Pathway for nurses and midwives out of practice between 10 to 15 years

02 Mar 2023

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has updated the policy: Re-entry to practice for nurses and midwives to include consideration for those who have not practised for a period between 10 to 15 years. 

This update will be an interim solution while the NMBA conducts a full review of the policy. 

What’s changed?

The previous re-entry to practice policy required all nurses and midwives with a lapse in practice over 10 years to complete an NMBA approved program of study leading to registration. The update allows those who have been out of practice between 10 to 15 years the opportunity to complete an NMBA approved re-entry to practice program (pathway 2). 

Nurses and midwives that fit into this category can now apply for either provisional or general registration with conditions. The assessment of their application will determine whether the applicant is eligible to complete pathway 2. 

The diagram below outlines the re-entry pathways for nurses and midwives who have not practised between 10 to 15 years.

The role of the NMBA is to protect the public by ensuring that anyone who is registered as a nurse or midwife is safe and competent to practise. When supporting a nurse or midwife’s re-entry to practice, we must balance the requirements of public safety with effective pathways back into the professions that ensure safe and competent practice.

View the updated policy and read the fact sheet for re-entry to practice on the NMBA website. 

For more information:

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