBA is governed by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law as in force in each state and territory and is responsible for the final decision on each application.

International applicants must meet the registration standards and qualification criteria in order to become eligible for registration as a nurse.

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.

Be a Registered Nurse in Australia

Are you looking to become a registered nurse in Australia? Becoming a registered nurse in Australia can help you carve a successful nursing career in Australia and take your living standards to a better level. Becoming a registered nurse in Australia in not an easy thing and it takes some dedication, hard work and patience to be a part of the nursing industry in Australia.