AUSTRALIA: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency 

G.P.O. Box 9958 | Melbourne VIC 3001 | www.ahpra.gov.au 

Internationally qualified nurses and midwives July 2014 

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (National Board or NMBA)

                                        On 10 February 2014, implemented a new model to assess the qualifications of international nurses and midwives to make sure they are substantially equivalent to Board-approved Australian nursing and midwifery qualifications. This model does not affect applicants registered as a nurse or a midwife in New Zealand – for more information, see frequently asked questions. 

                                   The new model applies to all applications that were incomplete  as at 7 October 2013, or were submitted after 7 October 2013. Note: 8 October 2013 is the implementation date when the previously published NMBA Framework for the assessment of internationally qualified nurses and midwives for registration became no longer in use and was removed from the National Board website.

About the new model of assessment 

                                   The National Board and AHPRA have reviewed and strengthened the process in place to support the nationally consistent assessment of applications for registration from internationally qualified nurses and midwives (IQNMs). The model will guide the National Board’s assessment of international applicants to decide if they have educational qualifications that are ‘substantially equivalent’ to a Board-approved Australian qualification. This is critical information to help the National Board decide if an international applicant is qualified to provide safe care to patients in Australia. 

                            This model is consistent with the requirements of the National Law. It applies a set of clear expectations about the educational standards to be met by all international applicants for registration, regardless of where the study was undertaken. The new model applies only to the way the National Board will assess international qualifications. The National Board has made no other changes to the other suitability requirements, including compliance with the registration standards that you must meet to be eligible for registration in Australia. The qualifications of an international applicant must now meet eight criteria in order for you to be eligible for registration.

 Refer to Assessment criteria on this page for detailed information on specific criteria for registered nurses, enrolled nurses and midwives. 

 1 A complete application is one that has met all requirements as stipulated in the Application for general registration as an enrolled nurse, registered nurse or midwife (for internationally qualified nurses and midwives) - AGOS-40 (1.94 MB,PDF)Internationally qualified nurses and midwives Page 2 of 4 If you are an internationally qualified midwife, you also need to meet professional experience requirements for a midwife. In order for us to assess your qualifications against these eight criteria, you need to submit various supporting documents with your application. Refer to Supporting documentation for us to assess your qualification on this page. See also:  Frequently asked questions for internationally qualified nurses and midwives applicants  Fact sheet: Internationally qualified nurses and midwives - Criterion 8: registered nurse/midwife How we will assess international qualifications Your qualifications must meet criteria 1 - 8 (see the links on the left hand side of this page). Your qualification will be assessed against the current standard expected of an Australian graduate. For example, for applicants seeking registration as a registered nurse, the educational level of your qualification must be equivalent to a bachelor degree as a minimum and align with the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) level 7. The changes apply only to the assessment of your overseas qualification. You must still meet all other registration requirements, including the National Board’s registration standards. How we will assess your application When the National Board assesses your application we will check if you are eligible for registration. To be eligible for registration you must:  have a qualification assessed by us as ‘substantially equivalent’ to a Board-approved Australian qualification  have met the requirements of the registration standards, and  have provided the necessary supporting documentation in your application. If you have already applied for registration and are waiting for a response AHPRA will shortly contact you with an update, if this has not already happened. AHPRA will tell you if you need to provide more evidence to help the National Board decide if your qualification is ‘substantially equivalent’ to a Board-approved Australian qualification. Supporting documentation for us to assess your qualification The information below summarises what you will need to provide as evidence as part of your application. The new application form for internationally qualified nurses and midwives asks you to provide certain documents as supporting evidence. These are detailed on the form.  Application for general registration as an enrolled nurse, registered nurse or midwife (for internationally qualified nurses and midwives) - AGOS-40 (2.00 MB,PDF) The National Board views fraud extremely seriously and will carefully review the evidence you provide to support your application. In summary, for us to assess your international qualification, you need to give us the:  name of the overseas education institution where you obtained your qualification and  name of the qualification you obtained and  qualification outcome (e.g. registered nurse, enrolled nurse or midwife) and  course start and end dates and  copy of academic transcript/certificate certified by the education provider and then translated and  copy of course/unit outlines certified by the education provider and then translated, and  evidence that you meet criteria 1-8 for internationally qualified nurses and midwives (see the links on the left hand side of this page). Internationally qualified nurses and midwives Page 3 of 4 Assessment criteria Is your qualification as a registered nurse, a midwife or an enrolled nurse? Different documentation is required to assess qualifications as a registered nurse, a midwife and an enrolled nurse. Specific information for each profession can be found on the pages below:  Assessment criteria 1 - 8 for internationally qualified registered nurses  Assessment criteria 1 - 8 for internationally qualified midwives  Assessment criteria 1 - 8 for internationally qualified enrolled nurses (also known as second level, vocational or practical nurse) How to apply for registration You can lodge your application for registration, and supporting documentation, by post or in person at an AHPRA office in the state or territory in which you plan to live and work. We do not accept applications by email because we need your original signature (not a scanned signature, for example) on the application documents. Details of AHPRA offices, including addresses, are available under Contact us on the AHPRA website. We have a separate, new application form for internationally qualified nurses and midwives. Please download the following form:  Application for general registration as an enrolled nurse, registered nurse or midwife (for internationally qualified nurses and midwives) - AGOS-40 (1.94 MB,PDF) This form is also available under Forms on the National Board website Applying for registration does not guarantee that you meet the standards for registration. Granting registration is a decision of the National Board. Related web links  Professional experience requirements of a midwife  Overseas practitioners  Registration and endorsement  Registration standards  Professional codes and guidelines Information on appeals We have put together information to guide you on making an appeal if your application for registration with the National Board is not successful. Read Appealing a National Board decision for more information. For more information  Visit www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au under Contact us to lodge an online enquiry form  For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 8708 9001 (overseas callers)  For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200Internationally qualified nurses and midwives Page 4 of 4