Australian Visa Bureau   »   Visas and Immigration   »   Australia Skilled Migration   »  Nursing Jobs in Australia: Nursing Council: Australian Visa Bureau

Nursing Jobs in Australia: Australian Nursing Council (ANC)

If you intend to apply for migration to Australia under one of the General Skilled Migration categories, you must have a nominated occupation which is on the Skilled Occupations List at the time you apply. In order to make a valid application, you must have obtained a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation.

Do You Qualify For Nursing Jobs In Australia?

ANC is the assessing authority for the following occupations:

• The Registered Nurse; and
• The Enrolled Nurse.

There is currently a high demand for nurses in Australia, with an abundance of jobs available for nurses in all regions of the country.

The Registered Nurse

The Registered Nurse is a first level nurse, educated in pre-registration degree level courses (Bachelor degree or higher qualification) in universities. A 3 year diploma could be assessed by ANC as comparable to and Australian degree. Nursing courses are broad based and comprehensive and are designed to prepare candidates to work in a wide variety of health care settings. Registered Nurses are licensed to practice nursing in the field(s) in which they are registered without supervision, and assume accountability and responsibility for all their actions and aspects of care.

The Enrolled Nurse

The Enrolled Nurse is a second level nurse who provides nursing care within the limits specified by education and the registering authority's license to practise. Enrolled Nurses in Australia are primarily educated through advanced certificate or associated diploma level courses in colleges of technical and further education, of which the duration is less than 3 years.

Enrolled Nurses work under the direction and supervision of Registered Nurses but retain responsibility for their own actions and remain accountable to the Registered Nurse for all delegated functions.

Enrolled Nurses or Registered Nurses without a Bachelors degree or higher qualification will be regarded as Division 2 Nurses.

Language Competency Requirements

In Australia English is the language of communication in health care settings therefore it is essential that nurses have a level of proficiency in English which enables them to communicate competently and safely with clients and colleagues.

In accordance with ANC Policy the requirement to complete an English language proficiency test is waived where a nurse's education leading to registration was undertaken in the United Kingdom, Ireland, USA, South Africa, or Zimbabwe.

All other nurses are required to successfully complete one of the following English Language Tests:

1. Occupational English Test (OET) for Nurses

   The required pass level is a B pass or above in all 4 sections of the test, giving an overall pass.

2. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - Academic Test.

   The required pass level is a score of not less than 6.5 in each of the 4 sections of the test with an overall score of not less than 7.

The test must have been undertaken not more than 2 years before lodging the application for assessment.

Do You Qualify For Nursing Jobs In Australia?