Emigrate to Australia as a Nurse

MIGRATION CONSULTANT NURSE

MIGRATE TO AUSTRALIA AS A NURSE

Nursing is on the Australia Medium Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). There is high demand for International Qualified Nurses in Australia

Australia has a critical shortage of qualified Nurses If you are a degree qualified Nurse aged under 45 then you are eligible to emigrate to Australia provided you can score 65 points and have a positive Skills Assessment

How to Migrate to Australia as a Nurse

Be aged under 45

Score 65 Australian Immigration Points

Have a Positive Skills Assessment from Vetassess

Lodge an Expression of Interest

Receive an Invitation to Apply

Pay the Visa Fees

Pass Health and Character Checks

Register with AHPRA

Nursing is on the Australia Medium Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) There is high demand for International Qualified Nurses in Australia

Below is the ANZSCO Codes for different Nurse Specializations in Australia:

Nurse Practitioner (ANZSCO code 254411)

Midwife (254111)

Registered Nurse (Aged Care) (254412)

Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health) (254413)

Registered Nurse (Community Health) (254414)

Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) (254415)

Registered Nurse (Development Disability) (254416)

Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation) (254417)

Registered Nurse (Medical) (254418)

Registered Nurse (Medical Pratice) (254421)

Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422)

Registered Nurse (Perioperative) (254423)

Registered Nurse (Surgical) (254424)

Registered Nurse not elsewhere classified (254499)

Enrolled Nurse (411411)

Nursing Clinical Director (134212)

Nurses immigrating to Australia are eligible for the 189 and 190 Permanent Residence Visa

Criteria for Nurses to Migrate to Australia

You must meet the following criteria:

Score 65 Points

Nurses moving to Australia need to score at least 65 Immigration points

Points are awarded for age, experience, qualifications, education, English language skills and time spent in Australia

Take this Free Visa Points Calculator for your score

Nursing Skills Assessment

Qualified Nurses must complete a nursing skills assessment prior to making an application for Australian Migration

The Nursing Skills Assessment is completed with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) before lodging a visa application

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) conducts Skill Assessments on Internationally qualified Nurses and Midwives moving to Australia

ANMAC is tasked by the Australian Government to check that you are who you say you are, that you have the rights skills, qualifications and experience at an equivalent level to nurses and midwives who have studied and trained in Australia.

ANMAC vs AHPRA

ANMAC is the skills assessment authority and a nursing applicant must always have an ANMAC skills assessment

AHPRA is the overall nursing registration body for Australia

ANMAC do not register nurses, they check the qualifications of nurses moving to Australia All nurses and healthcare professionals require AHPRA registration

The following Nursing professionals require an ANMAC Skill Assessment to Migrate to Australia

midwife 254111

nurse practitioner 254411

registered nurse (aged care) 254412

registered nurse (child and family health) 254413

registered nurse (community health) 254414

registered nurse (critical care and emergency) 254415

registered nurse (developmental disability) 254416

registered nurse (disability and rehabilitation) 254417

registered nurse (medical) 254418

registered nurse (medical practice) 254421

registered nurse (mental health) 254422

registered nurse (perioperative) 254423

registered nurse (surgical) 254424

registered nurse (paediatrics) 254425

registered nurses (nec) 254499

What ANMAC Skill Assessment do I need?

There are three types of Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council Skill Assessment

Full Skill Assessment; For internationally qualified nurses and midwives moving to Australia

Modified Skill Assessment; For nurses and midwives who are already registered in Australia or New Zealand

Modified Plus Skill Assessment; For internationally qualified nurses and Midwives already resistered with AHPRA

ANMAC Skill Assessment requirements

To secure a successful ANMAC skill assessment an applicant is required to provide

Passport

Evidence of name change (if applicable)

Letter of Good Standing for migration purposes

Detailed and migration specific references from every employer

English Test Results

Degree Certificate

Degree Transcripts

Confirmation of the Theory and Practice hour components of your course

Educational equivalence

Applicants must provide a graduation certificate and transcript from their University The transcript must show the number of theory and practice hours completed during the course.

This is one of the most important elements of the application and an ANMAC skill assessment cannot pass without these details being supplied

Professional practice

ANMAC requires an electronic Letter of Good Standing and Confirmation of registration to be sent by the Nursing Registration body in your home country directly to ANMAC

Professional references

References must be:

On an Hospital letterhead

Be written by a direct supervisor who is a nurse or a midwife

Include exact dates

Contain an original signature

Include contact information for each referee

English proficiency

ANMAC requires all its applicants to meet an English language proficiency requirement, regardless of your country of origin, even if that country of origin is an English speaking country such as the United Kingdom or the United States

English tests accepted by ANMAC and minimum scores

IELTS Academic

Minimum overall score of 7 across all components and a minimum score in each component of 7

Combining scores from 2 tests taken within a 6 month period:

A minimum overall score of 7 in both test

No score in any component in either test is below 6 5

OET for Nurses

Minimum score of B in each component

Combining scores from 2 tests taken within a 6 month period:

All the 4 components must have been tested in both tests

No score in any component in either test is below C

PTE Academic

Minimum overall score of 65 across all components and a minimum score in each component of 65

Combining scores from 2 tests taken within a 6 month period:

Minimum overall score in both tests of 65

No score in any component in either test is below 58.

Take this Free Visa Points Calculator for your score.

Health and Character

You’ll need to pass health and character checks

Migration skills assessment fees for Nurses

Frequently Asked Questions

COMMON MIGRATION QUESTIONS

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What Australia Visa Can I Get as a Foreign Nurse?

