How to Become a Registered Nurse in Australia: The Ahpra Registration Steps
The steps to registering as a nurse in Australia, for nurses trained here and overseas: approved programs, the Board's registration standards, assessment of overseas qualifications and how registration differs from a visa.
The steps to registering as a nurse in Australia, for nurses trained here and overseas: approved programs, the Board's registration standards, assessment of overseas qualifications and how registration differs from a visa. CrossNation supports recruitment readiness and shortlisting. CrossNation is a recruitment agency, not a registered migration agent.
To work as a registered nurse in Australia you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), which works with Ahpra, before you practise or use the title registered nurse. The route depends on where you qualified. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.
What is the first step for nurses trained in Australia?
Complete a nursing program that is approved for registration. Programs are accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Graduates then apply to the Board through Ahpra. Enrolled nurses complete a Diploma of Nursing and registered nurses complete a bachelor degree or equivalent, and both apply to the Board in the same way.
Which registration standards must you meet?
The Board sets registration standards for nurses. They cover criminal history, English language skills, continuing professional development, recency of practice and professional indemnity insurance arrangements. The Board publishes each standard on its website, so read the current wording before you apply.
What if you trained overseas?
Internationally qualified nurses must have their qualifications assessed before they can register. The Board sets the pathway, which depends on where and how you qualified, so check the current requirements on the Board's website before you apply or make plans. Registration is decided by the Board, and CrossNation cannot promise that an application will succeed or how long it will take.
How does registration differ from a visa?
Registration and a visa are separate steps decided by different bodies. The Nursing and Midwifery Board decides registration. The Department of Home Affairs decides visas, and employer sponsorship is the employer's decision. Visa questions should go to a registered migration agent. Employers often ask where a nurse is in each process, so keep your documents ready.
How can an employer check a nurse's registration?
Ahpra publishes a public register of registered health practitioners on its website. Anyone can search it to confirm that a nurse is registered and to see any conditions on their registration. CrossNation records each candidate's registration status for employers and links the public register so it can be verified.
How can CrossNation help?
CrossNation is a recruitment agency based in Victoria that recruits for employers across Australia. Browse registered nurse jobs and enrolled nurse jobs, read the nurse salary guide for the award minimums, or create a candidate profile. Employers can tell us which nurses they need. We do not give migration advice and we cannot promise registration, a visa or a job.