ANMAC and AHPRA: Two Separate Steps to Practise Nursing in Australia
Two organisations, two different purposes
Many internationally qualified nurses confuse ANMAC with AHPRA — or do not realise that these are two entirely separate processes. Understanding the distinction from the start helps you avoid wasting time and prepare your application in the right direction.
ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council):
- Function: skills assessment for migration purposes (the visa)
- Who needs it: all nurses wanting to migrate to Australia via a skilled visa (482, 190, 189, etc.)
- Result: a Skills Assessment Certificate — used to lodge the visa, not to practise
AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency):
- Function: registration to practise as a health professional in Australia
- Who needs it: all nurses wanting to work in Australia as a registered nurse
- Result: registration — permission to practise legally in Australia
No ANMAC certificate → you cannot lodge a skilled visa. No AHPRA registration → you cannot practise as a nurse in Australia, even with a visa.
For an overview of the migration pathway for nurses, see the enrolled nurse migration overview.
Step 1 — ANMAC Skills Assessment
What does ANMAC assess?
ANMAC checks whether your nursing qualifications and experience are equivalent to the Australian Enrolled Nurse standard. An Enrolled Nurse (ANZSCO 411411) is a nurse who holds a Certificate IV or Diploma in Nursing to the Australian standard.
Documents ANMAC requires
ANMAC requires a fairly detailed set of documents:
- Your nursing qualification (a vocational, diploma or university award — depending on your level of training)
- Academic transcripts listing all subjects studied
- Evidence of registration to practise in your home country (a practising certificate from the relevant health authority)
- Evidence of work experience (a confirmation letter from your hospital or health facility)
- An English-language certificate that meets the requirement (see the section below)
- Your passport
All documents not in English must be translated by a NAATI-certified translator.
English-language requirement for ANMAC
ANMAC has its own English-language requirement (separate from the visa requirement). It generally accepts:
- IELTS Academic: a minimum score in each band (speaking, listening, reading, writing) — check the specific requirement on the ANMAC website, as the scores change over time
- OET (Occupational English Test): an English test designed specifically for the health sector; many Australian health facilities prefer OET
- In some cases, an English exemption if you have studied or worked for several years in an English-speaking environment
Note: ANMAC often requires an English score higher than the visa minimum — you need to check the ANMAC requirement separately, not only the visa requirement.
ANMAC processing time
ANMAC usually processes applications within a few months — but it can take longer if your application needs clarification or there is a peak period. Lodge with ANMAC early — do not wait until you need the visa to apply.
Step 2 — AHPRA Registration
What is AHPRA in the nursing context?
AHPRA manages the registration of all health professionals in Australia, including nurses (Enrolled Nurse and Registered Nurse). The body that specifically governs nursing registration is the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) — operating through the AHPRA system.
What does AHPRA assess?
AHPRA reviews:
- Your nursing qualifications and training
- Practice standards: language and clinical knowledge
- Health and legal history (criminal history check, health declaration)
English for AHPRA
AHPRA has its own English-language requirement — generally higher than ANMAC and higher than the visa requirement. Accepted tests include:
- OET (Occupational English Test): preferred by AHPRA/NMBA because it is a health-specific language test
- IELTS Academic: with a high required band score (check at ahpra.gov.au)
In practice, many nurses sit English twice: once for ANMAC and once to meet the AHPRA requirement — though the same test result can be used if it satisfies both thresholds.
Bridging Program — when qualifications are not yet equivalent
AHPRA may require you to complete a bridging program if it assesses that your nursing training is not yet equivalent to the Australian Enrolled Nurse standard. A bridging program is usually a short course at a TAFE or RTO focused on the gaps in your training.
This is an AHPRA requirement, not an ANMAC one — you may already hold an ANMAC certificate but still need bridging before AHPRA grants registration.
Provisional vs Full Registration
AHPRA may grant:
- Provisional Registration: allows you to work under supervision — usually applied to internationally qualified nurses in the early stage
- Full Registration: permission to practise independently
Many internationally qualified nurses start with Provisional Registration and move to Full after working in Australia for a period.
The practical order to follow
There is no fixed rule about the order, but in practice it is usually:
- Prepare your English documentation — this is usually the step that takes the most time, so do it first
- Lodge with ANMAC — to obtain the skills assessment certificate for your visa application
- Apply for the visa — once you have the ANMAC certificate and meet the other requirements
- Lodge with AHPRA — this can be done in parallel from overseas or after arriving in Australia
- Receive AHPRA registration — before you start working in Australia
AHPRA registration can be processed from overseas — you do not have to wait until you are in Australia to apply.
Enrolled Nurse vs Registered Nurse: which group are you in?
If you hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing from overseas, you may be eligible for Registered Nurse (254499, ANZSCO skill level 1) instead of Enrolled Nurse (411411, ANZSCO skill level 4) — this is a higher level with more migration opportunities.
A separate ANMAC assessment exists for RN and EN. Be clear about which code you are lodging an assessment for before you begin the process.
See also the Registered Nurse migration guide if you hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing.