Australia’s healthcare system relies heavily on a skilled nursing workforce, and international nurses play a crucial role in meeting this demand. As nursing professions are prominently listed on the skilled occupation list, securing a positive skills assessment is a vital step for those looking to migrate and work in Australia as a nurse.
This evaluation validates that your qualifications and experience meet the high standards anticipated in the Australian healthcare system. From understanding the eligibility criteria to acquiring the appropriate evidence, the evaluation process is thorough and suited to the many types of nursing and midwifery roles.
By navigating these requirements effectively, you can pave the way for a successful career in Australia’s dynamic and rewarding healthcare sector. Explore this blog for a complete checklist and detailed guidance for your assessment process, and ensure you meet all the necessary criteria.
What is the ANMAC Skills Assessment?
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC), authorised by the Department of Home Affairs, is responsible for assessing the qualifications and skills of nurses and midwives wishing to migrate to Australia. The nursing and midwifery skills assessment is a crucial step in the Australian immigration process for healthcare professionals under the general skilled migration program.
This skills assessment evaluates your nursing skills and qualifications, work experience, and English language proficiency to determine your eligibility for registration as a nurse in Australia and work in the Australian healthcare system. You need to adhere to registration requirement of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
ANMAC Assessed Nursing Occupations
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Types of ANMAC Skills Assessments
Direct Care Skills Assessment
The direct care skills assessment helps with filling important jobs in the aged care sector in Australia. It supports two key programs:
- Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA): This program helps address the shortage of workers in aged care by allowing skilled workers from overseas to come to Australia and work in this field.
- Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA): This program allows skilled workers to move to specific regions in Australia where there are labour shortages.
Full Skills Assessment
If you are a nurse or midwife fully qualified and registered in Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the United States, you should apply for a full skills assessment. This assessment is designed to evaluate whether your qualifications and experience from these specific countries align with Australian standards.
Modified Skills Assessment
If you are already a registered nurse or midwife in Australia or New Zealand, you should apply for the modified skills assessment. This assessment is designed for professionals who are already practising in these countries, but need their qualifications and experience assessed to meet Australian standards.
Modified Plus Skills Assessment
If you have obtained a ‘Notice of in-principle approval of registration subject to evidence of identity’ from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), you should apply for the modified plus skills assessment. This evaluation is for persons who are nearing the end of their registration process in Australia. It allows you to show that your qualifications and identification match the requirements for full registration.
Application Process for the ANMAC Skills Assessment
Eligibility Criteria for the ANMAC Skills Assessment
| Direct Care Skills Assessment (DCSA) | Full Skills Assessment (FSA) | Modified Skills Assessment (MSA) | Modified Plus Skills Assessment (MPSA) |
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For Nursing
For Midwifery
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To apply, you need current registration with one of the following:
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Need professional assistance on your nursing skills assessment? Our team is always up-to-date on the current ANMAC requirements, and we will walk you through the entire procedure, from eligibility to registration. Reach out to us today.
What documents are needed for the application?
Proof of Identity
- Passport: Provide copy of bio-data (double page) from your passport.
- Change of Name Documents: Include marriage certificates, decree nisi, or deed poll documents, if applicable.
- Photograph: A high-quality passport-style photograph of yourself taken in the last 6 months.
- Additional Identification: For DCSA applicants, two additional forms of identification, such as a birth certificate, driver’s license, or national ID card are required.
Proof of Education
When submitting an application for a DCSA, you must:
- Provide certificates from all relevant qualifications or courses of study.
- Submit complete transcripts of results for each qualification.
- Include evidence of at least 120 hours of practical experience as a part of your study.
In order to submit an FSA application, you must:
- Provide certificates from all relevant degrees or courses that contributed to overseas registration.
- Submit complete transcripts of results for each qualification.
- Provide evidence of theory and practice hours completed within your study. If your university cannot provide this, ANMAC will accept a syllabus copy emailed directly by the university to ANMAC.
If you are applying for an MSA and MPSA, you need to:
- Provide certificates from all relevant degree or courses that contributed to registration in both Australia and overseas.
- Submit full transcripts of results for each qualification.
Note: The course or work must focus on direct care roles and responsibilities (excluding disability or child care).
Proof of Registration Requirement
If you have a nursing qualification from overseas, you need a ‘verification of registration’ or ‘certificate of good standing letter’ from the organisation responsible for registering nurses and midwives in the country where you worked. This letter confirms your registration and that there have been no issues with your professional practice in that country. The regulatory authority must send this document directly to ANMAC by post or email.
For Modified Skills Assessment: If you are submitting work experience in Australia, ANMAC will check your registration with Ahpra, so you do not need to send any registration information.
ANMAC cannot accept:
- Scanned copies of the letter from you or any other source outside of the regulatory authority.
- Emails sent from free web-based email addresses.
Proof of English language Requirement (For FSA Only)
For a Full Skills Assessment, you need to complete one of these English language tests: IELTS, OET for nurses, PTE Academic, or TOEFL iBT. No other English language tests are accepted. Your test results must be less than 2 years old and must come from the same test, meaning you cannot mix results from different tests.
