The process of licensing foreign specialists in the field of nursing

In light of the continuous development of the health care sector and the expansion of international cooperation, Australia is becoming an attractive destination for nurses who seek not only to find new professional challenges, but also to experience all the advantages of a stable and promising career in this field.

Employment in the field of nursing in Australia for foreign professionals opens wide opportunities and a number of advantages. First, it is a high level of professional recognition, as the Australian health care system highly values ​​qualified health professionals. Second, attractive employment conditions that include competitive salary and benefits. Thirdly, the possibility of professional growth and training according to modern methods. In addition, living in a country with a high standard of living and diverse cultural opportunities make Australia an attractive place to work and live for international nurses.

In the article, we explain the details of the procedures and requirements related to the employment of nurses in Australia.

Foreign Qualified Nurses and Midwives (IQNMs) applying for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) are assessed against the NMBA’s registration standards. The IQNM qualification is assessed against the three qualification criteria of the assessment model.

• The registration standards set out the requirements that applicants must meet to be considered fit to work as nurses and midwives.
• Qualification criteria determine the minimum acceptable education and training

Applicants for registration must meet all registration standards and eligibility criteria to be eligible for registration without conditions or restrictions.

All applicants must meet the following mandatory registration standards:

Registration standard	Detailed description of standards
International Criminal History Check	If you have indicated that you have had a criminal record in another country or have lived abroad for six consecutive months or more as an adult, you are required to complete an International Criminal History Check (ICHC). The results will be provided to you and communicated directly to us. ICHC results are valid for three months from the date of issue. You can apply for ICHC from an Ahpra approved provider: AIS International / Fit2Work	https://bit.ly/49pqpix
Proficiency in English	IELTS (academic module) with a minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking) OET   with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading , writing and speaking)   PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking)   TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test: a minimum total score of 94 is achieved in each sitting, and you achieve a minimum score of 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking across the two sittings, and no score in any of the sections is below: 20 for listening 19 for reading 24 for writing, and 20 for speaking	https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx
Continuous professional development	The standard applies equally to staff nurses, registered nurses and midwives working full-time or part-time in paid or unpaid practice. The standard applies to registered nurses, registered nurses and midwives who are on leave, such as maternity leave. This standard does not apply to non-practitioners or students studying nursing or midwifery. To meet this standard, you must complete a minimum of 20 hours of BPR during your registration period.	https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/Continuing-professional-development.aspx
Professional indemnity insurance arrangements	Professional liability insurance contracts are contracts that provide for the professional activity of a nurse and/or midwife, insurance against civil liability incurred as a result of a claim arising from a negligent act, error or omission in the conduct of a nurse and/or midwife, or from damages , which arose as a result of a lawsuit, which arose as a result of the actions or omissions listed above. Nurses and midwives must not engage in the professional activity for which they are registered unless they have appropriate professional liability insurance contracts	https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/Professional-indemnity-insurance-arrangements.aspx
Recent practice	The NMBA will recognize practice hours if the evidence you provide demonstrates that you have practiced nursing and/or midwifery and: have or had current and valid registration with a recognized nursing or midwifery regulatory body (in Australia or overseas) your role involves the application of knowledge and nursing and/or midwifery skills have completed postgraduate education leading to an award or qualification relevant to the practice of nursing and/or midwifery.   Enrolled Nurses, Registered Nurses, and Midwives meet the most recent practice requirement if they meet one of the following criteria: Completion of a minimum of 450 hours of practice within the past five years Successful completion of a program or assessment approved by the NMBA Successful completion of a period of supervised practice, approved NMBA.	https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/Recency-of-practice.aspx
Qualification criteria: registered nurses with international qualifications/enrolled nurses/midwives
Criteria	Criteria requirements
1 Qualification recognized for registration	Your qualification has been recognized by an official registration/licensing body for registration as a registered nurse, midwife or registered nurse in the country where you qualified and you have met all the requirements for taking the pre-registration examination. If there is only one level of nursing in your country, your qualification will be assessed at the registered nurse level.
2 Quality assurance and accreditation	At the time you qualified as a registered nurse, midwife or junior nurse, the qualification was subject to quality assurance and was recognized or accredited by a body external to the institution based on published accreditation standards. Accreditation standards for registered nurse, midwife or junior nurse education should include all of the following: modern approaches to education institutional resources (personnel and logistics) evidence-based and modern nursing and/or midwifery practice experience in various health care settings and medication management , aimed at the safe and effective use of medicines.
3 Academic qualification level	The academic level of your qualification is comparable to, at a minimum, an Australian Bachelor’s Degree Level 7 (Registered Nurse or Midwife) or an Australian Diploma Level 5 (Registered Nurse) of the Australian Qualifications Framework.