If you have qualified in a country other than Australia, you may be assessed as follows:

•  By attending the Board's office in person and presenting documents, completing the application form and paying the prescribed fee, or
  
  
• By submitting documents, application form and prescribed fee by mail.
  

Please note that persons who have submitted documents by mail may be required to attend this office for an interview.

The documents required are:

• Certificate, diploma or degree issued by the educational institution/ hospital at which you undertook the course.

• A transcript/record of the education program(s) undertaken, issued by the institution/hospital at which you undertook your course, showing the following details:

•  Length of course;
•  Theoretical content of the course; lecture hours in each subject;
•  Clinical experience; in number of days or weeks of experience in each clinical area; and
•  Language of instruction. 

• Certificate of initial registration from the country in which your nursing course was undertaken. If this is not available, verification must be sent directly from the nurse regulatory authority where your nursing course was undertaken to the Nurses Board of Victoria.
  

Please note: Annual practising certificate, provisional registration certificate, PIN card or registration receipts are not accepted in place of the above documents.

Verification of current registration in the country in which you last practised. Please arrange for verification of your current/most recent registration to be sent directly to from the nurse regulatory authority to the Nurses Board of Victoria.

• Evidence of identity, in the form of a birth certificate (or current passport if no change of name).
  
  
• Marriage certificate or other documentation relating to any name change.
  
  
• Documentary evidence of work experience. 

Translations: Documents not in the English language must be translated and certified by an accredited translation service. The document, both in its original language and its translation, should accompany your application.

Applicants requiring assessment
 
Following consideration of your application by the Board, you will be issued with a letter informing you of the requirements necessary to qualify for registration.

English language proficiency

If you have undertaken a nursing education program in a country in which English is not the first language; it will be necessary for you to first demonstrate your proficiency in English. The Board accepts the following English language skills tests:

The Occupational English Test (OET) - Nursing version
An overall pass must be achieved.

The OET Centre
Level 3, 7 Bowen Crescent
MELBOURNE VIC 3004

Postal address:

The OET Centre
GPO Box 372
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
Telephone +61 3 9825 3800 Facsimile +61 3 9825 3899
Contact Form: http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/Display.aspx?tabid=2527
Internet:  http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test 
An individual band score of at least 6.5 in Reading and Listening, and a score of at least 6.0 in Writing and Speaking with an overall band score of 7.0 or more must be achieved.

IELTS Australia
IELTS Administrator
Building 20 - Level C
College Street, Bruce
ACT - Canberra - 2617
Telephone: + 61 2 6201 2669  Facsimile: +61 2 6201 5089
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Internet:  http://www.ielts.org

Please note: The English language skills test has a validity period of two (2) years.

A good working knowledge of English is a prerequisite for employment as a nurse in this country. The following institutions provide courses specifically designed to improve the language proficiency of overseas nurses who have a  non-English speaking background:

 Pre-registration programs for overseas qualified nurses 

If you are assessed as requiring a pre-registration/ supervised practice program, the letter should be presented to the institution/hospital at which you apply for a vacancy. Entry to an accredited pre-registration program in higher education institutions normally requires an Australian residential permit.

The purpose of the assessment period is to provide you with an orientation to the health care system in Victoria and to enable you to demonstrate your ability to function as a registered nurse in this State. It will be necessary for you to contact the institution/hospital of your choice for admission to complete the pre-registration requirements. 

The following institutions conduct accredited pre-registration programs for overseas qualified nurses: 

 The Australian Nursing Council (ANC)

The Australian Nursing Council is a national nursing body established in association with the nurse State/Territory nurse regulatory authorities.

The Australian Nursing Council acts as a central assessor for overseas nurses intending to work in Australia. 

 The Australian Nursing Council provides assessment on the qualifications of overseas nurses seeking registration in Australia either direct or via an Australian Government office overseas. Information and application forms are available from Australian Government offices or directly from the Australian Nursing Council at the following address:

Australian Nursing Council Inc
PO Box 873
DICKSON ACT 2602

Telephone: +61 02 6257 7960
Facsimile: +6102 6257 7955
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

General information

Registration is valid only for the year in which it was granted and expires on 31 December each year.

In November each year, currently registered nurses are mailed a Renewal of Registration Notice to the address recorded on the Board's files.

If a Renewal of Registration Notice has not been received by 30 November, please contact this office. It is a requirement under the Nurses Act 1993 to inform the Board in writing of any change of address within 14 days of that change having been made.

Authorisation to another to transact business: A letter of authority is required by anyone nominated to transact business on your behalf at this office. This letter should specify the business to be transacted and should include an expiry date of the authorisation, and be signed by the person nominated and yourself. The nominated person will be requested to produce proof of identity.