How to Become a Nurse in Australia
Wish to pursue a career as a Nurse in Australia? Check out the steps you need to take to pursue a successful career in nursing and healthcare that can help you achieve PR in Australia.
Plan Your Next Steps to Become a Nurse in Australia
Australia is one of the best countries for international students to study nursing. Upon graduation, nursing graduates enjoy a high rate of employment, multiple PR pathways, and a better quality of life overall. Nurses in Australia are highly respected professionals across the healthcare industry, with median salaries sitting around AU $108,000 a year.
Nursing graduates can make an exceptional career in a variety of specialisations in Australia, with the healthcare sector projected by the government to be the fastest-growing industry over the next decade. Read on to understand what your nursing pathways look like in Australia.
Plan Your Next Steps to Become a Nurse in Australia
Nursing Courses in Australia
Australia’s higher education system offers a diverse range of world-class nursing courses, meticulously designed to meet global healthcare standards. Whether you are beginning your journey with a foundational diploma or pursuing advanced clinical leadership through a master's degree, these programmes blend rigorous academic theory with mandatory, hands-on clinical placements. Let's check out the top courses in Australia for nursing aspirants:
Diploma in Nursing
The Diploma of Nursing is an 18-24 month foundational course in nursing that helps you work as an Enrolled Nurse (EN) in Australia. During the course, you will develop competencies in basic nursing skills to work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.
Bachelor of Nursing
On successful completion of this 3-year bachelor’s course, you become eligible to work as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Australia. A registered nurse earns a highly competitive starting salary (typically upwards of $75,000) at the beginning of their career, and the remuneration increases significantly with experience and further qualifications.
You may be eligible for credits if you have completed a nursing qualification overseas, and it can potentially reduce the course to 2 years.
Master of Nursing
With a two-year master's degree in nursing, you become eligible for managerial and leadership positions. You can choose to specialise in one of the majors that lead to AHPRA registration from a top Australian university and set your career on a high trajectory.
Career advancement courses
Australian institutions offer excellent supplementary courses for nurses that serve a dual purpose. First, these leadership and management courses help nurses advance in their profession to hold managerial positions and set themselves on a better career path. Next, these courses also help you stay lawfully in Australia while waiting for your next visa or PR, making this waiting period an excellent value-addition to your resume.
Picking the wrong bridging programme can violate your student visa terms. Studying supplementary leadership courses is an excellent way to legally extend your stay while awaiting PR invitations. However, navigating course durations and visa extension rules leaves zero margin for error. Let our education advisors map out a compliant academic pathway that boosts your managerial resume and secures your legal status in Australia.
High-Demand Nursing Roles and Salaries in Australia
A nursing degree in Australia opens doors to a wide variety of clinical and leadership roles. Your earning potential grows significantly as you gain experience, transition into specialisations, or take on managerial responsibilities.
According to the latest 2026 data published by the Australian Government's Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), here are the median full-time earnings for the most popular nursing career paths available to international graduates:
- Enrolled Nurse (EN): Enrolled nurses work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse and are responsible for basic patient care, monitoring vital signs, and providing personal assistance. This role is typically accessible after completing an 18-24 month Diploma of Nursing.
- Median Annual Salary: AUD 84,136 (AUD 1,618 per week).
- Registered Nurse (RN): Registered nurses assess patient needs, administer medications, and coordinate care across diverse settings, including acute hospital wards, aged care, and community health. This role requires a 3-year Bachelor of Nursing.
- Median Annual Salary: AUD 113,984 (AUD 2,192 per week).\
- Nurse Manager: Nurse Managers coordinate and direct the nursing staff within a specific ward or healthcare facility. They handle budgets, staffing rosters, and ensure compliance with healthcare standards. This role typically requires extensive clinical experience and often a Master's degree in Nursing or Health Management.
- Average Annual Salary: AUD 117,000 - AUD 120,000+
- Nurse Practitioner: Nurse Practitioners are highly trained clinical leaders who operate autonomously. They can diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, and refer patients to specialists. This advanced role requires extensive clinical experience and endorsement by the NMBA, usually following a Master of Nurse Practitioner degree.
