Meeting AHPRA requirements as a International Trained Nurse from the Philippines

markgian · Sep 2, 2014

He's been in NZ since 2011... dunno how he did it though. Your option is possible but if ur target is Au.. you can apply directly for AHPRA. All the best.

official02 · Sep 2, 2014

Thanks for qualifying your statement. Much appreciated. Of course, there are many pathways to getting AU so no one option is intrinsically better. It all depends on your current circumstance. I opted to take the BP route because it was way cheaper, faster, and afterwards it lead to my PR then off to citizenship.
I agree that the BP is not a thing to brag about but isn't it necessarily an implicit that your letter of eligibility just proves the standard of education you had as an overseas trained nurse is comparable or similar to what they have in Australia? and that we as overseas nurses need only to be familiarized with the Au setting trough the BP? I have Filipino friends who are getting their Masters in Vic, isn't that a proof that the AU RN label has some qualifying merit at the very least.
It's not a good thing to brag about finishing the BP, but I think it is an achievement in itself - not all finish it, some even fail and are sent back. In the real world though nobody who finishes the BP in Oz will run to the Uk demanding to be registered there. Now that is unheard of.

You are getting it wrong, sir.

BP or IRON by any current standard has no bearing to any AQF level. ANMAC made a consultation before that these bridging programs should be marked at level 8 (Grad Cert) since it has no current AQF level. I was hoping that it will be considered at level 8. However, after the consultation, it has come for review at level 7 (Bachelors) only. Its qualification remains unknown. It is still under its way for qualification review. You may want to check ANMAC website about that. If you say otherwise, can you please provide me a link that says BP is a degree, diploma, advance diploma, grad cert, grad diploma?

Yes, BP has many pathway for better life. I consider that deeply. BP-Registration-Work-PR-Citizenship. I acknowledge that .

What I am telling you is its educational qualification, its merit if its a degree or not? It is non-award. As of today, it remains as that. Even when applying for student visa when doing BP, it is non-award.

Perhaps your friends have met the eligibility requirements because of their Bachelor's degree, not BP. Can you provide me a link of any university in Australia that says that BP is a requirement towards entry to Master's degree?

I do not blame you for doing BP. I will never blame myself if I do it. I believe that it's the best option that Pinoy RNs have at this point in time.

My post was a comparison to the standard qualification of education as per AQF. I stick to that. Not its bearing towards registration and its succeeding effect to one's life.

My quote was an exxageration of course. Haha!

official02 · Sep 2, 2014

Was your friend a fresh out from CAP? Or did he gain exp in NZ already?
My plan is to do the BP in NZ and directly apply for a license in AU after being registered jn NZ.

I have a friend who did her CAP in NZ. Although she didn't tell me if looking for CAP provider was difficult but looking at her timeline it seems a swift. Maybe because she has a sister in NZ who fix it for her.

If you gain registration in NZ, you'll be eligible for OZ.

If you have time, I suggest you ask every CAP provider of the current condition and waiting list for CAP. Please provide us feedback if you get one. CAP is shorter and cheaper than BP.

markgian · Sep 3, 2014

You are getting it wrong, sir.
BP or IRON by any current standard has no bearing to any AQF level. ANMAC made a consultation before that these bridging programs should be marked at level 8 (Grad Cert) since it has no current AQF level. I was hoping that it will be considered at level 8. However, after the consultation, it has come for review at level 7 (Bachelors) only. Its qualification remains unknown. It is still under its way for qualification review. You may want to check ANMAC website about that. If you say otherwise, can you please provide me a link that says BP is a degree, diploma, advance diploma, grad cert, grad diploma?
Yes, BP has many pathway for better life. I consider that deeply. BP-Registration-Work-PR-Citizenship. I acknowledge that .
What I am telling you is its educational qualification, its merit if its a degree or not? It is non-award. As of today, it remains as that. Even when applying for student visa when doing BP, it is non-award.
Perhaps your friends have met the eligibility requirements because of their Bachelor's degree, not BP. Can you provide me a link of any university in Australia that says that BP is a requirement towards entry to Master's degree?
I do not blame you for doing BP. I will never blame myself if I do it. I believe that it's the best option that Pinoy RNs have at this point in time.
My post was a comparison to the standard qualification of education as per AQF. I stick to that. Not its bearing towards registration and its succeeding effect to one's life.
My quote was an exxageration of course. Haha!

AU RN is a requirement to do Masters. Try Melb Uni. I get your point that it is a non-award etc. As I was reading your posts it just sounded a little bit off and putting BP in a bad light as if it was not worth anything. Thanks for putting in into its proper perspective.

And to those who are bashing AHPRA, let us be reminded that AHPRA does not owe us anything. It is good that they even acknowledge overseas nurses. In reality, if they are not obligated to do that.

My advice would be to continue work experience while waiting for the LOE. Your experience will really pay off in the future. Eventually, everything will be streamlined. When I got in Au, the news that welcomed me was the crackdown on working visa and cuts to the health budget - not very encouraging indeed. An agency even offered me to pay them 5000 AUD to be sponsored a 457 visa. Some nurses took the bait, now they are considering to sue that agency because they are being overworked and underpaid.

Just give me a shout if you visit Melbourne. It's a wonderful city.

jmolina1985 · Sep 3, 2014

Non award means that no degree will be conferred. It is like studying pharmacology just for the sake of it but it does not lead into anything else.

The BP is in a similar category but is tailored in such a manner to qualify overseas nurses into Aus standards. Yes, it is not a degree because it suppliments your existing one from the Philippines.

