International students must complete a nursing qualification, such as the Diploma of Nursing or the Bachelor of Nursing, and demonstrate English language proficiency. They must then register with AHPRA and pass a skill assessment with ANMAC to work as a nurse in Australia.
For international students aiming to work as nurses in Australia, the process begins with obtaining a relevant nursing qualification. A Diploma of Nursing takes 1.5 years and leads to the role of an enrolled nurse, while a Bachelor of Nursing takes 3 years and is required to work as a registered nurse. English language proficiency is crucial, with a minimum IELTS score of 7 in each band usually required. Upon completing their course, students must register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and pass a skill assessment with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). This process can take 3-5 months post-graduation. If pursuing a diploma, students cannot apply for a Graduate Work Visa directly and may need to consider other visas such as a Student Visa, Training Visa, or Partner Visa. Once the skill assessment is passed, nurses can apply for visas such as the State Nominated (Subclass 190) or Skilled Regional (Subclass 491) Visa, depending on state requirements and eligibility.
