The Registered Nurse

Information for Registered Nurses regarding visas and immigration to Australia.

Obtaining a visa to reside permanently in Australia made easy.

Overview:
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) is a peak national nursing body concerned with national standards and processes for the regulation of nursing within Australia. It was established by the Australian nurse regulatory authorities in 1992 as a forum for considering the regulation of nursing in Australia within a national focus. Each of the eight state and territory nurse regulatory authorities is represented on this Council.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) National Nursing Competency Criteria

All nurses and midwives (including direct entry midwives) working in Australia must demonstrate the ANMAC’s national competency standards to be eligible for registration with a state or territory Nursing and Midwifery Regulatory Authority (NMRA). Therefore, overseas nurses and midwives must also be able to demonstrate these competency standards in order to be eligible for migration to Australia.

Competency Based Assessment Programs/Migrants Bridging Program

Applicants who have had their qualifications and skills assessed and are required to undertake a Competency Based Assessment Program. The applicants should check with the relevant NMRA that the proposed course of study will lead to registration in that state or territory

Waiver of Competency Based Assessment Program

Some nursing and midwifery qualification may meet the requirements for migration. This means that these nurses will not need to complete a Competency Based Assessment Program.

The Competency Based Assessment Program may be waived for:

• Nurses who have completed recognised program and have gained initial registration in the following countries: United Kingdom, Ireland, United States of America, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands (HBO programs).
• Nurses who have completed a nursing education program in a member state of the European Union is consistent with the European Union standard for the education of nurses responsible for general care (EU directive 2005 / 36 / EC)

For other related information on the ANMAC Migration Skills Assessment, please found at these links below:

• Recognition of Skills in Nursing/Midwifery
• ANMC – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are there any Language Competency Requirements?

In Australia English is the language of communication in health care settings therefore it is essential that nurses have a level of proficiency in English which enables them to communicate competently and safely with clients and colleagues.

A per ANMAC Policy the requirement is that ALL internationally-qualified nurses and midwives applying to the ANMAC under the general skilled migration scheme will be required to provide proof of English language proficiency. Please note that nurses and midwives who hold current registration with an Australian Nursing and Midwifery Regulatory Authority are not required to sumbit English language test results.

New Zealand registered nurses and midwives are exempt from providing proof of English proficiency under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997.

What English Language Tests are accepted by ANMAC:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test
  Nurses and midwives must achieve a score of at least 7 in Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking with an overall band score of 7 or more of the IELTS test.
• Occupational English Test (OET)
  Nurses and midwives must achieve a B pass or higher in all four sections of the OET test.

Please note that the date of the both tests (OET & IELTS) must have been undertaken not more than two years before lodging the application for assessment. Original copies of the results of the test should be forwarded to ANMC by the organisation that conducted the test. The results of the test must be forwarded to ANMC prior to completion of the assessment.