- Average Annual Salary: AUD 125,000 - AUD 145,000+
- Midwife: Midwives are highly specialised professionals who provide healthcare support to women during pregnancy, labour, and the postpartum period. International students qualify for this highly sought-after role after completing a Bachelor or Master of Midwifery, or a dual Nursing/Midwifery degree.
- Median Annual Salary: AUD 109,928 (AUD 2,114 per week).
How to Become a Registered Nurse in Australia?
Embarking on a nursing career in Australia requires strict compliance with national educational and licensing standards. Understanding the academic prerequisites and the official regulatory registration process through AHPRA is the critical first step to practising legally, ensuring you meet the stringent safety and quality standards of the Australian healthcare system.
- Step 1: Enrol in an accredited Diploma/Bachelor’s/Master's degree in nursing.
- Step 2: Register with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).
- Step 3: Get your skills assessed by ANMAC (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council).
- Step 4: Get invited to apply for a skilled permanent visa.
Nurse Salaries in Australia
The median full-time salary of Registered Nurses in Australia is highly competitive, sitting at approximately $113,984 a year ($2,192 per week). The salary grows hand in hand with your qualifications, chosen clinical specialisation, and work experience.
Graduating is only half the battle; AHPRA registration is a strict legal hurdle. Before you can touch a patient, you must pass rigorous AHPRA checks and ANMAC skills assessments, including complex English language thresholds (like an IELTS 7.0 or PTE Academic 65). A single missing document can delay your ability to work for months. Let our dedicated compliance team audit your paperwork to ensure a seamless transition from student to Registered Nurse.
Why Nursing is PR-Friendly
Nursing is consistently one of the most critical occupations in demand across Australia. Because the national healthcare system heavily relies on skilled international clinical care, nursing professions dominate the strategic skills lists. This unprecedented demand provides international nursing graduates with highly streamlined and prioritised pathways to secure permanent residency.
Healthcare occupations, including Registered Nurse and Enrolled Nurse, are listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), making them highly eligible for streamlined PR pathways in Australia.
PR Pathways for Nurses
1. Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)
- Eligibility: For nurses on the Skilled Occupation List with no state sponsorship required.
- Benefits: Direct, points-tested pathway to Permanent Residency.
2. Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)
- Eligibility: Nurses nominated by a state or territory government.
- Benefits: Requires living and working in the sponsoring state for a set period, leading to PR.
3. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)
- Eligibility: Nurses willing to live and work in designated regional areas.
- Benefits: Temporary visa leading to PR after 3 years of regional work and meeting income thresholds.
4. Employer-Sponsored Visas (Subclass 482/186)
- Eligibility: Nurses with secure job offers from approved healthcare employers.
- Benefits: PR sponsorship provided directly by employers in high-demand areas.
Pro Tip: Choosing to work in regional areas or gaining specialisation in high-demand sectors like aged care or emergency nursing can significantly boost your visa points and increase your chances of PR.
Securing a Subclass 190 or 491 PR visa requires strategic state nomination. Every Australian state has different nursing demands and points requirements. Relocating to the wrong region can stall your permanent residency for years. Stop guessing where you have the highest chance of nomination. Speak directly with our migration strategists to align your university and hospital placement with the states actively prioritising international nurses.
Eligibility for PR as a Nurse in Australia
Securing Permanent Residency as a nurse involves navigating Australia’s skilled migration programme with precision. To qualify, international graduates must successfully complete an accredited degree, secure their official professional registration, and prove high-level English proficiency to meet the strict, points-tested criteria mandated by the Department of Home Affairs. To apply for Permanent Residency (PR) as a nurse in Australia, you need:
- Nursing Qualification: A degree or diploma recognised by the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC).
- AHPRA Registration: Official registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to practice.
- English Proficiency: Minimum IELTS Academic 7.0 in each band, or equivalent in TOEFL iBT, OET, or PTE Academic.
- Skills Assessment: Positive assessment from ANMAC to verify qualifications and experience.
- Work Experience (Optional): Highly beneficial for boosting visa points and increasing your invitation chances.
Pro Tip: Specialising in high-demand areas like aged care or emergency nursing can improve your chances of securing PR.
Nursing in Australia offers international students a rare combination of world-class clinical education, exceptional earning potential, and some of the most accessible permanent residency pathways available globally. With a healthcare sector in constant expansion, your skills will be highly valued and rewarded.
