There are several common misconceptions about registering as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Australia that many people often inquire about. Today, we'll clarify the key points that nursing students need to know.

Misconception 1: Registration can only be started after graduation. It's crucial to understand when to submit your application! You can start applying three months before completing all course requirements, including internships. There's no need to wait until official graduation to apply. Your school will directly confirm to the registration body that you've successfully completed the program after graduation, and then AHPRA will provide the assessment results. So why submit so early if registration can only be completed after graduation? Because AHPRA conducts pre-assessment, and once the school confirms graduation, the final assessment can be completed. During the peak application period from November to January, AHPRA receives over 25,000 applications! Applications submitted during peak times may require longer processing, so submitting early and ensuring all documents are complete is the secret to obtaining RN registration quickly! Note: When registering as a nurse, you need an IELTS score with 7 in each component or equivalent language proficiency, which must be valid for two years.

Misconception 2: Obtaining RN registration allows you to apply for PR

ANMAC might shed tears: Do you not take me seriously? The corresponding organization for registered nurses is AHPRA. After successful registration, the organization will publish your name on the National Register of Health Practitioners. Obtaining the nurse registration certificate allows you to work as a registered healthcare professional. Therefore, successfully registering as a nurse means you can work with a license. However, applying for permanent residency (PR) requires a nursing skill assessment, which is done by ANMAC. You can only apply for this occupation assessment after obtaining RN registration. PR application can only proceed after the occupation assessment is approved.

Next, I'll guide you step by step on how to apply for registration:

1. Go to the AHPRA website and click on the "Registration" tab, then select "Apply for Graduate Registration."

Click on "Make an online application" to create an AHPRA account and log in

3. Before submitting your formal application, the system will ask you a few basic questions. Just choose the profession you intend to register for based on your actual situation.

4. Once you are on the application page, fill in the basic information according to your actual situation. It's important to be cautious when selecting documents for proof of identity because the documents you check will need to be uploaded in the "Document Upload" section later, and each document needs to be certified by an authorized person.

People who can certify these ID documents include Justices of the Peace (JPs), teachers, bank officials, healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and others.

5. Follow the system prompts to fill in all details accurately. Finally, you'll need to pay the application fee, which is currently $93 AUD. Your application is considered complete only after payment.

Once the payment is made, your part in the process is done. Next, you'll need to wait for your school to send your academic transcripts to the organization to confirm your graduation. Once the organization receives confirmation from the school, they will start processing your application. If everything is in order, you can expect results in about two weeks. However, if there are any issues, the staff will contact you via email, so there's no need to worry about your application being rejected due to incomplete documents.