If you want to work somewhere with beautiful scenery and fantastic cuisine, there are few better choices than Italy. The southern European country is famed for its pizza, pasta, and risotto, as well as Venice, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast. The Italian language is also one of the most beautiful in the world, and learning it through immersion is definitely a perk of working in the country.
The process of becoming a foreign nurse in Italy can be complicated because qualification recognition, professional registration, and work authorization involve different authorities. Much of the information is available only in Italian, so you will need a good command of the language or reliable professional help. Requirements can also vary by the competent provincial Order of Nursing Professions, known as the OPI. This article provides the general steps you need to become a registered nurse in Italy.
How to Become a Nurse in Italy
Step 1. Get a Nursing Education
Nursing is a regulated profession in Italy. If you earned your nursing qualification abroad, the first step is to apply to the Italian Ministry of Health for recognition of your professional qualification. The Ministry can issue a recognition decree, require a compensatory measure, or reject the application. Once your qualification has been recognized, you will need to contact the competent provincial OPI before registering to practice.
If you are applying with a qualification obtained outside the EU, the Ministry of Health may decide that recognition is conditional on completing a compensatory measure, which can be carried out through a university nursing school. This is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
A direct way to qualify as a nurse in Italy is to study nursing in the country. Italy has several universities that offer nursing degree programs, including the Sapienza University of Rome, the University of Parma, and the University of Padua. Many nursing programs are taught in Italian, although English-taught options do exist, including Sapienza University of Rome and UniCamillus. Aspiring nurses can also review our list of the best nursing universities in Italy.
Step 2. Learn Italian
To work safely in an Italian hospital, you will generally need a strong command of Italian. Foreign nurses who earned their qualifications abroad must register with the competent OPI before practicing. Before registration, EU citizens must take an examination to confirm their knowledge of Italian, while non-EU citizens must take an examination covering Italian language knowledge and the special legal provisions governing nursing practice in Italy.
It is also important to note that hospitals and clinical placements may have additional language expectations, so it is best to check with the employer, university, or facility where you plan to work.
English speakers may find international or private healthcare facilities in Italy, such as Rome American Hospital and UPMC Salvator Mundi International Hospital, that serve international patients. However, you should not assume that a nursing role can be performed only in English, since registration, patient care, and workplace communication generally require Italian.
Step 3. Take the Nursing Board
Italy does not have a separate national nursing board exam in the same way some countries do. For students completing a nursing degree in Italy, the final exam of the qualifying nursing degree has professional qualifying value. For foreign-trained nurses, the key steps are Ministry of Health recognition, any compensatory measure required by the Ministry, and the OPI language and legal-provisions examination required before registration.
Because these assessments are conducted in Italian and relate directly to professional practice in Italy, language preparation should be treated as a core part of your licensing plan.
Step 4. Register as a Nurse
The nursing profession in Italy is regulated through the National Federation of Orders of Nursing Professions, or FNOPI, and the competent provincial OPIs. The former IPASVI colleges became Orders of Nursing Professions in 2018, so current guidance should refer to OPI and FNOPI rather than IPASVI.
To practice nursing in Italy, you must be enrolled in the professional register held by the competent provincial OPI. Foreign-trained nurses should first obtain recognition of their qualification from the Ministry of Health, then contact the OPI for the language and, where applicable, legal-provisions examination and registration process. For non-EU citizens, the recognition decree generally loses effect if the applicant does not register within two years from the date of issue.
For a full list of requirements, check the Ministry of Health and the website of the OPI in the province where you intend to work. Requirements, forms, fees, and exam procedures can vary by OPI.
Step 5. Find a Job and Apply for Permission to Work
To find a nursing job in Italy, applicants may apply directly to hospitals, clinics, and care facilities or use authorized staffing and recruitment agencies. Authorized employment agencies in Italy should not charge workers a placement fee; the employer or hiring organization normally pays for recruitment services.
Non-EU nurses who live outside Italy generally need an employer or eligible hiring organization to request a work authorization, known as a nulla osta, through the relevant immigration office. Professional nurses are treated as a special category that can enter for subordinate work outside the annual quota system, provided the legal requirements are met. Healthcare facilities, certain cooperatives, and staffing agencies contracted with healthcare facilities may be able to request the authorization.
In practice, the work authorization process usually requires that your nursing qualification has already been recognized by the Ministry of Health and that you are registered with the professional register. After the nulla osta is issued, you can apply for the appropriate work visa and then complete the residence permit process after entering Italy. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens do not need a work permit to work in Italy, but they still need the required professional recognition and OPI registration to practice nursing.
FAQs: How to Become a Nurse in Italy
Are Nurses Well-Paid in Italy?
Nursing salaries in Italy vary widely by sector, region, contract type, shift work, and experience. Current salary data is mixed: some salary surveys put the average registered nurse salary at around €30,000 per year, while others estimate a higher average and a range that can exceed €60,000 for some roles. Public-sector pay also depends on the applicable collective labor agreement and allowances.
Italy continues to face nursing workforce shortages. OECD data shows that Italy has fewer practicing nurses per 1,000 people than the OECD average, and the 2025 Italy Country Health Profile also identifies nursing shortages as a health workforce challenge. This means qualified nurses may find opportunities, but employment prospects still depend on language ability, recognized qualifications, OPI registration, location, and employer needs.
In conclusion, Italy remains an attractive country for international students who want to study nursing or graduates seeking healthcare job opportunities. It offers nursing education, employment opportunities, and a cultural experience that many students and professionals value. However, foreign-trained nurses should plan carefully for qualification recognition, Italian language requirements, professional registration, and immigration procedures. If you are looking for good universities to pursue a degree in nursing, check out our curated list of the Best Nursing Schools in Italy.
We hope this article was helpful. If you are planning to pursue further studies in Italy, make sure to also check out our Guide to Studying in Italy and Available Programs in Europe!
