US RN wants to work in Australia

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anybody able to tell me what is required of nurses trained in the usa to work in australia? i just finnished nursing school and i am starting an emergency room internship next month. i am not interested in permanently moving to australia, instead i am interested in temporary assignments. thinking about travel nursing a year from now.

Ross1

112 Posts

I am a nursing student in an ADN program in the USA and my spouse is an Aussie. So perhaps someday, we will return to Australia. I spoke with a reviewer at the agency in Australia that handles foreign RN applicants and she told me that nursing education and licensure in the USA is similar to Australia's and that US RN's have no difficulty in obtaining RN licensure in Australia, regardless of the educational preparation (ADN, Diploma, BSN etc). I did forget to ask about testing but can assume that one would probably need to take the Australian licensing exam. Of course, your biggest hindrance could be immigration issues so that is certainly worth exploring.

renerian, BSN, RN

5,693 Posts

Specializes in MS Home Health.

I have an ADN and wanted to work in Australia. I had to take some classes or something, test and some other things/plus a high fee. I could not find a sponser. I could not afford it. The fees alone were in the several thousands.

renerian :o

hypnotic_nurse

627 Posts

I contacted several agencies for travel nursing but each told me I would not be eligible because I am over 40!

gwenith, BSN, RN

3,755 Posts

Specializes in ICU.
I contacted several agencies for travel nursing but each told me I would not be eligible because I am over 40!

Hmmm they should NOT have said that it is discriminatory and there are BIG fines over here for that sort of thing.

The first step always is to contact the registration board and there is a link to this and to the immigration website in the "sticky" thread at the top of the forum.:)

jjjsps

13 Posts

I know that they have a clause about age discrimination and getting a Visa. I did not know that it could be so hard and expensive to find a sponsor. I am wondering if there are exceptions (getting a work visa) for areas of special need.

Where is the biggest shortage in Australia of RN's? Has anyone gotten arround the age limit? I don't want to permanently live there I am interested to obtain a limited working visa.

gwenith, BSN, RN

3,755 Posts

Specializes in ICU.
I know that they have a clause about age discrimination and getting a Visa. I did not know that it could be so hard and expensive to find a sponsor. I am wondering if there are exceptions (getting a work visa) for areas of special need.

Where is the biggest shortage in Australia of RN's? Has anyone gotten arround the age limit? I don't want to permanently live there I am interested to obtain a limited working visa.

Okay the absolute biggest shortage is rural and remote but believe me it would NOT be in your best interests to go straight out to a remote station. (When we say remote we MEAN remote) our drug names are different for a start. Other than that ICU is in short supply everywhere. Also mental health nursing especially in the rural hospitals.

citrus3

6 Posts

Nursing licensure also depends on what state. I'm from New South Wales state which recognizes USA qualifications and licenses. They will require you to submit certain documents and pay a fee, no exams are involved. In Queensland, nurses are required to sit an exam but I'm not sure if this is required of overseas nurses. In Western Australia five years ago, they required negative MRSA swab results. I'm not sure if they still do. Yes, the best thing to do is to contact the board of nursing of the state you want to go to.

gwenith, BSN, RN

3,755 Posts

Specializes in ICU.

Usually the first step is to contact what was the ANCI and is now the ANC - sorry just realised that they had a name change and the link I provided did not work:rolleyes:

The new link is

http://www.anc.org.au/

Overseas nurses who are planning on working in Australia may need to apply for a skills assessment with the ANC. This section of the website provides more information on the requirements and access to the ANC's full and modified assessment forms.

Some overseas nurses who wish to work in Australia must undertake an assessment with the ANC to be eligible for migration.

You should not apply for an assessment with the ANC if you are:

Enrolled Nurse /Registered Nurse Division 2

Overseas nurse who holds a permanent resident visa

Nurses applying for Working Holiday Visas

These nurses should apply directly to the relevant state or territory nurse regulatory authority.

lavarn

40 Posts

Specializes in OB/GYN Med/Surg.

I am from the US, and I presently live in Melbourne. I am a LPN in the US, and went back to uni here, and graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing.

In Victoria, you do not have to take an exam to be registered as a RN.

You can visit the Nurses Board of Victoria website, and get the forms that you need.

The tricky part is getting permanent residency, and if you are over 45 it is not so easy. I was granted PR in March! wooohoooo!

Now, my dilemma is when I go back to the US, I want to be licensed there as well, and I don't have the needed theory/clinical rotations in PEDS/OB. I am presently working with the state board in the state that I am from, and hopefully there is a solution that won't be too difficult.

lava RN

HM2VikingRN, RN

4,700 Posts

I am starting school in the fall for an accelerated BSN program. The school offers an option to go straight through to Nurse Practitioner. What are the chances of being able to get a work permit? (I am a Hospital Corpsman in the reserves of the USN?) I am 45 should be 48 at finish?

augigi, CNS

1,366 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiothoracics, VADs.

Australia is not as far progessed into NP territory - there are few NPs as it is such a laborious procedure to gain the title, and there are less than 5 approved NP-preparatory Masters programs. So I guess I am saying having NP would not be hugely advantageous as there are few positions for them in Australia.

The age requirement only comes into play if you need a working holiday visa. There are occupational visas (we have a bad nursing shortage). Check out this helpful info: http://www.alfred.org.au/career_details.html?id=2003#Working_in_Australia_and_at_The_Alfred

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