To work as a registered nurse in Australia, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). The NMBA works with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). Together they assess internationally qualified nurses and midwives, called IQNMs (NMBA).
This guide explains the steps for registered nurses, the English test scores, the official fees and the main work visa. Fees and scores were checked in October 2026. They change, so check the linked pages before you pay anything.
Who this route is for
The IQNM process is for nurses whose nursing qualification is from outside Australia. Two groups do not use it (NMBA Self-check page):
- People who completed an NMBA-approved nursing programme in Australia. They apply for registration online.
- Nurses who are registered in New Zealand. They apply online under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act.
If your country has only one level of nursing, you can only seek registration in Australia as a registered nurse.
Step 1: the Self-check
Every IQNM starts with the Self-check on the NMBA website. You enter the exact details from your degree certificate. The Self-check only looks at your qualification. It does not check whether you meet every registration rule, and finishing the steps does not guarantee registration (NMBA).
The NMBA says you must complete the Self-check yourself. A third party or agent cannot do it for you.
The Self-check compares your qualification with the NMBA’s criteria and puts you in Stream A, B or C. The stream decides which steps you take next (NMBA):
| Stream | What you do next |
|---|---|
| A | Orientation Part 1, then apply for registration |
| B | Orientation Part 1, Portfolio, the MCQ exam (NCLEX-RN), then the OSCE in Australia |
| C | Read the NMBA “Steps after Self-check” page for what this means for you |
If your qualification has not been assessed before, the Self-check tells you the next steps. Ahpra then assesses it and gives you a stream later.
Step 2: assessment fee and Orientation Part 1
Stream A and Stream B nurses pay a non-refundable IQNM assessment fee of AUD 410. This covers the assessment and orientation. Then you complete Orientation Part 1 (NMBA).
Stream A nurses can then apply for registration. They give proof of their qualifications with the registration application.
Step 3 (Stream B): Portfolio
Stream B nurses send a Portfolio with documents that prove the qualifications they entered in the Self-check. After the Portfolio is finalised, you can register for the exam.
Step 4 (Stream B): the NCLEX-RN exam
The multiple-choice exam for registered nurses is the NCLEX-RN. Pearson VUE delivers it with the US National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) (NMBA exam page).
- You register and pay through a link on your IQNM dashboard.
- The IQNM Exams Team confirms your eligibility within 4 weeks.
- After you get your Authorisation to Test (ATT), you have 90 days to book and sit the exam.
- Results arrive by email within 6 weeks.
- If you already passed the NCLEX-RN with another regulator, you can transfer the score to Ahpra. Upload your candidate report at the Portfolio stage.
The NCLEX fee for Australia is USD 200. From 1 February 2027 it rises to USD 350 (NCLEX). If you test outside Australia, the NMBA says you also pay an international scheduling fee. Check the amount on the NCLEX website.
Our NCLEX-RN guide explains the exam in more detail.
Step 5 (Stream B): the OSCE in Australia
The Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) tests your clinical skills in a simulated ward. You can sit it only after you pass the NCLEX-RN. It is held in person in Australia only. You cannot take it online or in another country (NMBA OSCE page).
- You have 120 days to pay the OSCE fee once your case reaches the OSCE stage.
- After you pay, you have 180 days to accept an exam date.
- If you live overseas, you need an Australian visa to travel for the exam. Ahpra does not give visa advice. It sends a letter you can add to your visa application.
- Results arrive within 8 weeks.
- A pass is valid for 5 years. But it meets the recency of practice standard for only 2 years. If you apply later than that, you need more evidence of recent practice.
Step 6: apply for registration
When you finish your stream’s steps, you apply for general registration. Your application is then checked against all the registration standards, including English.
English test scores
Many applicants must pass an accepted English test. The minimum scores changed on 23 April 2026. The scores you need depend on the date you took the test (Ahpra).
Scores for tests taken on or after 23 April 2026 (checked October 2026):
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6.5 | 7 |
| OET | Not used | 350 | 360 | 350 | 360 |
| PTE Academic | 63 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 76 |
| TOEFL iBT | 91 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 178 | 175 | 179 | 180 | 194 |
| Cambridge C2 Proficiency | 185 | 185 | 185 | 176 | 185 |
For tests taken on or before 22 April 2026, the old scores apply. For example, OET needed B in listening, reading and speaking and C+ in writing. IELTS was the same as now.
