Nursing is one of the most in-demand professions in Australia. Current Australian Government workforce projections show that, although both nursing supply and demand are expected to grow, supply is not expected to keep pace with demand. Baseline projections estimate an undersupply of 70,707 full-time equivalent nurses by 2035, with around 79,473 nurses needed to fill the gap.
There are many reasons one might want to work as a nurse in Australia. One is job security. Australia’s population is aging, and demand for health and aged-care services is expected to rise as the population gets older. Open positions are likely to vary by state, employer, and specialty, but registered nursing remains a major health workforce occupation. Another reason is the pay. According to current Jobs and Skills Australia data, registered nurses have median full-time earnings of AUD 2,192 per week, or about AUD 114,000 per year. Using the Reserve Bank of Australia exchange rate from May 11, 2026, that is roughly USD 82,400. Actual pay varies by experience, location, sector, specialty, and work pattern. Living in Australia also means you get to enjoy its sunny beaches and laid-back culture.
Because Australia continues to need nurses, the process for becoming a registered nurse there is relatively transparent, but registration and immigration are separate processes. You cannot work as a nurse in Australia until you are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). Registered nursing occupations are included in Australia’s skilled occupation lists, so eligible nurses may be able to apply for skilled or employer-sponsored visa pathways, depending on their circumstances. Australians are also generally accepting of foreigners, so you should not have too many problems adapting. Let us take a look at the steps to becoming a nurse in Australia!
How to Become a Nurse in Australia
Step 1. Get a Nursing Education
To work as a registered nurse in Australia, you must be registered with the NMBA. Registered nursing is generally treated as a skill-level occupation requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher, and registration or licensing is required. In practice, most new registered nurses complete an NMBA-approved Bachelor of Nursing or an equivalent pre-registration qualification. Many Australian bachelor’s degrees in nursing take three years of full-time study, although duration can vary by course and pathway.
If you completed your nursing education overseas, do not assume that your degree will automatically transfer. Internationally qualified nurses and midwives must complete the NMBA’s Self-check before applying for registration, and Ahpra assesses applications on behalf of the NMBA. Your qualifications, registration history, English language skills, recency of practice, criminal history, and other registration standards may all be considered.
Of course, the most straightforward step is to study nursing in Australia through an NMBA-approved program. Most undergraduate nursing programs there take three years of full-time study, which can be shorter than many four-year undergraduate degrees elsewhere. The country is home to several well-regarded universities. Aspiring nurses may consider programs connected with the University of Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney. The University of Melbourne also offers a graduate-entry Master of Nursing Science pathway for students who already have an undergraduate degree in another field. If you have an undergraduate degree in another field, you may be eligible for a graduate-entry nursing master’s degree in Australia.
Step 2. Take an English Proficiency Test
As is the case with most countries, the next step to becoming a nurse in Australia is to meet the English language skills registration standard. You can meet this standard through an approved education pathway or through an English test pathway. Accepted tests include the IELTS Academic, OET, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency.
Current NMBA English test requirements include IELTS Academic overall 7.0, with at least 7.0 in listening, reading, and speaking, and 6.5 in writing. The current minimums are OET listening 350, reading 360, writing 350, and speaking 360; PTE Academic overall 63, with listening 58, reading 59, writing 60, and speaking 76; and TOEFL iBT overall 91, with listening 22, reading 22, writing 23, and speaking 24. TOEFL iBT applicants must select the “Taking TOEFL for Australia” option.
You may use results from one test sitting or a maximum of two sittings within a 12-month period, but you cannot combine results from different test providers. Test results are generally accepted if they were obtained within two years before applying, although limited exceptions may apply if you have been continuously working or studying in a recognized country.
If you studied in a recognized English-speaking country such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the United States, you may be able to meet the English requirement through an education pathway. This is not a simple exemption based only on nationality or native language, so you should check the current NMBA standard before applying.
Step 3. Have Your Skills Assessed
The next step to becoming a nurse in Australia is to have your qualifications and registration eligibility assessed. The bodies involved in regulating nursing in Australia are the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, or Ahpra, and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, or the NMBA. Ahpra assesses applications from internationally qualified nurses and midwives on behalf of the NMBA, while the NMBA makes the final registration decision.
To become a registered nurse, you will need to complete the NMBA Self-check and follow the assessment stages you are assigned. You may need to provide identity documents, education records, registration history, English language evidence, criminal history checks, and other supporting documents. You must also meet the NMBA’s mandatory registration standards, including English language skills, criminal history, recency of practice, and professional indemnity insurance requirements.
Whether you can proceed directly to registration depends on your qualifications, registration history, comparable jurisdiction eligibility, clinical practice hours, and other registration standards. Internationally qualified registered nurses from approved comparable jurisdictions may have a streamlined pathway if they meet the relevant criteria, including minimum clinical practice requirements. Others may need to complete further assessment, such as the outcome-based assessment pathway. Work experience can be relevant, especially for migration skills assessments, but it does not guarantee NMBA registration.
For registered nurses who are directed to the outcome-based assessment pathway, the process can include the NCLEX-RN multiple-choice exam and the Objective Structured Clinical Exam, or OSCE. The NCLEX-RN assesses professional knowledge, while the OSCE assesses whether candidates can demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and competence expected of a graduate-level nurse from an Australian NMBA-approved program of study.
Not all applicants need to complete the outcome-based assessment. Some internationally qualified registered nurses from approved comparable jurisdictions may be eligible for a streamlined registration standard if their education, registration, practice hours, and other registration standards meet NMBA requirements. Others will follow the existing IQNM assessment process.
Step 4. Gain Legal Permission to Work in Australia
After you have confirmed your registration pathway, you will also need the right visa to live and work in Australia. Registration with the NMBA and immigration approval are separate processes, and success in one does not automatically guarantee success in the other. For skilled migration, nurses may also need a skills assessment from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC), which is separate from NMBA registration.
There are several visa options that may be available to nurses. If you have not found a job yet but would like to move to Australia, you may be able to explore points-tested skilled visas such as the 189 Skilled Independent visa, 190 Skilled Nominated visa, or 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa. These visas have specific points, occupation, invitation, nomination, and skills assessment requirements. The 190 visa requires state or territory nomination, while the 491 visa can involve state or territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship, depending on the stream.
If you have already secured employment, an eligible employer may be able to sponsor you. The former 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa has been replaced by the Skills in Demand visa, which is still subclass 482. The 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa may also be available for eligible applicants and employers.
In conclusion, Australia offers a clear but detailed pathway for qualified nurses who want professional growth, competitive salaries, and the chance to experience a multicultural lifestyle. To succeed, make sure you confirm your nursing registration requirements with Ahpra and the NMBA, check whether you need an ANMAC skills assessment for migration, and choose the visa pathway that fits your circumstances. Begin your nursing journey in Australia now!
We hope this article on the steps to become a nurse in Australia was helpful. To find more information on studying abroad, check out the Study in Australia and Available Programs for International Students pages.
