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Study Nursing

Potential Career Outcomes

All Registered Nurse occupations are currently on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).

Course overview

The Health Care and Social Assistance industry is one of the largest employing industries in Australia. Nurses play a key role in Australia’s health system, providing care and treatment in a diverse range of settings. In Australia, a Diploma of Nursing would enable the student to apply to become an enrolled nurse. For Registered Nurses, the student must complete at least a Bachelor of Nursing.

In Australia, there are many courses you can take to start your career in this field. In these courses, student will learn topics such as:

  • Perform clinical assessment
  • Administer and monitor medicines
  • Nursing Patients with Chronic Illness
  • Nursing Patients with Mental Health & Illness
  • Nursing Practice
  • Work Health and Safety
  • Community Care Nursing
Graduate Outcomes
  • Registered nurses earn on average $1,909 per week.
  • Enrolled nurses earn on average $1,426 per week.
  • The number of people working as registered nurses is expected to grow strongly over the next 5 years.
  • It is projected that there will be approximately 147,000 job openings over 5 years for registered nurses.
Common Course Requirements
  • Completion of secondary education
  • Meet English proficiency (Usually at least IELTS 7 overall, with no band less than 7).
Related Courses

Some related courses include:

  • Diploma of Nursing

Duration: 74 – 108 weeks
Intake: 4 Terms
Cost: $24,000 – $55,470

Locations:  Most cities – throughout Australia

  • Bachelor of Nursing
    Duration: 138 – 159 weeks
    Intake: February, July
    Cost: From $30,700 per year
    Locations: Most cities – throughout Australia

Related:

Studying Nursing in Australia: What the Course Covers

Nursing courses prepare you to provide safe, person centred care to patients across hospitals, aged care, community health, mental health and other settings. You study anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and medication administration, clinical assessment and nursing skills, acute and chronic care, mental health, aged care, paediatrics, infection control, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, ethics and law, and evidence based practice. Supervised clinical placements in real health services are a compulsory part of every accredited nursing course.

Qualifications and AQF Levels

Qualification AQF level What it prepares you for
Diploma of Nursing AQF 5 Enrolled nurse roles, working under the supervision of registered nurses
Bachelor of Nursing AQF 7 Registered nurse roles (usually a three year degree)
Master of Nursing (graduate entry) AQF 9 Registered nurse roles for people who already hold a bachelor degree in another field
Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a nursing specialty AQF 8 Specialist practice such as critical care, perioperative or mental health nursing for registered nurses

Study Pathways

To work as a nurse in Australia you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia through Ahpra, which requires an approved program of study. A Diploma of Nursing leads to registration as an enrolled nurse, and many enrolled nurses then complete a Bachelor of Nursing with credit to become registered nurses. Graduates of other fields may be able to complete a graduate entry master of nursing. Registration requires a high English level, generally IELTS Academic 7 in each band or an equivalent test, unless an exemption applies. For migration, nurses are assessed by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC).

Related Occupations and Visa Pathways (as at October 2026)

Occupation ANZSCO CSOL (482 and 186) Skilled lists (189, 190, 491, 485)
Registered Nurse (Aged Care) 254412 Yes MLTSSL
Registered Nurse (Medical) 254418 Yes MLTSSL
Registered Nurse (Mental Health) 254422 Yes MLTSSL
Registered Nurses nec 254499 Yes MLTSSL
Enrolled Nurse 411411 Yes STSOL

Our Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) guide explains which visas use each list and what that means for registered and enrolled nurses. All the registered nurse occupations listed above (254412 to 254499) are on the CSOL and the MLTSSL.

Career Outlook

Nursing is one of the largest professions in Australia and demand is strong across public and private hospitals, aged care, community health, mental health and disability services, especially in regional and remote areas. Registered nurses can specialise and move into clinical leadership, education, management or nurse practitioner roles with further study.

Applying for a Student Visa to Study Nursing

Choose a nursing course that is approved for registration, and in your application explain how it builds on any health or caring background and leads to registration with Ahpra. The current English, financial and work conditions are on our Student visa (subclass 500) page.

Nursing Study FAQs

Yes. As at October 2026, all registered nurse occupations (ANZSCO 2544) are on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the MLTSSL. Enrolled Nurse (411411) is on the CSOL and the STSOL.

Graduates of a bachelor degree completed in Australia may be eligible for the 485 Post-Higher Education Work stream, generally for 2 years. You will also need registration with Ahpra to work as a nurse in Australia.

Generally IELTS Academic 7.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking, or an equivalent score in another accepted test such as OET, unless you meet an exemption. This is much higher than the student visa minimum, so plan your English preparation early.

Placements that are a required part of your course are generally not counted towards the 48 hours per fortnight limit. Placements can be full time for several weeks, so plan any paid work around them.

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Recent News

Australian Migration News: October 2026 Update

Student visa changes from 2 October 2026

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