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I may be mistaken but AHPRA still seem to prefer paper-based application thus prefer all forms related to registration be sent via regular/express mail or courier. It's ANMAC who has shifted to electronic submission of required documents. If you have commenced your application for registration, you would have been assigned a Registration Officer whom you can contact via email... either he/she can provide the AHPRA's email address or perhaps use his/her official email address for the purpose of sending the COGS from that registration authority.

Update on Objective Based Assessment (OBA) pathway for nurses wanting to be registered in Australia has been posted by AHPRA here.

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It seems that SCHFS issues the professional registration certificate only once and then just the ID card after renewal and COGS if requested. Besides, very seldom does the need for that certificate comes and may at times individuals keep the copy securely. Perhaps for your perusal, theres a link to > at the below the Contact Us at the bottom-right portion of the SCHFS homepage. It asks for details like your IQAMA number and mobile... I just don't know if it requires that it be an active Kingdom mobile number. No harm in trying.

Yes, you can reword the statdec like what we do in an affidavit, just be sure to include those declarations about the law it is based on.

For the first question, I think only AHPRA can answer that. I suggest you try calling them instead of just sending an email. For the ICHC and COGS which are valid only for 3 months, you can execute a statutory declaration instead of applying for new ones. So sad that applicants had to endure this when, technically AHPRA can simply issue extension for a short period say 3 more months but I guess this has to do with the implementation of the new pathway sometime next year. Just my conjecture though. Have you tried calling AHPRA? Maybe you can get more details from calling rather than by email?

Posted this about the AHPRA application process a few months back. Some of this will change sometime next year, though, when the new registration pathway is implemented.

1. Essentially NO because technically nursing graduates of Philippine schools do not qualify to criteria 2 & 3 but some Registration Officers require such documentation. Basically just go to CHED, bring the format, (usually they have already), pay the fees, get the signed document and send it via registered mail... in many instances CHED does not do the mailing themselves. 2. Documents from the school need to be sent in a separate sealed envelop which you can enclose with your other documents. But COGS from PRC need to be sent separately. 3. Only the COGS have to be sent directly from PRC. If the PRC office you transact with does not have facility for mailing, you can mail it yourself using the PRC address of course via courier or registered express mail. 4. There is no description whether the proof of sufficiency of funds be in regular savings deposit or time deposit. The important thing is that such amount is in your name and accessible to you. 5. No definite requirement. At the very least, the Case Officer must see that the funds is enough to support you and your partner during your stay but this is largely arbitrary. You can even use the bank certification of the funds to be used for your BP enrolment. 6. Authentication and certification can be done in any country... it is free is Australia once you're here already but the cheapest when not yet in Australia would be there in the Philippines. The certification simply states that such document is a true copy of the original as presented.

That is required only when you practice nursing already, of course, after being registered. The form simply instructs you that it is a requirement inorder to practice and you only have to answer YES.

See my post here for some info on the steps to take inorder to be registered as nurse in Australia.

You should have applied for a regular visitor visa (600) instead of the working holiday though I understand that you have working rights with the WHV. You can try asking AHPRA for an extension of the referral... I guess they would have more leeway because schools with approved BPs are mostly full until the end of this year. I doubt if AHPRA would consider the postgraduate degree. By referring you to a BP means that your BSN is deemed inadequate to practice in Australia. Have you considered a nursing conversion course? I just don't know if your WHV will allow this... you may be required to get a student visa. This would imply that you are foregoing your referral to a BP and take subjects in a uni to get an Australian nursing degree.

Definitely, if you have submitted all required documents, better verify as to what is still missing... most probably these would be COGS coming from the registration agency of your country or that someone may have forgotten to update your status. I doubt if you'll be able to talk to your RO directly if you call since the numbers they publish are routed to their customer service department so email would suffice. Should you call, do inform the CS person to note that you have submitted all documentary requirements.

Notices from AHPRA regarding extension of assessment period usually implies that the Registration Officer cannot yet make a decision on your application. Reasons vary from from lacking some documents or maybe even if the RO may have other concerns that he/she cannot divulge. It is best normally just to accede. In most cases, it won't really go that far into the mentioned date(s).

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.

Normally 2 serologies are required for HepB. a. Anti-HBc (IgG) which is a marker for past or current HepB infection b. Anti-HBs (quali) which indicates the level of HepB surface antibody. The presence of anti-HBs is generally interpreted as indicating recovery and immunity from hepatitis B virus infection If your anti-HBc is less that 1.0 S/CO you are non-reactive meaning you never had HepB. Now, you will check your immunity with anti-HBs... labs usually indicate 10 as immune but some would prefer the 12-15 range. If you are not yet immune, as SimpleClaudia said, you can always get a booster shot or have another round of vaccination.

