Bridging Program in Australia

World Registration

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Hi. I am new here. I don't know exactly where to go. I am a registered nurse here in the Philippines and I am interested in studying in Australia for a bridging course that will help me become a registered nurse there. I need some help on looking for a good school that offers a bridging course.

My aunt told me that a friend of her friend just went to AU to take up a test and in 6 months she's there for a bridging program. and I have this friend who has a friend who became a registered nurse in AU in 6 months time too. This agency is offering me to study for a certificate III aged care with occupational English test for 46 weeks in Einstein College but it costs too much. So now, I am trying to look for a school wherein I can apply by myself and hopefully get in. I am hoping I could leave for AU this June 2011. I am a bit lost on what to do. Can you help me, please? Any suggestions? ? Please help me. Thank you very much. :clown:

(Sydney area would be better since my parents are more familiar and in favor of that place... though other cities/areas will be great too)

@DJohn13.

Do start reading from A then proceed to B-Z, meaning read AHPRA first and you will get the picture in how to proceed forward. Even by simply starting to check AHPRA form AGOS-40, you will not get lost.

LOE- without this you can never proceed to bridging program. Again, all your plans begin with AHPRA. Goodluck.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Hello, I'm planning to migrate to Australia and practice nursing, I'm an RN in the Philippines with less than a year experience. I've read through the ANMAC, ACN, NMBA websites and still the process gets a bit redundant/confusing. First, what is an LOE, how do I secure one, and are there any requirements to secure LOE? I plan to take BP in ACN and it says in their website that I have to get a referral from AHPRA first before I can enroll (is the AHPRA referral the same as LOE)? Should I gather all the AHPRA requirements already to acquire an LOE, even before I enroll in ACN? Or is it possible to enroll in ACN first and then work through the AHPRA requirements along the way?

Where to begin? Would appreciate any help. :)

LOE is Letter of Eligibility also known as Letter of Referral. This is normally what nursing graduates of Phil schools get from AHPRA to enter into the IRON/Bridging Program because Philippine education is deemed inadequate/lacking in some areas to be allowed to be registered and practice in Australia.

You cannot be enrolled in any bridging program without LOE from AHPRA.

To get the LOE, one must undergo the process of registration with AHPRA and to do that one has to submit the following:

1. You must have suitable english language skills:

IELTS- 7 in all bands; can be done in 2 seatings

PTE - Minimum of 65 overall score and minimum 65 in all components

OET - B in all components

This is just the minimum. It would be better to get superior ratings because it will be very beneficial when you deal with ANMAC and Home Affairs for migration as Skilled Worker and Permanent Resident status.

I am putting English exams as first step because you will not be able to do anything without getting the proper rating.

2. Gather documents and have them certified/notarized by a notary public:

a. Evidence of Identity - Passport

b. Academic Records - Diploma, TOR, RLE, Course Description/Syllabus

3. Registration History

a. PRC license / Board Certificate

b. Certificate of Good Standing (to be sent by PRC directly to AHPRA)

4. Work History

a. you must have worked at least 450 hours in the last 5 years.

b. Certificates of Employment indicating Job Description, Dates of Employment, whether part time or full time in the company's letterhead.

c. As supplement to COEs you can also request for Reference (referral) Letters from your Nurse Supervisors... some companies use generic COEs which do not include details like, no of hours and whether part time or full time.

It would be advisable to use ANMAC format for professional references to avoid duplicating the process of getting from the same persons.

5. CV in the following format

6. International Criminal History Check - fit2work

AHPRA does not accept NBI clearance.

7. AGOS-40 form

You will submit these documents to AHPRA for verification and assessment which can take from 2-6 months and after which you will get your LOR/LOE.

While waiting for that, you can start looking at schools offering the BP. The list of approved BP is here

That should be more than enough for now. The stages after BP would be another long discussion.

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Hi. Anyone feedback for CQU? Central Queensland University? Their intake will be on March 2019. Tuition fee is cheaper to other school but its 18 weeks study. Im thinking if i will grab the chance for March intake nextyear or just change to another school.

Dont have my LOE yet.

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LOE is Letter of Eligibility also known as Letter of Referral. This is normally what nursing graduates of Phil schools get from AHPRA to enter into the IRON/Bridging Program because Philippine education is deemed inadequate/lacking in some areas to be allowed to be registered and practice in Australia.

You cannot be enrolled in any bridging program without LOE from AHPRA.

