Nurses are in high demand globally and in Australia, and consistently feature in the skills shortage list for Australian PR.

Due to the high demand for Registered nurses as with other sectors of nursing, these occupations are listed consistently in the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) and the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL). These include Registered Nurse (Medical Practice), Registered Nurse (Aged Care), and Nurse Practitioner. As most visa types, an assessment procedure by a recognised authority (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council, ANMAC for Registered nurses and practitioners) is required as part of the visa application for work or migration purpose such as Permanent Residency. Nursing degree graduates can look ahead in building a medical career and invest for a bright future in Australia.

In order to work as a nurse or midwife in Australia, you must apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). You must also apply for a visa from the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (Australian Immigration Department).

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the body that assesses all applications for registration from internationally qualified nurses and midwives on behalf of the NMBA. The NMBA is required to abide by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law as applicable in each state and territory, and has to make the final decision on each application.

All overseas applicants must meet the minimal registration standards and qualification criteria in order to apply for registration.

As an internationally qualified nurse practitioner, if you are interested in working in Australia as a nurse practitioner you need to first apply for and obtain registration as a registered nurse with the NMBA. In order to be recognised and be able to practice as a nurse practitioner in Australia you must become ‘endorsed’ by the NMBA under the National Law as a nurse practitioner. There are also additional requirements set by the NMBA that you must meet to become endorsed as a nurse practitioner.

As most of you may have already experienced, this is not an easy process. The AHPRA standards are exacting, and they are very particular about the prerequisites for application. This can make applying for AHPRA a harrowing experience for nurses— particularly those who have qualified overseas, and are not sure about the equivalency of their qualification with respect to AHPRA’s mandates!

This is where MedicalTravel.ng can help. We understand all the rules, and we have the best expertise in AHPRA applications. Regardless of which part of the world you got your qualification from, we can help you apply to AHPRA and understand the processes involved.


The EPIQ/GCN for overseas qualified Nurses is a 6 month Registration Bridging Program in Australia for Registered Nurses who have obtained their qualification in countries other than Australia and who are registered in their home country. Successful completion of this program is a mandatory requirement for overseas Nurses to attain the necessary competencies set by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (ANMAC) National Competency Standards for registration as a Registered Nurse with the AHPRA. It also offers a path to further postgraduate study in Australia.