Your pathway to AHPRA registration in Australia.
A clear, step-by-step guide to registering as a nurse in Australia through the Outcome-Based Assessment (OBA) pathway — self-check, streams, English, NCLEX, OSCE and the ANMAC skills assessment, with current fees.
The regulators & bodies involved.
Four organisations play a role across registration and migration.
Administration
Administers the registration process for health practitioners in Australia.
Standards & decisions
Sets the standards and decides registration for nurses and midwives.
Skills assessment
Assesses qualifications for skilled migration purposes.
NCLEX exam
NCSBN / Pearson VUE delivers the NCLEX examination.
The OBA registration pathway.
Eight stages from your free self-check to your application for registration.
Complete the AHPRA Self-check
Free and online via the IQNM Assessment Portal. It categorises you into a Stream.
Go to the AHPRA Self-check →Receive your Stream
You are categorised into Stream A, B or C based on your qualification.
Pay the assessment fee & complete Orientation Part 1
Pay the non-refundable IQNM assessment fee of AUD $410, then complete the online Orientation Part 1.
Complete the Portfolio
Stream B candidates provide their identity, qualification and practice documentation for review.
Meet the English language requirement
Satisfy the NMBA English Language Skills Registration Standard (see the English section below).
Sit the cognitive exam (MCQ / NCLEX-RN)
Stream B candidates sit the NCLEX-RN cognitive examination.
Sit the OSCE
Stream B candidates who have passed the cognitive exam sit the OSCE, held in Adelaide and Melbourne.
Apply for registration
Submit your application for registration through Ahpra. The NMBA makes the decision.
Which stream applies to you?
Your Self-check result places you into one of three streams.
Stream A
Your qualification is substantially equivalent to an approved Australian qualification. You complete orientation and may proceed toward registration without the full examination pathway.
Stream B
Your qualification relates to nursing but is not substantially equivalent. You complete the Portfolio, Orientation, the MCQ/NCLEX exam and the OSCE.
Most internationally qualified nurses fall hereStream C
Your qualification is not closely matched or relevant to nursing. You cannot proceed and would need further study in a recognised country.
Meeting the English requirement.
Applicants must meet the NMBA Registration Standard: English Language Skills The minimum scores below apply to a test sat on or after 23 April 2026. A test sat on or before 22 April 2026 is measured against the earlier scores. India, the Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the GCC countries are not on the recognised country list, so nurses educated in these countries use the test pathway.
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6.5 | 7 |
| OET | Not applicable | 350 | 360 | 350 | 360 |
| PTE Academic | 63 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 76 |
| TOEFL iBT | 91 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 178 | 175 | 179 | 180 | 194 |
| Cambridge C2 Proficiency | 185 | 185 | 185 | 176 | 185 |
- Results are accepted from one sitting, or from two sittings of the same test within 12 months, provided no component falls below the minimum floor set for that test. Results from different test providers cannot be combined.
- IELTS One Skill Retake accepted within 60 days.
- At-home / remote-proctored versions are NOT accepted (except the OET computer-based test taken at a test centre).
- A result must generally have been obtained within the two years before you lodge your application.
- Tests taken for a skilled-migration visa in the past two years may be reusable.
- Some applicants meet the English requirement through an education pathway rather than a test — check your eligibility directly with AHPRA.
- ANMAC publishes its own English requirement for a migration skills assessment. Its published scores differ from the registration scores above. If you need both, check both and meet the higher figure on every component.
The NCLEX-RN exam.
The MCQ stage of the OBA is the NCLEX-RN, delivered by NCSBN through Pearson VUE. A new NCLEX test plan is effective 1 April 2026.
International NCLEX test centres include: Australia, Brazil, France, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
Find your nearest Pearson VUE / NCLEX test centre →The OSCE.
The practical stage, held in person in Australia at Adelaide Health Simulation (Adelaide) and RANZCOG (Melbourne). Ten stations, each 10 minutes (2 minutes reading + 8 minutes performance), assessed against the NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice. There is no set frequency; the IQNM Exams Team offers dates as they become available.
The OSCE fee is AUD $4,000 per sitting (NMBA fee schedule effective 18 September 2025), paid through the AHPRA IQNM dashboard. Results are sent within eight weeks.
How OBA prepares you for the OSCE →ANMAC skills assessment.
ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council) assesses your qualifications and experience for skilled migration purposes — this is separate from AHPRA registration.
You need an ANMAC skills assessment when applying for a skilled visa (e.g. points-tested or employer-sponsored migration), not for registration itself. Many nurses need both AHPRA registration and an ANMAC skills assessment.
Visa and migration advice is provided only by a MARA-registered migration agent, not by OBA.
What it typically costs.
Regulator fees checked 7 October 2026 against the NMBA fee schedule effective 18 September 2025. Fees change — verify the current amounts with the relevant regulator.
| Item | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| AHPRA Self-check | Free |
| IQNM assessment fee (assessment and orientation) | AUD $410 |
| NCLEX-RN registration | USD $200 |
| NCLEX international scheduling fee | USD $150 |
| English test (IELTS/OET/PTE/TOEFL/Cambridge) | Varies by provider |
| OSCE fee | AUD $4,000 per sitting |
| Application fee for general registration | AUD $332 |
| Registration fee | AUD $193 (AUD $189 in NSW) |
| ANMAC skills assessment (if migrating) | Verify current on ANMAC |
Support at every stage of the OBA pathway.
OBA is an education and exam-preparation provider that supports internationally qualified nurses through each stage of the OBA pathway.
Self-check guidance
Help completing the AHPRA Self-check.
Portfolio support
Support preparing your Portfolio documentation.
English test prep
Preparation for your English language test.
NCLEX-RN prep
NCLEX-RN exam preparation.
OSCE coaching
OSCE clinical-skills preparation and coaching.
Important: Registration decisions rest solely with AHPRA and the NMBA, and OBA does not determine registration outcomes. OBA does not deliver the Diploma of Nursing or any qualification — preparation and support only. Visa and migration matters are handled only by a MARA-registered migration agent, not by OBA.
Key official links.
Always verify your specific situation against these authoritative sources.
www.ahpra.gov.auNMBA
nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.auAHPRA IQNM Self-check
portal.ahpra.gov.au/s/self-checkANMAC
anmac.org.auNCLEX testing locations
nclex.com/testing-locations.pagePearson VUE — NCLEX
home.pearsonvue.com/nclexOET (official)
oet.comIELTS (official)
ielts.orgPTE Academic (official)
pearsonpte.comTOEFL (official)
ets.org/toefl
Start your Australian nursing journey with OBA
Get clear, honest guidance on your stream, your English options and your exam preparation.
This page is general information only, current at the date of publication. All fees, scores, streams and processes are set by AHPRA, NMBA, ANMAC and NCSBN and are subject to change — always verify your specific situation against the official regulator websites. OBA provides education and exam preparation; it does not deliver the Diploma of Nursing or any qualification, does not determine registration outcomes, and does not provide migration advice, which is given only by a MARA-registered migration agent.