by amber_snow

Hi everyone! Just want to share my experience in applying for registration at NZ. I sent my application to the Council Oct 2007 with complete requirements. Unfortunately after a long time of waiting, I received a letter from the Council last June 2008 stating that my nursing education wasn't comparable to theirs. I am a second courser and took nursing for 2 1/2 years here. I had my case appealed twice and sad to say again, last December 2008, they upheld with their original decision. It took more than a year for me to wait and to follow up on my application. They said if I still wish to pursue my registration, I needed to take undergraduate programme there.

I've inquired with some NZ schools there. They said cross credits is possible. I've learned in some schools their nursing program is 3 years only. (Huh? To think, here it's 4 years. And in my case, I had almost 3 years of nursing here). I haven't gone further in enrolling and asking for more details as I'm undecided to pursue the NZ path because of this. It's just unfortunate that the new policy has been implemented. And so, second coursers will most likely have a hard time getting registratioin there.

Anyone with the same case as mine? I'm wondering what course of action you've taken, too. Thanks.

Re: NZ's new policy

NZ came out with a ruling probably more than a year ago now stating that they are not going to accept any second coursers and they have been sticking with it.

If you took the nursing program for 2 1/2 years, this is not the same as being the three years that their programs require. It is not the same as being a full four year course as a start, and you did not complete your previous training in an approved school of nursing. So those are two of the reasons why your training was not accepted.

This is why second courser programs are accepted in some places, but not all countries. Same goes for the accelerated programs that we have in the US. There are some that are 14 months in length, but they are not recognized for immigration purposes in any other country as well since the minimum training period in an actual school of nursing was not met.

Countries are getting stricter and stricter on what they will accept and not accept.

Best of luck to you with whatever you decide to do.

Re: NZ's new policy

I have the same case, the nursing council of new zealand denied my application for registration because I took my BSN for 20 months only. I applied to the Queensland Nursing Council in australia and they recognized my qualifications. I am now undergoing the competency program to fully meet their requirements for licensure.

Re: NZ's new policy

NZ is pretty strict with their accredited schools. They actually have a list on a website somewhere which schools are recognized and it's only a few, only those PAASCO accredited universities are included.

Re: NZ's new policy

^^^ are you talking about the list of Recognized Qualifications (LRQ) or schools from the NZ immigration? I do not think that Nursing Council of New Zealand has a list of accredited school

Re: NZ's new policy

from my experience, they had a list. It's been too long they might have changed it.

Re: NZ's new policy

I'm a second courser but I came to NZ 2 years ago. I was lucky to have accepted here.

Sorry to hear your sentiments guys about the Nursing council's new policy. It's a new government now so new authority in place. The council has changed the IELTS requirement as well. Imagine, all countries except Australia must pass IELTS as language requirement. NZ is setting a high standard nowadays and in case you heard someone (especially a recruitment agency/consultancy) that NZ is recruiting caregivers or healthcare assistant, pls don't believe. Even if they show you a job offer. NZ is not like America that you can work anything out of your line of profession. A job offer doesn't mean that you can have work visa/permit here. So many Filipinos are sent back home because they were denied by the immigration even if they have a job offers from hospital/nursing homes. You are a liability if you are not a skilled worker so NZ doesn't want you. A skilled worker is a person who practices according to his degree or line of profession. If you are a qualified mechanic (with certificate and finished vocational school,etc), when you come here, you don't work as caregiver, you work as a mechanic. If you are a skilled chef or registered engineer, nurse or doctor, etc, when you come here you work the same thing. In that sense, you are considered as an asset in the country and not another dweller who the government needs to look after. It makes a lot of sense, right?

Knowledge is virtue.

Re: NZ's new policy

joeturtle, how do you apply for competency requirment. is that the bridging course. how do you apply for that? hope you can help me. i've been very interested in aus but don't know where to start. thanks...

Re: NZ's new policy

Originally Posted by handyong

joeturtle, how do you apply for competency requirment. is that the bridging course. how do you apply for that? hope you can help me. i've been very interested in aus but don't know where to start. thanks...

Please take the time to read the International forum where we have a excellent thread on working in Australia

Re: NZ's new policy

ok, thanks silverdragon102