What Qualifications Do You Need To Become a Nurse?

120,000.

That’s the expected nursing shortage in Australia by 2030.

Like many other countries, Australia needs more nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Australia’s aging population is the main reason for this shortage, with higher chronic disease rates and a limited supply of nurses.  

While this isn’t good news for the country, it’s great for people considering becoming a nurse. That’s because this shortage means higher salaries and more options in terms of places to work in.

So, if you’re interested in working as a registered nurse, we’ve listed below the qualifications you’ll need to operate in Australia.

Note that there are two levels of regulated nurses: enrolled nurses and registered nurses.

Enrolled Nurses

Enrolled nurses (EN) work under the supervision of registered nurses. Their role is to provide a high level of physical and emotional care to their patients. Their duties typically involve measuring and recording patients’ vital signs and reporting any changes.

Here are the key steps to becoming an enrolled nurse:

1. Completing a Diploma of Nursing. A Diploma of Nursing usually takes between 18 and 24 months to complete. You’ll have the option to either study full-time to complete it quicker or part-time to fit your situation. For your studies, you’ll need to select a provider approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). Here’s the list of board-approved programs.
2. Applying to AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency) to obtain the right to practice as an EN. Note that once you’re accepted, you’ll have to renew your registration every year.
3. After working as an EN for a few years, you can decide to develop your skills further and progress in your career to become a registered nurse. This will require you to enrol in a Bachelor of Nursing.

Registered Nurses

Registered nurses (RN) have much more responsibilities than enrolled nurses. While they are involved in patient care and are licensed to administer medications, they often perform admin and managerial tasks, unlike enrolled nurses.

Here are the key steps to becoming a registered nurse in Australia:

1. Completing a Bachelor of Nursing. A Bachelor of Nursing can usually be completed in three years or the part-time equivalent. Note that to be able to apply for a Bachelor of Nursing, you have to complete your High School Certificate (HSC) with the required subjects and Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) or equivalent.
2. Applying to AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency) to have the right to practice as an RN. Similarly to enrolled nurses, you’ll have to renew your registration every year.
3. After working for several years in a general capacity as a registered nurse, you can specialise in many different fields, including Emergency Nursing, Cardiology, Paediatrics, Aged Care, or become a nurse practitioner.

As a nurse, you’ll need to have insurance to protect yourself and meet registration standards. So, try our free instant quote generator to get an estimate on market-leading insurance coverage tailored specifically for nurses.