Frequently Asked Questions

On Line Application Form
ANMAC has changed to a new on line application form. Please read the information below carefully before attempting the on line application.

How do I gain registration?
Every nurse and midwife is required to obtain registration and maintain a current practicing licence (authority to practice) in order to work in Australia as a RN/RM.
In Australia, registration is granted by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
To register you will need to contact the NMBA and contact details are available from the NMBA website http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au

Where can I find employment?
The ANMAC is unable to provide information about where to find employment as a nurse or midwife as this is not within our organisational role. There are many employment websites available to nurses and midwives, you can access these by typing ‘nursing employment Australia' into the search engine of your web browser.

How do I get an employer to sponsor me?
The ANMAC is unable to provide information on employer sponsorship. You will need to contact employers and nursing agencies directly. For more information visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website.

I'm coming to Australia on a Working/Holiday/Temporary visa. Do I need a Migration Skills Assessment by the ANMAC?
No - You only need to have your qualifications/skills assessed by the ANMAC if you are migrating to Australia under the General Skilled Migration category.

Can I appeal the result of the Migration Skills Assessment?
Appeals against the decision of the ANMAC and requests for a review of the determination should be made in writing within 30 days of the date of issue of the determination document and forwarded to the
ANMAC – Director of International Services. The letter must indicate the grounds for appeal or reason the applicant is seeking a review. A non-refundable fee of $390.00  is payable for the review process.
The outcome of the review is final.

How long does the processing of the applications take?
To ensure an efficient processing/assessment time, please read the application form and information sheets carefully. If you do not provide the documentation as requested, we will need to contact you, therefore causing a delay, particularly for applicants from overseas. We wil liaise with you and/or your agent via email and your application status can be monitored via our on line log in service.
Processing/Assessment times vary according to demand for service. We endeavour to complete assessments within 6-8 weeks, but at times this can be longer.
On receiving your application, the ANMAC will send you an email of confirmation. The email will include your received payments and file reference number to be used in all correspondence with the ANMAC.
If you would like to enquire about the status of your application, please log in via the ANMAC website. 

What is a ‘Verification' of Registration?
A Verification of Registration is a letter confirming registration and good standing of a nurse or midwife. It is provided by the organisation responsible for the registration of nurses and midwives in your country. Verifications must be sent directly to the ANMAC. Copies of verifications sent by you will not be accepted.
A verification letter can be sent at any time. You do not need to have a file reference number with ANMAC before requesting a verification letter be sent to us. Once received, a verification letter will be kept on file and matched with the application when it is processed.

ASCO or ANZSCO?

To apply under any of the new ANZSCO codes applicants must have evidence that they are currently registered as a nurse or midwife. Descriptions of each occupation can be found on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website:

Who can certify documents?
Listed below are the only people who can certify documents submitted to the ANMC:

• Legal Practitioner
• Justice of the Peace
• Peace Commissioner
• Commissioner of Oaths
• Commissioner of Declarations
• Notary Public
• Judge
• Magistrate
• Person legally designated to sign documents from an embassy or consulate

When certifying documents, the above person needs to include the following statement on each document;

I certify that this is a true copy of the original document
Signature: Date:
Contact Address: Phone number:

Official stamp or seal if available.

It is suggested that the person who certifies your application form is the same person who certifies all of your documents.

What are the requirements for professional references?
You should supply professional reference(s), on official letterhead, from your manager/supervisor which includes the following:

• Dates of employment
• Areas of experience
• Statement and examples of your professional competence as a   nurse/midwife
• Date of the statement
• Name, signature and position of the referee (must be a registered nurse/midwife)

Please ensure your professional reference meets the above criteria.

What is a 'transcript or syllabus' of nursing/midwifery education?
A transcript is the document that is issued by your training/educational institution or university that outlines course content by subject and time allocated to subjects both theoretical and clinical. Some institutions prefer to send the transcript or syllabus directly to the ANMAC instead of giving it to you. This can be done before the Migration Skills Assessment application is sent to us. Once received, the transcript or syllabus will be kept on file and matched to the application when it is processed.
If you are unable to obtain a transcript then the ANMAC will accept a syllabus from either that period of training or a syllabus that directly relates to that training at a later time. This syllabus must come directly from the training institution to the ANMAC. A syllabus sent by you will not be accepted.

If you are unable to obtain a transcript or syllabus due to the training institutions closure, then you can apply to the nursing and midwifery regulatory authority in the country where the training was conducted for a letter of confirmation.

Do I need to do an English test as part of my assessment?
As Australia is an English speaking country it is important that healthcare professionals are proficient in use of the English language in the domains of; speaking, listening, reading and writing. This ensures that they are able to communicate competently and safely with patients and their families, colleagues and other health professionals. Therefore many applicants will be required to provide evidence of their English Language Proficiency.

As of 1 July 2009, all internationally-qualified nurses and midwives applying for Full assessment (Form B) to the ANMAC under the general skilled migration scheme will be required to complete an English proficiency test. New Zealand registered nurses and midwives are exempt from providing English proficiency under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997. Modified (Form A) assessments do not require submission of an English language test.

What English Language Tests are accepted by ANMAC?
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) — Academic Test
Nurses and midwives must achieve a score of 7 or more in Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking with an overall band score of 7 or more of the IELTS test.

Occupational English Test (OET)
Nurses and midwives must achieve a B pass or higher in all four sections of the OET test.

Please note that minimum scores must be achieved in one sitting. Tests are valid for 2 years.

Will I need to complete a Competency Based Assessment Program/Migrant Bridging Program?
Please speak with us directly regarding these programs so that we can provide you with accurate information.

What is an Initial Registration Certificate?
A registration certificate is issued by the nursing and midwifery regulatory authority when a nurse first applies and gains registration.
A registration certificate is generally the size of a sheet of A4 paper.

What is a Practicing Licence?
An annual practicing licence is a document issued by the nursing and midwifery regulatory authority after payment of renewal of registration fee, this could be annually or every 3 years depending on the state. A practising license is generally a credit card sized document.