Coming to Australia as a Nurse 2021
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, popularly referred to as AHPRA, works in partnership with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) to manage the registration of Australian nurses, midwives, and nursing and midwifery students and obtain registered in Australia.
From January 2020, overseas nurses who wish to Come to Australia as a Nurse 2021 and whose qualifications are assessed as relevant but not substantially equivalent are going to be required to travel through an Outcome-Based Assessment (OBA).
It appears that bridging courses will not be offered to those with qualifications not meeting the registration criteria. Instead, applicants would be required to sit exams, which might involve cognitive and behavioral assessment. The cognitive assessment may be a computer-based multiple-choice exam. The second stage may be a behavioral assessment within the sort of an objective clinical examination requiring applicants to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and competence of a graduate-level Australian Nurse or midwife.
OBA for Internationally qualified nurses and midwives.
OBA for IQNM may be a PR Pathway for Overseas trained nurses and midwives who are Coming to Australia as a Nurse 2021 and have the required working experience and qualifications to figure as a nurse or midwife in Australia. The OBA for IQNM is an initiative by Australia to supply permanent visas for overseas trained nurses and midwives. Overseas nurses and midwives are commonly referred to as Internationally Qualified Nurses and Midwives or IQNM.
IQNM eager to add Australia as a nurse or midwife is required to use for a working visa or permanent resident visa. IQNM must even be registered to practice. IQNM must first be registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency or AHPRA before they will work as nurses and midwives. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia or NMBA is the agency that regulate the practice of nursing and midwifery. Together, AHPRA and NMBA are liable for assessing and registering internationally qualified nurses and midwives or IQNM to practice in Australia. Below may be a list of all the documents you’ll get to complete:
- AGSE-40 form (There are fewer questions during this form compared to the old AGOS-40)
- Identity form
- Statement from Employer
- University Transcripts
- Updated CV
- Degree Certificate
- Fit2Work
- Current Council’s Certificate of Good Standing
- Proof of English (IELTS / OET)
Self-check
All IQNMs will have to submit their qualification information at Self-check. You’ll then be advised of the steps or assessment stages you want to successfully complete before being eligible for registration. After completing Self-check, your qualification (eg Bachelor of Science in Nursing) is going to be assessed whether it’s substantially equivalent or supported similar competencies to an Australian approved qualification (eg Bachelor of Nursing and you want to demonstrate you’re ready to meet the mandatory registration standards).
You will be issued with a referral to the OBA if you’ve been assessed as holding relevant but not substantially equivalent qualifications and ready to demonstrate you meet the mandatory registration standards. Hence, you’ll be assessed whether you’re eligible to use it for registration after you’ve got completed Orientation Part 1. You should note that you simply are only eligible for registration after you’ve got successfully completed an OBA (by paying a registration and application fee of $300 and $175 respectively).
Orientation program
After Self-check and if you’re asked to proceed within the IQNM assessment you’ll get to complete the orientation program so as to be registered in Australia. There are 2 parts to the orientation
- Part 1 is a web learning course introducing you to Australia and therefore the Australian healthcare.
- Part 2 may be a more thorough online introduction, It includes the content on the range of Australian Part 2 must be completed once you’re registered with NMBA. this is often a compulsory requirement so as for you to be registered.
In addition to completing the orientation program, you want to hunt down and be a part of the workplace induction and/or local orientation provided by an employer.
Outcomes-Based Assessment
When applying to AHPRA for registration, IQNM is assessed on their qualifications and not their professional clinical experience. In early 2020, the assessment is transitioned to an Outcomes-Based Assessment or OBA for IQNM who hold relevant and meet the mandatory registration standards but don’t have substantially equivalent qualifications.
The OBA has replaced bridging programs, for instance, IRON or Initial Registration of Overseas Nurses. The OBA has a 2-stage assessment process:
- a multiple-choice question (MCQ) exam ( you want to be authorized by AHPRA to take a seat on the MCQ exam) and
- an objective structured clinic exam (OSCE). you’ll be required to pass the MCQ before moving to the
Under the OBA for IQNM PR pathway, IQNM must pass, within the following order:
cognitive assessment component this a computer-based multiple-choice questionnaire or MCQ: registered nurses will sit the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Exams are going to be held at the Pearson VUE test so as to aim MCQ, the candidate has got to undergo the NCLEX-RN test.
National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) is a test for licensed nurses who wish to figure within the USA, Canada, or Australia. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) develops and administers the NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE test centers.
Registered nurses will sit the NCLEX-RN. Midwives will sit MCQ exams managed by NMBA.
NCLEX exam uses Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) format that’s interactively supported the response given to the questions by the candidate. Supported candidate’s skill level, the CAT ensures that the questions aren’t “too hard” or “too easy”.
Here are the top 3 NCLEX-RN Books for your reference.
