Nurses who aspire to work in other countries must undergo training and assessment to ensure they possess the necessary skills and competencies to practice in a new healthcare environment. This process also ensures that they meet the standards set by respective nursing regulatory bodies.
In Australia, internationally qualified nurses (IQNs) seeking registration as registered nurses (RNs) must undergo assessment and evaluation through two key regulatory bodies: the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). These organizations determine whether IQNs meet the requirements to practice nursing in Australia.
Eligibility and Assessment Process
IQNs must complete a thorough process to determine their eligibility for registration as an RN in Australia. The first step is to complete a self-check via AHPRA's IQNM Assessment Portal, which categorizes candidates into two streams:
Stream A: Candidates who qualify for a bridging program (though this pathway has largely been replaced by the OBA).
Stream B: Candidates who are eligible for the Outcome-Based Assessment (OBA) pathway.
Outcome-Based Assessment (OBA) Pathway
Stream B candidates must complete two key examinations as part of the OBA pathway:
Note: Candidates must pass the NCLEX-RN before progressing to the OSCE.
Final Steps: Registration and Work Eligibility
IQNs who successfully pass both the NCLEX-RN and OSCE, along with other registration requirements (e.g., identity verification, English proficiency, police check), can apply for registration with AHPRA. Upon receiving their registration, they become eligible to work as registered nurses in Australia.
This structured process ensures that nurses entering the Australian healthcare system are competent, well-trained, and equipped to provide high-quality patient care.
College of NETA offers a high-quality preparation program for both parts of the exam. Review materials and program access are provided to students upon enrollment.
The preparation courses were thoughtfully designed and developed by the college under the leadership of Karissa, the CEO and founder, who is both a nurse and educator. The development process involved comprehensive planning, thorough evaluation, and extensive consultation with experienced educators and nursing professionals to ensure the courses are accurate, valid, and highly effective.
As a result, numerous nurses have successfully completed their NCLEX and OSCE preparations with the college and are now registered nurses in Australia.
For more details, please check student experience by clicking the link.
I enrolled with Neta a few months ago when I was looking for a good preparation course in order to complete my Oba pathway. Everything was smooth and perfect with them and there was always someone to support you! The material is great and more than enough to help you in this journey. Lessons are interactive and Face to Face classes were such a great and positive experience where you can finally meet your classmate/teacher in person and develop your skill with them. They will also help you to find a job when you pass OSCE!!
Thank you so much, especially to Karissa and Khloe who were always ready to help and motivate me!! I finally pass my OSCE and I can't wait to start working as a Registered Nurse ❤
Thank you again
OSCE Passer
NETA’s OBA package has been a rewarding resource toward my nursing career in Australia. They have a supportive team and the informative and interactive content was a plus. I would highly recommend them. They have assisted me from day one with my NCLEX, through to OSCE and have assisted me to find employment through NETA recruitment. I am grateful indeed.
OSCE Passer
Being an international nurse, the dream I hold was to become an AURN which is now possible with the help of NETA. The teaching materials and the support throughout the journey the NETA provides to all the international nurses like me, is incredible. I am always grateful towards NETA. I can proudly say that I am an AURN soon and a product of NETA. Thank you, all the mentors of NETA who provided guidance throughout the journey, to achieve my dream. Thank you, all the team.
OSCE Passer
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) regulates nursing and midwifery practice in Australia to ensure the public's safety. They constantly develop and modify standards and guidelines for nurses' and midwives' safe and professional practice. They work with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to assess registration applications and ensure their suitability to work as healthcare professionals in Australia.
In March 2020, the NMBA shifted to a permanent approach to assessing internationally qualified nurses and midwives (IQNS) who wish to work in Australia. They implemented the Outcomes-Based Assessment (OBA) for IQNMS, which requires them to undergo self-checks. IQNMs who are classified as candidates with a relevant qualification but not substantially equivalent to an Australian-approved (Steam B) are required to undergo a two-stage assessment process:
Please contact the college and we can provide you a list in your country's currency. The expenses listed are to those who wish to do the process themselves. College of NETA offers a free service in guiding you in the application process.
The average time for a candidate to complete OBA process is 9-12 months.
Even if you have already passed US-NCLEX, the first step of the registration will always be checking your eligibility by completing the self-check with AHPRA. After that, you will need to:
Attend Orientation Part 1
Submit your portfolio with required documents
Request a score transfer from the US Board to AHPRA
Undergo assessment by AHPRA
If advised, proceed to the OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination)
Upon passing the OSCE, apply for final registration
Once all steps are completed successfully, you will be officially registered as a nurse in Australia.
