What are the requirements for Nursing Registration?
Every state in Australia has its own Nursing Board with its own requirements. However, the Australian Nursing Council is required to assess the educational qualifications and work experience for overseas nurses who are applying for permanent migration.

Nurses applying for a working holiday visa are not required to have an assessment by the ANCI. Nurses who hold working holiday visas or temporary residency visas should apply/register directly to the relevant State Nursing Board prior to departure to Australia. A mutual recognition system exists whereby you can gain immediate registration in all states of Australia once you are registered in one state.

Nurses who trained in countries other than the Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada, United States of America, Singapore and Hong Kong are required to have their qualifications assessed by ANCI and may be required to complete a Competency Based Assessment Program. A nurse from a country where English is not the first language is required to complete and pass an English Language test.

Application forms for the assessment of nursing qualifications by ANCI can be obtained by downloading the Application for Assessment Form. Alternatively it may be obtained by contacting:

The Australian Nursing Council
PO Box 873
D ickson ACT 2602
Ph: 00 61 2 6257 7960
Fax: 00 61 2 6257 7955
Email: overseas@anci.org.au
Website: www.anci.org.au

Documentation Required for Registration:
  • Birth Certificate or passport (other name change documents as appropriate)
  • Initial registration certificate
  • Verification of initial registration (please request your registering authority to send verification directly to the Nurses Board)
  • Current practising certificate
  • Verification of current registration (please request your registering authority to send verification directly to the Nurses Board) {Please note this only applies to applicants who have practised nursing/midwifery in countries other than where the initial registration was obtained}
  • Statement of service on letterhead paper (sent directly to the Board by most recent employer)

Registration is usually processed within 4 - 6 weeks of completed application. All documents lodged must be certified copies or original documents.

Please note: This is a guideline of requirements for Irish and UK nurses and may vary slightly between Boards. Please check with individual Boards.

How far in advance can I apply for nursing registration?
Some candidates apply for their nursing registration as soon as they commence their employment application for Australia , however other candidates wait until they receive a job offer from a hospital. It really is up to you to decide when you apply for your registration. There is an annual retention fee once it is obtained.