Registration & endorsement

Nurses and midwives must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, and meet the NMBA's registration standards, in order to practise in Australia.

Registration types

The nursing and midwifery registration types are:

• general registration
• limited registration
• non-practising registration (see fact sheet to the right of the page)
• student registration
• provisional registration (see Re-entry to practice)

Endorsements

Endorsement of registration identifies practitioners with additional qualifications and specific expertise. The endorsements for nursing and midwifery are:

• Nurse practitioner
• Registered nurse - supply scheduled medicines (rural and isolated practice) 
  * Please note this endorsement is currently transitioning to retirement and will be discontinued in 2022.
• Midwife - prescribe scheduled medicines

Enrolled nurse to registered nurse registration

Enrolled nurses can now apply for registration as a registered nurse online. More information is available here.

Mandatory registration requirements

All applicants for nursing and/or midwifery registration must meet a range of requirements to become eligible for registration. Registration standards define the requirements that applicants for registration or renewal of registration need to meet to be registered.

All applicants for registration (excludes student registration) must meet the requirements of the following mandatory registration standards:

• Registration standard: Criminal history  
• Registration standard: English language skills
• Registration standard: Continuing professional development
• Registration standard: Professional indemnity insurance arrangements 
• Registration standard: Recency of practice 

For more information see the NMBA’s registration standards.

As of 4 February 2015, a new process applies for checking criminal history outside of Australia. This new approach requires certain applicants and registered practitioners to apply for an international criminal history check from an approved supplier. For more information, please refer to the international criminal history page on the AHPRA website.

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