How to work as a nurse in Australia

To work as a nurse or midwife in Australia you must be registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), through Ahpra.

The steps

1. Do the self-check on the NMBA website. It tells you which stream you are in.
2. Complete orientation. In Stream A you complete Orientation Part 1. In Stream B you also complete the outcomes-based assessment (OBA): a computer-based multiple-choice exam, then a practical exam (OSCE) in Australia.
3. Meet the English standard. The NMBA accepts several tests, including IELTS Academic, OET, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT. Check the scores it requires.
4. Apply to Ahpra with your documents and wait for the decision.
5. Get a visa. Common routes are an employer-sponsored work visa or skilled migration (which needs a skills assessment from ANMAC).
6. Move and start work only after you are registered.

Good to know

• The NMBA says not to resign from your job or move until your registration is approved.
• New Zealand–registered nurses can use a simpler trans-Tasman process.

Watch out: Visa applications are made on the Department of Home Affairs website. Only registered migration agents can charge you for visa advice.

Official sites

• NMBA: internationally qualified nurses and midwives
• ANMAC: skills assessment
• Australia: Department of Home Affairs

Rules change. Always confirm the details on the official sites linked in this guide before you pay for any exam or application.