The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) are introducing a new registration standard for internationally qualified registered nurses (IQRNs), effective from April, 2025.

This standard allows IQRNs with a relevant qualification and at least 1,800 hours of practice as a registered nurse since January 1, 2017, in NMBA-approved comparable jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada (British Columbia and Ontario), Singapore, and Spain, to become a registered nurse in Australia without needing to complete the NCLEX-RN or OSCE.