South Africa has one of the region’s more developed health care systems, although access and quality can vary significantly between public and private facilities and between urban and rural areas. The country has managed major public health challenges, including HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, and nurses remain central to its health care workforce.
There are a variety of reasons why one might want to work in South Africa. For one, it’s a huge change from most other countries where one might work as a nurse. The country is home to a wide range of cultures and languages, so there will always be things to learn. The wilderness in South Africa is also some of the most breathtaking in the world.
South Africa also receives migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers from several countries, especially within the region. If you are an international applicant, refugee, or asylum seeker, your SANC registration process may require additional proof of identity, immigration status, or authorization to work or train in South Africa.
If becoming a practicing nurse in South Africa sounds like it’s for you, keep reading. This article will take you through the steps to become a nurse in South Africa.
How to Become a Nurse in South Africa
Step 1. Get a Nursing Education
This is crucial if you want to become a nurse in South Africa. It is possible to apply for registration with a foreign nursing or midwifery qualification, but the qualification must be evaluated and accepted by the South African Nursing Council (SANC), which regulates nursing education and practice in the country. SANC may consider your qualification, transcript, professional registration, certificate of good standing, SAQA evaluation, and other required documents before deciding whether you meet the requirements for registration.
If SANC finds that your qualification does not fully meet South African registration requirements, you may be required to complete additional education, clinical practice, an assessment, or an admission examination before you can be registered. Make sure any nursing education institution and program you choose in South Africa are accredited by SANC, because SANC does not recognize training from non-accredited institutions or programs.
Foreigners can also choose to study nursing in South Africa. Current undergraduate nursing pathways include the Higher Certificate in Nursing, Diploma in Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing, and Advanced Diploma in Midwifery. The Bachelor of Nursing leads to registration as a Professional Nurse and Midwife, the Diploma in Nursing leads to registration as a General Nurse, the Higher Certificate in Nursing leads to registration as an Auxiliary Nurse, and the Advanced Diploma in Midwifery leads to registration as a Midwife. Postgraduate diplomas are also available for nursing specialties.
Step 2. Demonstrate Your English Proficiency
South Africa now has 12 official languages, including South African Sign Language. However, English is widely used in health care, education, administration, and professional communication. If your nursing or midwifery training was not completed in English, SANC may require proof that you have successfully completed an internationally recognized English proficiency test.
Earlier SANC guidance listed an IELTS band score of 6 as acceptable, but current regulations do not state that IELTS is the only accepted English test. Because English-language requirements can depend on your training background and the registration route, you should confirm the current accepted tests and minimum scores directly with SANC before applying. Learning another South African language, especially if you plan to work in an area where it is commonly spoken, can also be an asset.
Step 3. Submit the Application and Take a SANC Exam
People with foreign qualifications should follow SANC’s foreign registration process. You may need to submit a certified copy of your identity document or passport, a notarized copy of your qualification, verification from the nursing or midwifery registering authority in the country where the qualification was obtained, a SAQA evaluation certificate, a transcript of training sent directly by your nursing education institution, a certificate of good character and standing, English-language proof if applicable, sworn translations where required, and proof of payment of the application fee.
In addition, foreign applicants may need to meet official requirements relating to employment or study in South Africa, including requirements linked to the National Department of Health’s Foreign Workforce Management Programme, where applicable. After SANC evaluates your documents, it will inform you of the outcome and whether you must complete an assessment or admission examination before registration.
SANC publishes examination schedules online. According to the 2026 SANC examination schedule, foreign applicants who are registered with SANC apply individually and may write admission examinations leading to registration as a General Nurse, Midwife, Enrolled Nurse, or Auxiliary Nurse. The professional entrance examination for South African candidates in the Higher Certificate in Nursing, Diploma in Nursing, and Bachelor of Nursing pathways has been placed in abeyance until further notice, so current exam requirements should always be checked with SANC.
Step 4. Register with the SANC
To register and become a nurse in South Africa, you must meet SANC’s requirements for the relevant category of registration and pay the applicable fees. If you hold a foreign qualification, registration will depend on the outcome of SANC’s evaluation and any required assessment or examination. You must also keep any required immigration permission, work authorization, refugee or asylum documentation, or study permission valid, depending on your situation.
A SANC registration certificate is proof of registration for 12 months from the date on the certificate. After that, practitioners who want to continue practicing in South Africa must pay the annual fee and obtain an Annual Practising Certificate. The annual fee is normally due by December 31 of the year before the year for which it applies. Failure to maintain registration or pay required fees can result in removal from the register, so mark your calendar and check your registration status regularly.
We hope you found this article on the steps to become a nurse in South Africa informative and helpful. To learn more, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
