Becoming a nurse in Australia: the NMBA steps for overseas nurses.

What is the NMBA Self-check?

An online check that every internationally qualified nurse completes before applying. You enter your qualification exactly as it appears on your certificate, and the Self-check assigns a stream or says Ahpra needs to assess your qualification first. It only looks at your qualification, so passing it does not mean you meet every registration requirement.

What do Streams A, B and C mean?

	What it means	Your next steps
Stream A	Your qualification meets the criteria	Assessment fee, Orientation Part 1, then apply
Stream B	Your qualification is relevant but needs the outcomes-based assessment	Assessment fee, Orientation Part 1, portfolio, multiple-choice exam, then the OSCE
Stream C	Your qualification does not meet the criteria	Complete a nursing qualification that leads to registration, then return

For a B.Sc or M.Sc Nursing graduate in Stream B, the exams are a 2-step process: the NCLEX-RN, then the OSCE. In Stream C you upgrade first, with a nursing Bachelor degree (AQF level 7) or an enrolled nursing Diploma (AQF level 5) that leads to registration, in Australia or another country. Postgraduate qualifications in related fields do not count.

What documents does Ahpra need?

At the Portfolio stage you send certified copies of your course certificate and academic transcript, with translations of anything not in English. If Ahpra still has to assess your qualification, you also send a copy of your original registration certificate. You do not need a separate credential evaluation agency: the assessment fee covers Ahpra's review of your documents.

Which exam do registered and enrolled nurses write?

The multiple-choice exam depends on the register you are applying for.

• Registered nurses write the NCLEX-RN at a Pearson VUE centre. After your portfolio is finalised, Ahpra confirms eligibility within 4 weeks, you have 90 days to sit the exam once authorised, and results arrive within 6 weeks.
• Enrolled nurses, Australia's practical nurses, write a paper-based exam run by Ahpra at its offices in Australia.

I already passed the NCLEX-RN for Canada or the US. Do I write it again?

No. NMBA lets you transfer an NCLEX-RN result from another nursing regulator: upload your candidate report at the portfolio stage. The $250 AUD transfer fee only applies when you move a score out of Australia, and NMBA notes the Texas Board of Nursing and BCCNM do not accept transfers from Ahpra.

What is the OSCE?

A clinical exam in a simulated hospital setting, taken in person in Australia only. There are separate OSCEs for registered nurses, enrolled nurses and midwives. The registered nurse OSCE runs in Adelaide and Melbourne.

• You have 120 days to pay once your case reaches the OSCE stage, then 180 days to schedule it.
• If you live overseas, you need an Australian visa before Ahpra offers you a date.
• Results arrive by email within 8 weeks.

How much does it cost to register as a nurse in Australia?

NMBA fees in effect from 9 October 2026, in Australian dollars unless marked.

Item	Fee
IQNM assessment, including Orientation Part 1	$410
NCLEX-RN, for registered nurses	$200 USD, plus $150 USD outside Australia; $350 USD from 1 February 2027
Ahpra multiple-choice exam, for ENs	$250
OSCE	$4,000
Application for general registration	$346
Registration fee for general registration	$201

What English test scores does NMBA need?

You must meet NMBA's English language skills registration standard (2025). These are the minimum scores for tests taken on or after 23 April 2026; a test taken earlier is judged against the old minimums.

Every test must be taken at a test centre, on paper or computer. Results can come from one sitting, or from two sittings within 12 months if you sat all four parts both times and no score falls below the floor set for that test (for IELTS, 6.5). For TOEFL, choose "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when you register. Cambridge C2 Proficiency is accepted too, with 185 overall.