Overseas qualified Nurses from the following countries are Wanted in Australia

UK

USA

Canada

Hong Kong

Ireland

Qualified Nurses under the age of 45 with a suitable Skills Assessment apply for the following Australia Visas:

189 Permanent Residency

Live & Work

190 Skilled Migration

Working Holiday Visa

Skills in Demand Visa

What Countries does Australia want Nurses from?

Overseas qualified Nurses from the following countries are Wanted in Australia

UK

USA

Canada

Hong

Kong

Ireland

Qualified Nurses under the age of 45 with a suitable Skills Assessment apply for the following Australia Visas:

189 Permanent Residency

Live & Work

190 Skilled Migration

Working Holiday Visa

Skills in Demand Visa

Frequently Asked Questions Continued

MODIFIED SKILLS ASSESSMENT APPLICANTS

Qualified Nurses applying for a Modified Skills Assessment you do not need to provide English language test results. To qualify for a Modified Skills Assessment a nurse will already be already registered with:

AHPRA

Nursing Council of New Zealand

Midwifery Council of New Zealand

MODIFIED PLUS SKILLS ASSESSMENT

Nurses applying for a Modified PLUS Skills Assessment do not need to provide English language test results. To qualify for the Modified PLUS assessment you must already have a ‘Notice of in principle approval of registration subject to proof of identity’ letter from:

AHPRA

FULL SKILLS ASSESSMENT APPLICATIONS

All internationally qualified nurses and midwives without Australian or New Zealand registration (regardless of country of birth) must provide English language test results.

Australia’s official language is English and it is important that healthcare professionals working here are proficient in reading, speaking, writing and listening

Frequently Asked Questions Continued

COMMON MIGRATION QUESTIONS

Can a Nurse with a Diploma not Degree Move to Australia?

4 Nurse and Midwife applicants that do not hold an undergraduate degree will not pass ANMAC or AHPRA witha direct application.

The solution for Diploma nurses moving to Australia is to first register with the New Zealand Nursing Council via this application form

The New Zealand Nursing Council will accept a Diploma Qualified Nurse for Registration The applicant then takes their New Zealand registration and applies for AHPRA via the Trans Tasmanian Mutual Recognition Agreement.

AHPRA are duty bound to accept the registration and issue a Letter of Determination This letter of Determination is then used to secure an ANMAC skill assessment for migration via the Modified Plus route

What is the Processing Time for an ANMAC Skills Assessment?

5 12 weeks for Nurses 15 weeks for Midwives

What is AHPRA?

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The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) works with the National Boards to regulate Australia's health practitioners.

AHPRA supports the 15 National Health Practitioner Boards that are responsible for regulating the medical professions

AHPRA's responsibilities include: Registration of Health Practitioners: Renewal of Registrations Accreditation Complaints and Conduct Issues

Frequently Asked Questions Continued

COMMON MIGRATION QUESTIONS

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AHPRA or ANMAC?

ANMAC and AHPRA have different roles in Australia's healthcare system

ANMAC (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council) focuses on the assessment of nurses and midwives for skilled migration to Australia Nurses or midwives planning to live and work in Australia need a skills assessment from ANMAC first

AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) regulates health practitioners in Australia. Once you're in Australia AHPRA ensures that you maintain the professional standards required.

ANMAC is your gateway for migrating to Australia as a nurse or midwife and AHPRA as the body that oversees your practice once you're in Australia

How Can a Nurse Emigrating to Australia Avoid Taking the IELTS English Test?

The easiest way to move to Australia as a Nurse is to take your IELTS test as part of the ANMAC Full Skills Assessment

To avoid taking the IELTs test as part of your ANMAC Skills Assessment a foreign qualified Nurse will have to first get a 'Notice of In Princial Registration' from AHPRA

This is because AHPRA regulates Nurses and all ANMAC is responsible for is checking Skills, Experience and Qualifications

However, the AHPRA process is long with lots of pitfalls, waiting time and delays.

For the sake of speed and ease, it is often easier to take your IELTS or other suitable English Test.

Frequently Asked Questions

COMMON MIGRATION QUESTIONS

Nursing jobs in Australia

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The country's vast geography, diverse climate, great work life balance and and spreadout population create a massive array of job opportunities for suitable qualified foreign Nurses

Nurses are particularly welcomed from UK, USA, Ireland, Canada and Hong Kong The similarities in healthcare structures between these countries and Australia makes the transition easier

As of January 2024, 339,677 nurses work in Australia with two-thirds in the public sector

Shift lengths are similar to those in the UK, ranging from 8 to 12 hours and annual leave ranges from 4 to 5 weeks

Nurse-to-patient ratios in Australia are between 4:1 to 7:1.

Australian employers have varying requirements for nursing positions, including specific experience, qualifications, and skills.

As of January 2024, the average nurse salary in Australia is $89,833 per year Entry-level positions start at $72,364 per year, while most experienced workers earn up to $131,955 per year

How to Register as a Nurse in Australia

To work in Australia as a Nurse you must be registered with the Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

There is only one National Register which means once you have registered you can practice in any State in Australia

The registration process is a separate process which you can complete prior to applying for a visa or once your visa has been approved This will depend on your personal circumstances and the type of visa you are applying for

To read more on registration requirements and how to apply, visit AHPRA: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/

Frequently Asked Questions

MIGRATION QUESTIONS

are lots of Australian Visas for Nursing Jobs in Australia Most foreign nurses with non-Australian Qualifications must have a degree in nursing.

To be employed as a Nurse on a Working Holiday Visa you must be registered with AHPRA. Even then, you can only work for 6 months per employer on a Working Holiday Visa so it is unlikely you will find full time employment as a nurse while on a Working Holiday Visa.