Other rules from Ahpra:
- Results must be from one sitting, or from two sittings no more than 12 months apart. If you combine two sittings, no score in either sitting may fall below a set floor. You cannot combine two different tests.
- Ahpra accepts the IELTS One Skill Retake.
- For TOEFL iBT, you must choose “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when you book.
- Results are valid for two years before the date you apply for registration.
Our OET vs IELTS guide compares the scores that different countries ask for.
Official fees
These are the NMBA fees in Australian dollars, from the schedule in effect since 18 September 2025 (checked October 2026) (NMBA fees):
| Item | Fee (AUD) |
|---|---|
| IQNM assessment (assessment and orientation) | 410 |
| OSCE (Stream B) | 4,000 |
| Application for general registration | 332 |
| Registration fee for general registration | 193 (189 in NSW) |
| NCLEX-RN score transfer from Ahpra to another regulator | 250 |
The NCLEX-RN fee is paid to the exam provider, not to the NMBA. Add the cost of your English test, document translations, and travel to Australia for the OSCE.
Work visas
Registration lets you work as a nurse. It does not give you the right to live in Australia. For that you need a visa from the Department of Home Affairs.
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
The 482 visa lets an employer sponsor a skilled worker when it cannot find a suitable Australian worker. In the Core Skills stream, you must (Home Affairs):
- be nominated in an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
- be paid the market salary for the job, and at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)
- have at least 1 year of relevant work experience
- have a skills assessment if your occupation needs one
- work only for your sponsor, unless you are exempt
- meet the visa’s English requirement, unless you are exempt
The CSIT is AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 (Home Affairs). The visa lasts up to 4 years. If you are eligible, you can later apply for permanent residence. Check the skilled occupation list for your nursing occupation.
ANMAC skills assessment
Some skilled visas need a skills assessment. For nurses, this is done by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). It is separate from registration: ANMAC does not register nurses. ANMAC asks you to confirm with Home Affairs whether your visa needs an assessment before you apply (ANMAC fees).
ANMAC fees (checked October 2026):
| Assessment | Who it is for | Fee (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Modified skills assessment | Nurses already registered with the NMBA or in New Zealand | 395 |
| Full skills assessment | Nurses registered in Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Singapore, Spain, the UK or the US, who meet extra conditions | 595 |
For the full assessment, some nurses also need a qualification gained after 1 January 2017 and at least 1,800 hours of paid RN work since then in the same country (ANMAC). ANMAC says new fees and assessment names will start by the end of 2026.
Where to find jobs
On this board, every job links to the employer’s own careers page. See jobs in Australia and jobs with visa sponsorship. Never pay anyone to get you a job or a registration. Read our guide to ethical recruitment and scams.
Frequently asked questions
Can an agent complete the NMBA Self-check for me?
No. The NMBA says only the nurse who wants registration may complete the Self-check, and a third party or agent cannot do it for you. You enter the exact details from your own degree certificate. Wrong details can lead to wrong advice and extra fees.
Do I need to take the NCLEX-RN to register in Australia?
Only if the Self-check puts you in Stream B. Stream B nurses complete Orientation Part 1, a Portfolio, the NCLEX-RN and then the OSCE in Australia. Stream A nurses complete Orientation Part 1 and then apply for registration. If you passed the NCLEX-RN elsewhere, you can transfer the score.
Can I take the OSCE in my home country?
No. The OSCE is an in-person exam held in Australia only. It cannot be taken online. If you live overseas, you need an Australian visa to travel for it. Ahpra does not give visa advice, but it sends a letter you can include in your visa application.
What IELTS score do nurses need for Australia?
For IELTS Academic taken on or after 23 April 2026, you need 7 overall, 7 in listening, reading and speaking, and 6.5 in writing. You can use one sitting or two sittings within 12 months. Results are valid for two years before you apply for registration.
Does registration with the NMBA give me a visa?
No. Registration lets you practise as a nurse, but you still need a visa from the Department of Home Affairs. A common route is the employer-sponsored Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa. In its Core Skills stream, you need at least 1 year of relevant work experience.