Securing your nursing registration and Permanent Residency in Australia requires a flawless master plan. From selecting an NMBA-accredited course to navigating AHPRA registration and deciding between the highly competitive 189, 190, or 491 skilled visas, the bureaucracy leaves zero margin for error. You do not have to manage this complex pipeline alone. Partner with a dedicated expert who will personally guide your entire Australian journey, completely free of charge.
How to Become a Nurse in Australia FAQs
It takes three years of full-time study to complete a Bachelor of Nursing and become a Registered Nurse (RN). Alternatively, completing a Diploma of Nursing to become an Enrolled Nurse (EN) takes 18 to 24 months.
You must complete Year 12 (or equivalent). To register, AHPRA requires strict English proficiency, such as an IELTS 7.0 overall (6.5 in writing, 7.0 in the other bands) or PTE 66. A prior bachelor's degree is not required for a Bachelor of Nursing.
For international students, Bachelor of Nursing tuition currently averages between AUD 30,000 and AUD 45,000 per year. Over a standard three-year degree, total tuition ranges from AUD 90,000 to AUD 135,000, depending on the university.
Yes. Both Registered and Enrolled Nurses are in critical demand and consistently listed on the Australian government's Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). This provides streamlined pathways to permanent residency via skilled visas like the 189, 190, and 491.
As of the 2026 NMBA updates, applicants must achieve a minimum IELTS Academic score of 7.0 overall (with 6.5 in writing and 7.0 in listening, reading, and speaking). Equivalent scores in PTE Academic (overall 66, writing 56), OET, or TOEFL iBT are also accepted.
The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) is the officially designated assessing authority for nurses and midwives migrating to Australia. You must secure a positive skills assessment from ANMAC before you can lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) for skilled visas.
Yes. Graduating from a university in a designated regional area grants you extra points on your SkillSelect points test. Furthermore, it gives you access to specific regional visa pathways, such as the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491), which leads to PR.
Trusted Expertise
About the Author
Published and reviewed by AECC counsellors who guide students through every step of their study-abroad journey.
Published by Shairha Munoz Bautista
Australia and New Zealand Student Visa and Pathways Expert | 10+ Years in International Education
Shairha Munoz Bautista is a QEAC-certified Education Counsellor with more than 10 years at AECC, guiding students on study options in Australia and New Zealand. Originally from the Philippines, she completed a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies before moving to Australia with her family in 2016. She joined AECC Melbourne that June, spent four years there, and has been with the Sydney office for over six years.
Shairha enjoys helping people make important decisions about their future. What motivates her most is seeing a student go from uncertain to confident about their direction. She starts by understanding the whole student, including their goals, concerns and long-term plans, and she is honest with them even when the answer isn't what they hoped to hear.
In one case, a student from the Philippines with a background in Chemistry came to her after Chemistry-related occupations were removed from the relevant skilled migration pathways. After reviewing his background and goals, they identified a Master of Social Work as a better-aligned pathway. Shairha helped him build a genuine link between the two fields by highlighting transferable skills such as analytical thinking, problem-solving and communication. His application was successful, and he went on to build his career in Australia and become an Australian citizen.
Shairha has been named Top Performer of the Year and Top Achiever on several occasions. Driven by a longstanding interest in science and medicine, she is currently studying a Bachelor of Medical Science at UNSW.
Reviewed by Samip Pokharel
Australia Course and Institution Selection Expert | 13 Years in International Education
Samip Pokharel is a QEAC-certified Education Counsellor at AECC Melbourne with 13 years of experience in international education, working in the field since 2013. He holds an MBA and has worked with students from diverse academic backgrounds across every study level.
Samip's approach is built on honest guidance, open communication and a genuine understanding of each student's goals, strengths and academic profile. He has worked on a wide range of applications, including profiles that needed careful positioning, realistic university selection and a well-planned strategy. He particularly enjoys helping students who feel unsure of their options. He helps them identify their strengths and present their profile authentically, while keeping expectations realistic.
Through university and college visits and several familiarisation tours, Samip has gained first-hand knowledge of institutions, campuses, programs and student life. That lets him give students practical insights beyond what brochures and websites can offer.
After 13 years in the field, his commitment remains the same: transparent, personalised and responsible guidance that helps students make decisions they can feel confident about.
