Are you a Nigerian-trained nurse? Do you want to migrate to Australia to work as a nurse from Nigeria? How do you migrate to Australia as a nurse from Nigeria? One of the benefits of being a Nigerian-trained nurse is that you have the potential to seek nursing job opportunities abroad.
Australia is one of the best-developed countries in the world where Nigerian-trained nurses can practice nursing with very attractive enumeration ($65,000-$90,000/year).
To work as a nurse in Australia from Nigeria, there are academic, nursing practice and travel requirements that a Nigeria-trained nurse needs to meet.
This article will simplify the steps and requirements for a Nigerian-trained nurse to work in Australia.
How to Work as a Nurse in Australia from Nigeria
Below are the steps and requirements to work as a Nurse in Australia from Nigeria.
Step 1. Eligibility to work as a nurse in Australia from Nigeria
In order to migrate to Australia and work as a nurse from Nigeria, you will need to meet the registration requirements of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Education Council (ANMAC), Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Nigerian nursing schools and universities are not among the institutions whose degrees or diplomas are automatically accepted as equivalent nursing qualifications in Australia.
To meet the registration requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, Nigerian-trained nurses will need to submit the certified true copy of the following documents for individual assessment by NMBA.
- Nursing Degree and or Diploma with transcripts
- Evidence of English language proficiency
The official language in Australia is English, thus Nigerian nurses who intend to work as nurses in Australia must demonstrate the ability to communicate fluently in the English language. The accepted evidence of English language proficiency is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Occupational English Test (OET) for Nurses.
The passing score for International English Language Testing System(IELTS) requirements for registered nurses in Australia is a minimum of seven in each of the four parts – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Alternatively, a minimum of B in each part of the Occupational English Test for Nurses is also acceptable.
- Proof of Identity
Accepted proof of identity document includes the data page of your international passport, birth certificate and recent passport photograph.
- Change of name documents such as court affidavits and marriage certificate
This applies mainly to females who are married and or any individual who has changed their name in the past.
- Evidence of Professional Practice
You must provide evidence of having practised nursing or midwifery for at least five years prior to your application.
The required nursing practice evidence is a professional reference(s) from your previous employer(s) with whom you worked for at least 3 months. The Professional reference must be on an official letter headed paper, dated, and written by a nurse/midwife supervisor and signed.
- Medical Fitness Report
To migrate to Australia as a nurse from Nigeria, you need to be medically fit to practice as a nurse, thus you will need a medical report from a recognized hospital in Nigeria stating that you are medically fit to work as a nurse.
- Practice Licence from Nigerian Midwifery and Nursing Council
Once you have the certified true copy of the required documents stated above then fill out the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Education skilled migration service/full assessment form online and pay the assessment fee.
After the assessment, you will receive a letter informing you if you are eligible to migrate to Australia to work as a nurse from Nigeria or not. If you received an acceptance letter from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) then you can proceed with the visa application.
Step 2. Register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
All health practitioners in Australia must register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
After meeting the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) registration requirements and receiving an acceptance letter, you can submit an application for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
To be successfully registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, you must be mentally and physically fit to practice nursing in Australia and have no prior history of disciplinary action in your carrier or criminal history.
Step 3. Apply for your Visa
After meeting the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) registration requirements and successfully registering with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, then the next step is to apply for your Visa.
If you are able to get a sponsor by applying for nursing jobs in Australia online then your sponsor will guide you on which type of visa to apply for.
The available Visa types are Employer Nomination Scheme (Permanent Residency Visa), Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme and Temporary Business Visa.
However, if you don’t get a sponsor, then you can apply for a visa under the General Skilled Migration Program
If you did not get a favourable response from Australian Nursing and Midwifery Education Council, then you can improve your work experience and nursing qualification in Nigeria or apply for an Australian training Visa to enable you to get additional training in Australia before reapplying for the NMBA assessment.
How to Migrate to Australia as a Nurse from Nigeria
To migrate to Australia as a nurse from Nigeria the following requirements must be met
- The Nigerian-trained nurse must meet be eligible to work as a nurse in Australia.
- The nurse must apply and get an Australian visa.
Conclusion
To work as a nurse in Australia from Nigeria is quite achievable. In order to migrate to Australia as a nurse from Nigeria, Interested Nigerian trained nurses must meet the nursing qualification, work experience and financial requirements.
Read also: Requirements for Nigerian trained nurses to work in the UK, Steps to work in the US as a Nigerian trained nurse.