I can imagine what you've been through, I am glad you found a sponsor. The crackdown on 457s was intended for the non skilled workers: those posing as admin managers for mining jobs but is doing the basic miner's work and others alike. As far as formal resources are concerned, there is still a demand for nurses. This is open to debate but no formal publication as to over supply of nurses has been considered.

AHPRA does not have to consider overseas nurses; perhaps just imagine the ramifications on the international stage. And yes there is no formal obligation for them to do so. There is one problem though, they received payment for these applications and they are doing one hell of a mess asking candidates to chase documents back and forth only to be given standard and generic responses. This is unfair and this opinion is shared by all stake holders including institutions carrying out BPs. If these were happening to locals AHPRA would be to some extent liable to fair trade clauses and strong public scrutiny. The only difference for us IQNMs is we have no bargaining power because they can shut us off in the interest of protecting the public.

They do owe us something, the outcome. It takes 39 to 42 weeks for a woman to complete a pregnancy cycle and AHPRA has put some people on hold for 47 weeks now... 47 weeks going 52 by October. How long does it take to look at a set of credentials? Their interim process is inefficient. Accepting payment and saying "hang on, we've processed your application (say good bye to your money except for the rego fee) but we're not sure what to do next." How does that go?

Melb Uni, great institution but insane prices my advise: get your masters from them when you can ask for government support.

kronick · Sep 3, 2014

I have a friend who did her CAP in NZ. Although she didn't tell me if looking for CAP provider was difficult but looking at her timeline it seems a swift. Maybe because she has a sister in NZ who fix it for her.
If you gain registration in NZ, you'll be eligible for OZ.
If you have time, I suggest you ask every CAP provider of the current condition and waiting list for CAP. Please provide us feedback if you get one. CAP is shorter and cheaper than BP.

A few people I know are doing this. I don't think it took them a long time to find a CAP provider. They also opted for this route since they didn't get all 7s in IELTS or Bs in OET at one go.

I'm just not sure how easy it is to apply for an AU license through the trans tasman agreement.

official02 · Sep 3, 2014

AU RN is a requirement to do Masters. Try Melb Uni. I get your point that it is a non-award etc. As I was reading your posts it just sounded a little bit off and putting BP in a bad light as if it was not worth anything. Thanks for putting in into its proper perspective.
And to those who are bashing AHPRA, let us be reminded that AHPRA does not owe us anything. It is good that they even acknowledge overseas nurses. In reality, if they are not obligated to do that.
My advice would be to continue work experience while waiting for the LOE. Your experience will really pay off in the future. Eventually, everything will be streamlined. When I got in Au, the news that welcomed me was the crackdown on working visa and cuts to the health budget - not very encouraging indeed. An agency even offered me to pay them 5000 AUD to be sponsored a 457 visa. Some nurses took the bait, now they are considering to sue that agency because they are being overworked and underpaid.
Just give me a shout if you visit Melbourne. It's a wonderful city.

Haha. It's all fine.

5,000 AUD is already a fortune. I won't take the bite. It's better to lodge for ANMAC modified assessment and be sponsored by a state if point is an issue towards PR.

Well, AHPRA owe us one thing. We paid for the service and it's unfortunate that most of the time they have bad communication service. Just to you give an example of many that I've experienced:

August 16:

I lodged several web inquiries (around 5) asking for an update.

August 19:

My Registration Officer in NSW said that all information related to my application are received.

August 27:

My RO is OUT OF OFFICE.

September 2:

A Senior Registration Officer in NSW sent an email with an attached letter informing me that my application is INCOMPLETE. But didn't say which requirement/s made it incomplete. That letter is signed by a certain manager.

I returned back quoting my Registration Officer's sequence of e-mails. I told them to clarify, verify and ascertain who should I believe for. I also told the senior RO that I understand how stressful their job is as of this moment but they should have adapted to the system since its already in place for more than 6 months now.

Yes, maybe they do not owe us many things but we are their clients and we deserve better service. And they already deducted 540 AUD before even starting the initial assessment.

official02 · Sep 3, 2014

A few people I know are doing this. I don't think it took them a long time to find a CAP provider. They also opted for this route since they didn't get all 7s in IELTS or Bs in OET at one go.
I'm just not sure how easy it is to apply for an AU license through the trans tasman agreement.

Hi.

I see. I just look back at my friend's timeline. She applied last October 2013 and got into CAP last May 2014. So maybe, way way better than AHPRA.

CAP is recognized in NZ at level 7 of education.

However, I think NCNZ and CAP providers require 7s for IELTS and Bs for OET.

A friend told me that it took him 2 weeks when he applied for trans tasman. But he is AuRn that applied for NZRN. Not bad! If otherwise? I don't know how AHPRA fairs. Haha.

jotdi · Sep 3, 2014

Hi,

Ahpra received my initial application last August 22. My registration officer is just asking for the Good Standing Certificate from PRC. Fortunately, I was able to complete criteria 2,3 and 8. I am currently waiting for their response if they have received the docs. I hope our applications progress fast.

If you are registered in another country, other than the Philippines, will they ask for good standing in all countries you are registered with? Or is it case to case basis?

purply20 · Sep 3, 2014

I think they will ask for good standing from all your previous registrations especially if you have practiced nursing in another countries. It had to be sent directly from the registering body also. This is what I did. God bless our applications!

markgian · Sep 3, 2014

My bad. I hope this mess will be corrected asap. I got my LOE in under two months so the landscape has immensely changed.

aldzbp20 · Sep 3, 2014

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