Employment as a Nurse

In order to work as a Nurse in Tasmania, you must satisfy the following requirements:

  1. You must be registered or enrolled as a nurse with the Nursing Board of Tasmania.

To seek registration in any state or territory of Australia, overseas nurses are normally required to have their suitability for registration assessed by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC).*

*Nurses who undertook their education preparation in the following countries may apply directly to the individual state or territory board:

  • United Kingdom
  • Ireland
  • Republic of South Africa (and who gained initial registration with the Republic of South African Nursing Council)
  • New Zealand
  • USA
  • Canada
  • Hong Kong
  • Zimbabwe
  • The Netherlands (HBO only)
  • Singapore
  1. All overseas nurses – except those educationally prepared in one of the countries listed above – are required by the ANMC to undertake a recognised English Language Test.

The two tests recognised by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council are:

  • The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – applicants must obtain a minimum score of 6.5 in each area and a minimum overall band score of 7; and
  • The Occupational English Test (OET) – applicants must achieve a B pass in all four sections.
  1. Nurses recruited from overseas for specific vacancies must have their ability to be registered ensured prior to entering into any arrangement.
  2. Following assessment by the ANMC, applicants who do not meet the requirements for registration may at the discretion of the individual state/territory Nursing Board, undertake a Migrant Bridging Program.
  • The Migrant Bridging Program in Tasmania is provided by the University of Tasmania, which requires the overseas nurse to undertake the final year of the three-year undergraduate nursing degree. The overseas nurse may apply for additional credit based on the qualifications they hold.
  • Nurses seeking to undertake the Migrant Bridging Program are required to contact the Australian Department of Immigration to apply for a student visa.
  • On successful completion of the Migrant Bridging Program from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Tasmania the nurse may seek sponsorship to stay in Tasmania and seek employment as a registered nurse. The required period of sponsorship is 2 years.