Documents Required to realize Decision/ Eligibility Letter
- Application Form
- Application Fee
- Passport
- Name change Document
- Qualification Certificates
- Registration Certificates
- Experience Certificates
- Language Certificate (IELTS 7 in each or OET Grade B in each)
- Criminal Check Report
- Good Standing Certificate
- Resume
Applying for registration
Once internationally qualified nurses or midwives (IQNMs) successfully complete the Self-check and any required assessment stages, they’re eligible to use for registration. Once an IQNM is eligible to use for registration, the registration form is going to be made available within the IQNM candidate dashboard.
AGSE-40 form This, in long is ‘Application for General Registration for Internationally Qualified Nurses and Midwives.’ You’ll be required to finish this form and send it to AHPRA alongside the evidence requested after you’ve completed the orientation training.
The subsequent step is gathering your additional documentation to send together with your application.
- A photocopy of your Passport
- A photocopy of your driver’s license
- Certificate of Good Standing (Your current registrar)
How to apply
You can lodge your application for registration, and supporting documentation by post at the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) office in Victoria:
AHPRA
GPO Box 9958
Melbourne VIC 3001
Alternatively, you’ll lodge your application for registration, and supporting documentation face to face at any Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) office within the state or territory during which you propose to measure and work. Applying for registration doesn’t guarantee that you simply meet the standards for registration. Granting registration may be a decision of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
Filling in your form
There are separate application forms for IQNMs in Stream A and IQNMs in Stream B. Once the specified assessment stages are completed by IQNMs in either stream, the respective form is going to be made available for completion. It’s important that you simply fill out your form carefully. concentrate on the instructions and therefore the symbols listed on the front page of the shape, as these will help guide you in completing the shape accurately.
The symbols used are:
Additional information: Provides specific information on a few questions or sections of the shape.
Attention: Highlights important information about the shape.
Attach document(s) to the present form: Processing cannot occur until all required documents are received.
Signature required: Requests appropriate parties to sign the shape where indicated.
Mail document(s) on to AHPRA: Requires delivery of documents by a corporation or the applicant supporting documentation to assess your application
The NMBA and AHPRA believe the supporting documentation submitted together with your form to accurately assess your application for registration. Please make sure that all supporting documentation meets the AHPRA certification and translation guidelines. The NMBA views fraud very seriously and can carefully review the evidence you provide to support your application.
If you provide false or misleading documents together with your application, the NMBA will refuse your registration because you’re not a fit and proper person for general registration. If the NMBA becomes conscious of fraud in your application after you’ve got been registered, you’ll have your registration canceled.
For AHPRA to assess your application, applicants must provide ALL the subsequent evidence. Your application can’t be assessed until all of this documentation has been received.
Supplied on to AHPRA from regulatory authorities:
- Certificate of Registration Status (CORS) or Certificate of excellent Standing (COGS) from every jurisdiction outside of Australia during which you’re currently, or have previously been, registered during the past five years
- Evidence of sitting and spending a pre-registration examination from the country where you completed your nursing/midwifery qualification
- Additional registration history
Note: if the regulatory agency sends a CORS, it must include information on your standing.
CORS and COGS are valid for 3 months from the date of issue.
FAQ’s
Which Temporary Working visas to use after passing OBA?
After you’ve got obtained AHPRA registration and have secured an employment offer to figure as a nurse or midwife, you’ll apply, if you meet the visa grant criteria, for:
- TSS Subclass 482 -PR pathway could also be; or
- Skilled Work Regional Subclass 491; or
- Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional Subclass 494; and
- Sponsored Regional or Designated Area Subclass 489 (closed from 16 November 2019 and replaced by Subclass 491).
Which Permanent Resident visas to use after passing OBA?
After you’ve got obtained AHPRA registration, you’ll apply, if you meet the visa grant criteria, for:
- ENS Subclass 186; or
- RSMS 187; or
- Independent Subclass 189; or
- Nominated Subclass 190; and
- Skilled Nominated Subclass
Australian migration law is complex and difficult to know, contact our immigration lawyer for a free quarter-hour consultation to assist you to discover the simplest visa.
Arriving in Australia
When you arrive in Australia you’ll be required to collect some more information before you begin working. These are listed below.
Presenting in person
Presenting face to face as a part of the AHPRA identity check, it’s a requirement that you simply enter the closest AHPRA office and present face to face. you’ll get an email to notify you when it’s time to try this. There’s a 3-month window to present, so ideally you’ll want to be already within the country or heading there therein time. You won’t get to arrange a meeting to try this, just enter and state that you simply are there for an identity check and that they will roll in the hay there then.
Documents to bring with you for this are;
- Passport Australian Visa
- Evidence of arrival in Australia-boarding card or itinerary
- Evidence of current Australian address
A few days or weeks later, you’ll receive your AHPRA registration certificate to verify your registration.
Statuary Declaration Check
Due to the length of time, it’ll deem for application to succeed in this stage, it’ll be required to try a statuary declaration check for International Criminal History Check and Certificate of Good Standing to verify if there are no changes. This may be stated in your email whether or not you’ll be required to try this.
Tax File Number
This can be completed online once you arrive within the country. It’s pretty simple to try to and worth doing early. It is often used as a symbol of address once you receive your confirmation within the post. You’ll apply for your tax file number online.