AHPRA will determine whether NCLEX is required. You need to do the self-check to know.
To inititate a score transfer, visit the NMBA website by clicking this link.
It is always advised that candidates must commence the self-check process to know eligibility and pathway advised by the NMBA.
See video for a step by step instruction on how to do self check.
You can start the process as soon as possible. Follow the link to start the enrolment https://www.nursingeta.com/course-detail/outcome-based-assessment-nclex-and-osce
If you are an internationally qualified nurse or midwife (IQNM) who wishes to register in Australia, you will need to complete the Self-check before applying for registration. Self-check is free of charge. This will help you and the College of NETA to know where to start the support. The result of the self check will advise you of what steps to take as suggested by the NMBA. https://youtu.be/uR1KYq_v5Ko
Only internationally qualified nurses or midwives who would like to seek registration in Australia should complete the self-check. The self-check cannot be completed by a third party or agent on your behalf.
There are no age limitations to apply for registration, Candidates can proceed with doing self check form AHPRA's website. There may be a limit to apply for certain visas to work as a registered nurse, you can find more information at the Department of Home Affairs
Bridging programs are expected to continue into 2021 for IQNMs who hold a referral to bridging. A referral to bridging does not guarantee a place in a program.
Yes. As a qualified nurse in your home country, you must pass the NCLEX and OSCE exams and apply for AHPRA registration before becoming a registered nurse in Australia.
If you want to work as RN in Australia, you will have to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). The NMBA conducts an assessment.
The assessment includes:
College of Nursing Education & Training Australia (NETA) offers preparation courses for NCLEX and OSCE RNs to help candidates pass and get their Australian Nursing Registration. NETA has the most number of passers.
Before working as a nurse in Australia, you must obtain AHPRA registration or approval from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).To check the eligibility to apply for registration candidates can do self chcek. Once you have the self check report, it is important to contact us so we can guide you of your next steps. https://youtu.be/uR1KYq_v5Ko
The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) is a standardised test that the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has introduced to determine if a candidate is ready to be licensed as an entry-level nurse in Australia.
Please refer to NCSBN website for testing locations.
Whether or not the NCLEX is hard, you can vary based on factors such as how prepared you are for the exam. Our preparation course will teach the basic of knowledge up to the high level of knowledge to succeed in the exam. You can also practice NCLEX and NGN questions at anytime. Our classes are structured to teach students test taking strategies and techniques. Please chekc the tiers to suit your needs and budget.
Each ATT is only good for one (1) exam sitting. If you do not pass the NCLEX-RN MCQ the first time, you must re-register and pay a second fee to AHPRA in order to receive a second ATT. You can retake NCLEX after the next 45 days of each take. Please visit this website for more information click here
The Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) is a clinical exam to assess the candidate’s knowledge, skills and competence at the graduate-level nurse or midwife from an Australian NMBA-approved program of study.
Stream B candidates – Candidates (who have successfully completed the Orientation Part 1, Portfolio and MCQ exam stages) must pass the OSCE before they are eligible to apply for registration in Australia.
Once you pass your MCQ/NCLEX , your IQNM dashboard will advise you that you are eligible to sit the OSCE. Then you will be advised to pay the OSCE fee. After recieving your fee, the IQNM exams team will contact you in relation to upcoming dates.
The NMBA and Ahpra currently schedule OSCE exams every month. They continue to monitor the number of OSCE candidates wishing to sit the OSCEs and will make days available, as able, to meet the demand.
Once you have completed all the requirements to be eligible for the OSCE, the IQNM Exam team will contact you when the next exam session is available. To get the latest information on exam dates, click here
AHPRA will offer candidates the examination dates as they become available. Candidates are only eligible to attend the RN OSCE Exam on the dates offered at the time of the booking . Ahpra does not coordinate exams for individual candidates’ calendars in mind. If you are unavailable for the dates you have been provided, the IQNM exam team will be in contact with you as soon as new dates become available.
Yes, the OSCE exam is only offered in Australia, specifically in Adelaide, South Australia and Melbourne, Victoria.
Yes, at this stage OSCE is delivered in Adelaide, South Australia and Melbourne, Victoria.
The OSCE is an in-person clinical assessment. The OSCE is completed in a clinical simulation environment to ensure that IQNMs can meet the standard of practice expected in Australia. This is a matter of public safety and ensures a rigorous evidence-based assessment of clinical skills.
