Registration in New Zealand
for nurses  from overseas

 

The Midwifery Council of New Zealand is now the regulatory authority for midwives.  Information about registration can be accessed through their website www.midwiferycouncil.org.nz

Please note:  all overseas applicants must supply evidence of nursing practice hours for the past three years while registered as a nurse.  This must be in written format and verified by their employers. This does not apply to new graduates who have trained within the last year. All other applicants will be assessed on an individual basis.

Medals for overseas nurses

New Zealand nursing medals may now be issued to nurses who registered from overseas.

Click here to download a copy of the application form. (PDF 47 KB).

General information

Nurses who are registered with an overseas regulatory authority can apply to the Nursing Council of New Zealand ('the Council') for registration.

Applications are assessed on an individual basis and in accordance with the requirements of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.  The Council only operates a system of reciprocal registration with Australia.

Applicants for registration are required to provide evidence that:

  • they have an equivalent international nursing qualification

  • are competent to practise within their scope of practice

  • are fit for registration, which includes the ability to communicate effectively in English for the purpose of practising nursing.

The time it takes for an application to be completed varies considerably. The Nursing Council of New Zealand strongly recommends that you do NOT make plans to move to New Zealand until you have completed the registration process, (or have been advised to complete a competence assessment programme if necessary).

Please also note that immigration does not come under the jurisdiction of the Nursing Council of New Zealand. The process of applying for registration with the Council is in the document Information to Register as a Nurse in New Zealand. (PDF 111 KB). Please note that this document is free.

English language requirements

 All overseas applicants who qualified in countries where English is not the first language are required to successfully complete an English language assessment for New Zealand registration.  The accepted English language assessments for NZ registration are IELTS or OET.  Applicants must gain a score of at least 7.0 in each band of an IELTS test, or a B pass in all categories of the Occupational English Test (OET).

As from 1 August 2008 , the achievement of at least 7.0 in each band of an IELTS may be gained over more than one sitting, but must be completed within twelve calendar months of the first sitting of the test.

As from 1 January 2009 all internationally qualified nurses, including those from English speaking countries, will be required to complete an English language assessment for New Zealand nursing registration, with the exception of applicants from Australia, who are exempt from being required to successfully complete an English language assessment under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997.

Denise Nelson
Team Leader
Overseas
Registrations

Postal Address: 
PO Box 9644
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 385 9589
Fax: +64 4 801 8502
e-mail: oseas@nursingcouncil.org.nz


Applicants from Australia

Applicants with nursing registration in Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory or Western Australia can apply to the Nursing Council of New Zealand for registration under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997.

Please note:  all overseas applicants must supply evidence of nursing practice hours for the past three years while registered as a nurse.  This must be in written format and verified by their employers. This does not apply to new graduates who have trained within the last year. All other applicants will be assessed on an individual basis.

For a copy of the application form please:

  1. Click here and you can access the application form online (PDF 4,118 KB). You will need to have installed Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer to be able to do this. 

OR

  1. If you require an application pack to be posted to you, please contact the Council with your full name and postal address by telephone +64-4-385 9589 or by email oseas@nursingcouncil.org.nz

 

Applicants from the rest of the world

The process of applying for registration with the Council is in the document Information to Register as a Nurse in New Zealand. (PDF 111 KB). Please note that this document is free.

Please note:  all overseas applicants must supply evidence of nursing practice hours for the past three years while registered as a nurse.  This must be in written format and verified by their employers. This does not apply to new graduates who have trained within the last year. All other applicants will be assessed on an individual basis.

To apply for registration you must complete the Council application forms.

For a copy of the application forms please:

    Click here and you can download the application form online. You will need to have installed Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer to be able to do this.

OR

  1. If you require an application pack to be posted to you, please contact the Council with your full name and postal address by telephone +64-4-385 9589 or by emailing oseas@nursingcouncil.org.nz

 

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