To get the LOE, one must undergo the process of registration with AHPRA and to do that one has to submit the following:

1. You must have suitable english language skills:

IELTS- 7 in all bands; can be done in 2 seatings

PTE - Minimum of 65 overall score and minimum 65 in all components

OET - B in all components

This is just the minimum. It would be better to get superior ratings because it will be very beneficial when you deal with ANMAC and Home Affairs for migration as Skilled Worker and Permanent Resident status.

I am putting English exams as first step because you will not be able to do anything without getting the proper rating.

2. Gather documents and have them certified/notarized by a notary public:

a. Evidence of Identity - Passport

b. Academic Records - Diploma, TOR, RLE, Course Description/Syllabus

3. Registration History

a. PRC license / Board Certificate

b. Certificate of Good Standing (to be sent by PRC directly to AHPRA)

4. Work History

a. you must have worked at least 450 hours in the last 5 years.

b. Certificates of Employment indicating Job Description, Dates of Employment, whether part time or full time in the company's letterhead.

c. As supplement to COEs you can also request for Reference (referral) Letters from your Nurse Supervisors... some companies use generic COEs which do not include details like, no of hours and whether part time or full time.

It would be advisable to use ANMAC format for professional references to avoid duplicating the process of getting from the same persons.

5. CV in the following format

6. International Criminal History Check - fit2work

AHPRA does not accept NBI clearance.

7. AGOS-40 form

You will submit these documents to AHPRA for verification and assessment which can take from 2-6 months and after which you will get your LOR/LOE.

While waiting for that, you can start looking at schools offering the BP. The list of approved BP is here

That should be more than enough for now. The stages after BP would be another long discussion.

Wow thank you for taking the time. This kind of information is hard to find anywhere, to be honest. I did read through the official websites (NMBA, AHPRA, ACN, IMMI) but felt like being pointed to one place to another and back like I don't even know where to start anymore.

Thank you also @SimplyClaudia. God bless you guys!

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me too, I just passed my documents last week and waiting for the results. Though i dont know yet my education provider but it's in Sydney. My agency in Oz are the ones working for my papers that's why.

I'm from Ph btw.

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Hi @sabrinaM , hmm after passing your docs to AHPRA how many weeks/months, how many weeks/months have you waited just to get your letter of referral? Thanks a lot!

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Hi guys . I just got my LOE today . I applied last april 28.

Is it true that they are phasing out the IRON program(12 weeks) and will be utilizing the EPIQ(6 months) for bridging. ?

I am planning to take my bridging in Sydney because I have relatives there, but my agency told me that there are no intakes available at any school for aug to december this year for sydney because of this change. Is this true?

Does anyone have knowledge of any schools/college/university in Sydney that offers october 2018 or november 2018 intakes? or early 2019 intakes?

IHNA and ACN has closed there application.

What school can you recommend for bridging?

thank you

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Hmm im still waiting for my LOE. My agency is based in Oz and yeah he told me that there are no intakes available for this year. :'( just in case I'll take my BP in Sydney too.

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Hi @sabrinaM , hmm after passing your docs to AHPRA how many weeks/months, how many weeks/months have you waited just to get your letter of referral? Thanks a lot!

Hi there! Technically, I waited for 3months right before I received my LOE dear. I submitted my docs last March 2018 and just had a few revisions I had to re-sent, but by June I received my letter. :) pretty straightforward actually, you just have to read thru the AGOS-40 just like other seasoned nurses here in the blog. Good luck dear!

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Ohh i see! Thank you. #agonyofwaiting. Yeah had lots of revisions also cos my agency is so strict especially when it comes to my work statement and notarization details. I got annoyed but yeah now, i just realized that it's because they dont want me to do the re-application and pay another $.

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Ohh i see! Thank you. #agonyofwaiting. Yeah had lots of revisions also cos my agency is so strict especially when it comes to my work statement and notarization details. I got annoyed but yeah now, i just realized that it's because they dont want me to do the re-application and pay another $.

Actually, AHPRA will just ask you to re-send whatever documents they think you need to revise without any additional charges (except courier fee, of course :) ). Just be patient dear, it will come through :) if you're currently working, just continue that until you'll all set to go to AU. Are you planning to study BP in Sydney? We might even be classmates if you're planning for next year's intake :)

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Hi. Anyone feedback for CQU? Central Queensland University? Their intake will be on March 2019. Tuition fee is cheaper to other school but its 18 weeks study. Im thinking if i will grab the chance for March intake nextyear or just change to another school.

Dont have my LOE yet.

Hi YuanC, have you heard any feedback about CQU or SCU bridging program. Please let me know. Thanks.

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