If you are outside Australia and you need to travel into Australia to undertake OSCE, you need to look up and discuss visa options with Department of Immigration by visiting the website . The NMBA will provide an eligibility letter and College of NETA provides a letter of enrolment to the students. Both of these documents can be used as evidence of the purpose of travel to Australia.
You need to make a request to reschedule at least 3 full business days (72 hours) before your scheduled exam date and time. Also consider state and national holidays when deciding to reschedule as the offices may be closed at those times. Wait for the IQNM exams team to confirm before considering your exam rescheduled.
Yes, students are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation for the exam. However, NETA offers a full package for students who wish to have these arrangements made for them.
The OSCE Examination fee is not refundable. If you can no longer attend the examination date you have selected and need to re-schedule, please refer to the Changing your Scheduled examination section in the RN OSCE Candidate Handbook.
It might appear to be difficult and stressful, besed on previous test takers, but with the right practise and preparation, you should be able to succeed. Note that there has been a lot of students from College of NETA who made it up to registration and are now working as a nurse, so it is doable with the right preparation and attitude. Please check the tier that will cater to your needs and budget so you will receive the right support you require.
According to NMBA OSCE FAQs section: Candidates will be allocated to either an AM or PM session. Each session will go for approximately 3-3.5hrs. It is recommended to ensure you do not book any travel or accommodation until you know which date and session you are allocated to.
Candidate will be expected to participate in 10 individual stations. Each station is allocated ten (10) minutes which is allocated as follows:
• Two (2) minutes – Reading time outside of the exam room
• Eight (8) minutes – Interaction or performance time inside of the room.
The results are sent to the candidates within 8 weeks of their exam date via email which will also detail the next steps in their IQNM journey. If you passed OSCE you will be eligible to apply for registration and the steps to apply will be in your IQNM dashboard.
No, you do not have to take NCLEX again. You can retake OSCE. Please refer to the OSCE-RN handbook for more information regarding re-examination
Candidates who fail the RN OSCE can apply to re-sit the examination as soon as they have received their result notification. Firstly, by ensuring the fee for their next OSCE has been paid via the IQNM dashboard. Once the IQNM exam team are notified of your payment, you will be sent the booking selection email, and this will include the dates of the next available examinations. Depending which tier you have enrolled with College of NETA, you may be eligible to unlimitted support, online access and face to face sessions until you pass.
The preparation is self-paced. The learning will depend on when you are ready to take the examiniation.
You can try watching this video to know more about the duration of the whole process.
NCLEX is unlimitted for 12 months, unless you enrol to the ALL INCLUSIVE tier.
OSCE is unlimited until your test date, unless you enrol to the COMPLETE OSCE PLUS or ALL INCLUSIVE OSCE Tier which is unlimitted until you pass the exam.
You can also select a tier that is appropriate to your needs in the enrolment section.
Our online system allows you to enrol and pay online. We use secure and trusted payment gateway in our website.
You are required to go to the course and select the tier that will suit your need and budget. If you need further information or would like to discuss your circumstance, please feel free to reach out. Installment plans are available.
You do not need an English to join the preparation course. You only need a screenshot of your self-check rating that you are eligible to apply for registration (Stream B) and your ID.
Your English score is required upon application for registration. You will be invited to apply for registration after completing NCLEX and OSCE.
Click here for more information on the English Standards Requirement of the NMBA
NETA takes a max of 20 students for online clases and up to 12 students per session for face to face classes. We ensure to provide individualised support to students. Our main goal is to produce quality, high standard and confident candidates.
Any government issued IDs such as Driver’s License, Passport, and Birth Certificate. Please note that these documents must be certified copies
We have various payment plans available to our students and we proud ourselves to work together with student and give them flexibility as per their individual situation. Please contact us to discuss your financial situation.
The NMBA has set guidelines in certifying document. Click here to visit the page on Certifying Documents as per the NMBA standards.
We do not stop candidates who want to improve knowledge and skills, or would like to join the class to review for NCLEX and OSCE for other countries. We will seek a written consent that the decision in joining the class is informed. Additionally, all candidates must provide identity documents to verify their eligibility and ensure they are the rightful individuals seeking to study.
Educators support is available to all students at all time in student hub. Alternatively, you can always send email to education@collegeofneta.nsw.edu.au or give us a call on 1300 006 382.
The demo is intended for a trial quiz only and not all features of the course are available. To obtain full access, you will need to enrol to our classes.
No documentation needed, no English test. Just self check – for free.To know if you are eligible, commence your self check. Please click here to guide you on how to do Self Check.
