Streamlined pathway to registration for internationally qualified registered nurses

27 Jan 2025

Health Ministers endorse new registration standard to boost nursing workforce

Workforce pressures across Australia’s health services could be eased with the introduction of a new streamlined registration process for eligible internationally qualified registered nurses (IQRNs).

In September 2024, Health Ministers approved a new registration standard: general registration for internationally qualified registered nurses (the standard), which will take effect by April 2025.

The standard builds on established pathways to streamline the assessment and registration process for eligible IQRNs who have registered and practised as a registered nurse in an NMBA-approved comparable international jurisdiction.

The streamlined process will significantly cut the time and complexity for eligible applicants wanting to work in Australia. The current application process, including examination or other assessment, typically takes 9-12 months but may take longer if additional time is needed or examinations must be re-sat.

Under the new pathways, eligible IQRNs may complete the registration process in 1-6 months, depending on the complexity and information provided. This will save them significant time and reduce their travel, accommodation, and examination costs.

NMBA Chair, Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey AM, said ‘facilitating the registration of suitably qualified nurses into Australia is a priority for the NMBA.

‘This registration standard has the potential to reduce workforce pressures on health services across Australia through the supply of suitably qualified, safe and competent registered nurses.’

The standard removes the requirement for NMBA examinations or qualification upgrades for these practitioners, providing greater flexibility to support recommendations outlined in the Final Report of the Independent review of Australia’s regulatory settings relating to overseas health practitioners led by Ms Robyn Kruk AO.

The introduction of this standard comes at a critical time as health, aged care, and primary care sectors across metropolitan, rural, and remote Australia face workforce shortages. This reform represents a collaborative effort between the NMBA, Ahpra, and Australian Governments to address these challenges, while maintaining safety and quality through Australia’s rigorous standards and checks for health practitioners.

The standard particularly benefits experienced IQRNs who have demonstrated they possess the skills, knowledge, and competence to provide safe and effective care in Australia by completing at least 1,800 hours of practice in a comparable jurisdiction since 2017, and meeting the professional standards in those regions.

Eligible IQRNs must also meet the same mandatory NMBA registration standards as Australian trained nurses and demonstrate they satisfy the criteria outlined in either Pathway 1 or Pathway 2 of the new standard. More information about the criteria is available in the advance copy of the standard published on the NMBA website.

An NMBA-approved comparable jurisdiction has comparable regulatory approaches, standards for education and registration, processes and procedures for the registration of internationally qualified registered nurses. These jurisdictions include:

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• United States
• Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario
• Singapore
• Spain

Since 2021/22, more than 5,000 internationally qualified nurses from NMBA-approved comparable jurisdictions were granted registration in Australia. The additional pathways will allow nurses who initially qualified in other jurisdictions but are now registered and practicing in an approved comparable jurisdiction to access the streamlined registration process.

Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council approval of the standard has been published on the NMBA website.

To ensure the standard’s effectiveness and safety, a review will be conducted one year after its implementation to evaluate its impact and identify opportunities for further improvement.

Contact us

• For registration enquiries, please phone 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 9125 3010 (overseas callers).