Test Requirements and Scores
| Test | Component Scores | Acceptable Sittings |
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| IELTS Academic | Overall score of 7 (or higher) in listening, reading, writing, and speaking | 1 sitting OR 2 sittings in 6 months if overall score is 7 (or higher) in each sitting and no component score below 6.5 |
| OET for Nurses | Must achieve minimum score of B (or higher) in listening, reading, writing, and speaking | 1 sitting OR 2 sittings in 6 months if B (or higher) in all components in each sitting and no component score below C |
| PTE Academic | Minimum overall score of 65 (or higher) in listening, reading, writing, and speaking | 1 sitting OR 2 sittings in 6 months if overall score is 65 (or higher) in each sitting and no component score below 58 |
| TOEFL iBT | Achieve total score of 94 (or higher) with 24 listening, 24 reading, 27 writing, 23 speaking | 1 sitting OR 2 sittings in 6 months if total score is 94 (or higher) in each sitting and no component score below 20 listening, 19 reading, 24 writing, 20 speaking |
Proof of Work Experience
If you’re applying based on work experience for the Direct Care Skills Assessment, you need to show at least 12 months of full-time paid work experience in a relevant area. Relevant areas specifically exclude disability or child care work. You must provide:
- A professional reference letter from a nursing supervisor. This letter must detail your job role, daily tasks, and the dates and hours you worked.
- A service statement from your employer confirming your employment dates.
Important: ANMAC will check and verify your work experience. If your information is found to be fraudulent, it could result in a negative assessment and a two-year ban from applying for another assessment.
Full Skills Assessment (FSA), Modified Skills Assessment (MSA), and Modified PLUS Skills Assessment (MPSA)
For these assessments, if you’re using work experience to gain visa points, your work experience will be included in your Outcome Letter only if it meets specific criteria:
- Australian Work Experience: You need to have at least 12 months of paid work (minimum 1040 hours).
- International Work Experience: You need to have at least 36 months of paid work (minimum 3120 hours).
You must ensure that the work experience documentation meets the specific Professional Reference Letter Requirements outlined by ANMAC.
Struggling with the nursing skills assessment requirements? Our immigration specialist can clarify ANMAC requirements and guide you on how to best meet them. Book a consultation today.
Professional Reference Letter Requirement
To have your work experience assessed by ANMAC, you must provide a Professional Reference Letter for each job period. This letter should be on your employer’s official letterhead, which must include the company’s full address, phone number, email, and website. It must be written and signed by your direct manager or supervisor.
The letter should include:
- The company’s official letterhead.
- Your full name.
- Hours worked per week.
- Start and end dates of employment.
- Your job title.
- Details about your clinical skills and duties (avoid generic content).
- The referee’s signature and position title.
Additionally, the letter must provide contact details for the referee, including their official workplace email (no free web-based email accounts) and the organisation’s contact phone number (no mobile numbers).
Pay slips, tax certificates, job descriptions, and HR statements are not accepted. You need to submit references for at least 3 months of paid work experience within the last 5 years. Work experience older than 5 years will be assessed under the ANZSCO code 254499 (Not Elsewhere Classified).
| Note: make sure to fill out the Agent Declaration Form, if you are using a migration agent or acting as one, and include this form with your assessment application. |
Register and Pay
Once you have prepared your documents and ensured they meet the quality requirements, start your application on the Skilled Migrant Application portal. Create a new account, as each new application requires a new account and email address.
Make sure not to log out until your payment is processed. Check your email for a reference number and confirmation of your application and payment; contact ANMAC if you don’t receive it within 24 hours. Upload your documents and monitor your email for any updates or notifications about your assessment.
How much dos ANMAC skills assessment cost?
When applying for an ANMAC skills assessment, you must pay a processing charge. This fee includes your first application, re-issue requests, appeals, and additional administrative costs may also apply.
- Payment Method: Only Visa or MasterCard (credit or debit) is accepted. American Express or Diners Club cards are not accepted.
- Currency: All fees are in Australian dollars (AUD).
- Payment Timing: Complete the payment process after registering and starting your skills assessment application. Your assessment will not begin until full payment is received.
- Confirmation: A payment receipt will be emailed to you once your payment is processed.
| Skill Assessments Fee | Other Services Fee |
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Is assessment fee refundable?
Refunds are not given if you change your mind about having a skills assessment, determine that the type of assessment is not right for you, or pay for an assessment that is not necessary for your visa application. Once the payment is received and the application is submitted, it is deemed final, and no refunds will be provided for these reasons.
How long does the assessment process take?
The assessment process typically takes 5 to 8 weeks to complete. However, during peak times, such as graduation periods, or if you haven’t provided all the required information, it might extend to 12 to 14 weeks.
Furthermore, the timing may change based on unique situations, such the intricacy of your application, the requirement for more documents, or unanticipated processing delays. To prevent any delays, make sure all of your information is correct and comprehensive.
How long is ANMAC skills assessment valid for?
ANMAC skills assessments are valid for 2 years. If you meet the criteria, ANMAC will send you an electronic Outcome Letter confirming your skills for the ANZSCO code you selected. You can use this assessment for immigration or other purposes within that 2-year period without needing to renew it.
Summing Up!
Nurses are the foundation of patient care and wellbeing in the fast-paced world of healthcare, where accuracy and knowledge are critical. The ANMAC Skills Assessment is a crucial first step that confirms the qualifications and skills of nurses wishing to practice in Australia. It is a pivotal starting point when migrating to Australia for a career path that leads to advancement and professional recognition.
Gaining a favourable result necessitates a thorough understanding of the assessment procedure, including the differences between direct care, modified, full, and modified plus assessments. Consider working with immigration specialists like 4Nations International to improve your chances of success and expedite the procedure. We can help you at every stage, guaranteeing a seamless transfer to your new professional chapter, with our extensive knowledge of the ANMAC evaluation and Australian immigration. Contact us today.
