Nurses and midwives reminded to renew by 31 May

17 May 2017

Time is running out for nurses and midwives to renew registration on time and avoid paying a late fee.

More than 370,000 nurses and midwives are due to renew their general or non-practising registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (the NMBA) by 31 May.

NMBA Chair, Associate Professor Lynette Cusack RN, is encouraging nurses and midwives to renew on time.

‘I urge registered and enrolled nurses, midwives and nurse practitioners to renew their registration before 31 May and not leave renewal to the last minute,’ she said.

‘Online renewal is the quickest and easiest way to renew your registration and is explained in our short video for nurses and midwives'.

Associate Professor Cusack highlighted an extra step when renewing this year to help maintain the integrity of the national register, which helps to protect the public.

'We’re asking that you check your qualifications and the date you were first registered in Australia are recorded correctly,’ she said.

‘This register detail check is a simple extra step in the renewal process.’

If you haven’t received a reminder to renew you should update your contact details using online services or by phoning the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) on 1300 419 495.

Late application fee

As outlined in the National Law¹, applications for renewal of registration that are received after the registration expiry date will incur a late payment fee in addition to the annual renewal fee.

If you do not renew your registration by 31 May, or within the following one-month late period, your registration will lapse. Your name will be removed from the national Register of Nurses and Midwives and you will not be able to practise without making a new application for registration.

Once your application to renew registration is received on time, you can continue practising while the application is processed, even if this work is not completed until after 31 May.

Remember – your listing on the national register is evidence to current and prospective employers that you are registered to practise as a nurse and/or midwife.

If you have submitted your application you can find out if it has been received using the online service at AHPRA - Renewal received confirmation.

Useful information

The following pages on the NMBA website contain useful information for nurses and midwives; and their employers:

• Registration standards 
• Registration renewal 
• Fact sheet for nurses and midwives
• Fact sheet for employers 
• Non-practising registration fact sheet 
• New registration requirement and extra step when renewing this year 

For more information

• Lodge an online enquiry form
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 03 9275 9009 (overseas callers)
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200

¹ The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory (the National Law)