For the benefit of DIRECT HIRES who leaves the Phils with visitor visa and was granted 457/482 visa onshore and would like to take a vacation to the Phils while on 457/482 visa. I just got this email from POLO Canberra: Please be informed that POLO Australia is processing OEC for vacationing Filipinos under the Balik Manggagawa Program of POEA. Please be further informed that the OEC is only valid for sixty days from the date of issuance. Kindly create your BM Online Account if you do not still have or Reactivate if you have existing account through this website POEA :: Balik-Manggagawa Online Processing System. The instructions can be read or viewed in the website itself. Upload a full face picture with white background. (Note: In filling out the portion of Contract Details, the Latest Departure date is your latest flight from the Philippines going to Australia while the Latest Arrival date is your arrival in the Philippines for your next vacation) Then set an appointment for the processing of your OEC by clicking the green button "Acquire OEC or Exemption" and choose the location: POLO Oceana Branch: Australia Yarralumla. Please make sure that your return to Australia is within the sixty day validity of the OEC from the date of your appointment. Once appointment was successfully made, kindly print out the copy of appointment and affix your signature. Please take note that you do not need to appear personally to POLO Office for your scheduled appointment. The following are the requirements needed in securing an OEC which you need to send through courier c/o Philippine Embassy 1 Moonah Place Yarralumla ACT 2600 at least a day before your date of appointment: 1. signed employment contract 2. copy of your passport and visa 3. Signed Information Sheet generated from the BM Online appointment (go to "My Transactions") 4. Australian Money Order for the fees which can be bought from the Post Office 5. Self addressed envelope where we can post back your verified contract and receipts The following are the fees: Verification is AU$18, OWWA Membership is AU$25 and OEC is AU$5 payable to Philippine Embassy POLO through Australian Money Order amounting to AU$48.00 Your processed OEC will be sent to your BM Online Account under "My Transaction" then print it out before your flight to Australia which you need to present before the immigration. You may enter the BM Online OEC Number on your next application for OEC and will be exempted from payment if you are returning to the same Employer and Jobsite.

Sorry to hear that... I haven't tried contacting an RO. I was trying to find the emails I received when I was processing my AHPRA registration but I have deleted them already. I have contacted AHPRA's customer service once and they are quite accommodating, although they can only give generic answers because they don't have access to your records. I hope you asked them to send a note or something to your RO so that she can be alerted to your particular situation. While it may not do much, maybe just scan those school documents and email them to your RO... if you can ask the school to do so, give it a try. Add a note that the documents are on the way via courier and with a hint that you have been trying to get in touch with her (RO) for the past week or so and you got no reply. From experience, AHPRA usually provides a tight deadline in accomplishing their requests but they are also quite accommodating with requests for some extension of the deadline as long as you show them that you have done the best you can. Just curious, what were these documents that you are requested to provide? Normally you should have sent out the TOR, Diploma, PRC results together with the AGOS-40 upon sending your application. Some ROs are insistent that an applicant from the Phils also include the requirements in Criterion 2 and 3 even if these do not apply to nursing graduates of Phil schools.

Check the emails you received from her/him... they usually include telephone/mobile numbers... since there is some time element involved, try calling her/him. A few international minutes could be worth more than the stress of waiting for an email reply.

I don't think AHPRA accepts documents by email... I may be wrong though. But you can request your RO if it is possible and that you will be sending the documents via courier in the soonest time possible.

1. LOE from AHPRA is valid for 1 year. 2. PTE/English exam is valid for 2 years with AHPRA and 3 years with ANMAC. If I may suggest, why don't you save up about 75% of your projected expenses (AHPRA fees, Visa fees, documentation, projected board and lodging while taking the BP). If you include up to PR visa processing, this can go upwards of more than 25,000 AUD. It would seem to be a futile effort to get an LOE now, then start saving up for the expenses... but of course, it depends on your financial resources. The idea is that you have access to the needed funds in order to fasttrack the process and avoid retaking the English exams and other documentary requirements that are time sensitive, like COGS, police clearances, etc.

This implies that the registration office has gone over your application but may not be able to submit a recommendation to the Board before the allotted time frame as such the proposal to extend the process. Just answer that you agree. Normally it won't go that far... in about a month or less, they can make the decision as long as all required documents are in order.

Check out the requirements for ANMAC assessment. I presume that you intend to apply for PR after getting registered. Have the documents scanned (600dpi) and keep them in a safe place or in the cloud so you can access them anytime.

You can try contacting schools with approved programs based on AHPRA's website.

For AHPRA, I don't see much problem. After all, it seems that even with the 2 years that you technically practiced without a license, you will still be considered compliant with the basic requirement of 450 hours of paid employment within the past 5 years. It's another question regarding employment because that's a matter that your prospective employer will decide on.

1. YES. Since, all visa information are stored electronically, the changes will reflect on the database which you can check using the VEVO app on your smartphone. 2. You do not apply for a Bridging Visa. The Bridging Visa A is granted only: a. when the substantive visa you applied for (in this case TSS - 482) has not yet been granted; b. you are onshore c. your current Visitor visa has expired Normally BVA is granted but in case, you encounter financial difficulties while waiting for the TSS visa grant, you can request for a change into a Bridging Visa that has limited work rights. They will ask you to submit proof of such difficulty. 3. You need OEC inorder to be allowed exit because TSS is a temporary work visa which needs to be recorded by POEA. As such, an agency must process your papers. This is quite difficult if you are a direct hire because understandably the local agency does not earn from you. There has been rumors that the local agencies would require as much as 1 month salary equivalent to process your papers but I have no personal knowledge or experience on the matter. 4. If you're outside the country (Phils) while processing your TSS visa application there should be no problem because the current country you are staying will not mind these things. For them you are a tourist/visitor and as long as you comply with their laws, that is, you entered legally and exited before the end of your allowed stay, that's all that matters to them. The "problem/trouble" comes when you go home for vacation to the Phils while on TSS visa. No problem with entering, but upon departure you will be required to present the OEC and will not be allowed to exit without it. I have inquired with the Australian embassy in Sydney regarding this and was informed that there should be not much problem with processing OEC for direct hires with them but I have yet to undergo the process. I am also on 457 and exited the Phils with visitor visa. My 457 was lodged and granted while I am in Au so I did not go home anymore. Another option, albeit much dependent on circumstances is, while on TSS, apply for PR visa and hope that you can be invited (either by State or the Commonwealth) and be granted the visa before you go home for vacation. This is an option for those on 457 but the current TSS allows this only after 3 years. Hope this helps.