AHPRA Registration for Nurses – Complete Guide for 2026

Whether you’re planning to start your nursing career in Australia or you’re an experienced nurse renewing your AHPRA Registration for Nurses, staying up to date with AHPRA requirements is key. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) oversees the registration and regulation of nurses under the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). In 2025, a few updates and reminders are especially important. Here’s what you need to know.

1. AHPRA registration for nurses – annual renewal deadline: 31 May

All nurses and midwives must renew their registration annually by 31 May. You can submit your renewal application through your AHPRA account on the official AHPRA website. Late renewals attract a penalty fee, and if you fail to renew within one month, your registration will lapse.

Tip: Set a reminder now to avoid missing the deadline. You can renew up to six weeks before the due date.

2. CPD Requirements Remain Mandatory

In 2025, nurses are still required to complete 20 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) each year. Your CPD must be relevant to your practice and aligned with the NMBA standards.

Remember to keep evidence of your CPD activities — AHPRA may request this for random audits. You can include:

• Online learning modules

• In-person workshops

• Webinars

• Reflective practice sessions

3. Recency of Practice

To maintain registration you need to meet the Recency of Practice standard. This means you must have practised the equivalent of a minimum of 450 hours within the past five years.

The hours do not need to be continuous — you can accumulate them across the five years, and there is no separate annual minimum. If you hold registration in both nursing and midwifery, you need the equivalent of 450 hours in each.

If you’re returning to practice or haven’t worked recently, you may need a re-entry to practice program or supervised practice. Check with AHPRA early to avoid delays.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the NMBA’s official guidelines on Recency of Practice:

• Recency of practice – Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

• Guidelines – Recency of practice – Ahpra (PDF)

4. Criminal History Check

As part of initial and ongoing registration, AHPRA will check your criminal history both in Australia and overseas. If you’ve lived outside of Australia for more than 6 months in the past 10 years, you’ll need to provide an International Criminal History Check (ICHC).

5. English Language Proficiency

If you’re an internationally qualified nurse, you must demonstrate English language skills. AHPRA updated the minimum test scores on 23 April 2026, and which set applies to you depends on when you sat the test. For tests sat on or after 23 April 2026:

• IELTS Academic: 7 overall — 7 listening, 7 reading, 7 speaking, 6.5 writing

• OET: now scored numerically — 350 listening, 360 reading, 350 writing, 360 speaking

• PTE Academic: 63 overall — 58 listening, 59 reading, 60 writing, 76 speaking

• TOEFL iBT: 91 overall — 22 listening, 22 reading, 23 writing, 24 speaking

If you sat your test on or before 22 April 2026, the previous scores apply instead:

• IELTS Academic: 7 overall, with 7 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing

• OET: B in listening, reading and speaking, and C+ in writing

• PTE Academic: 66 overall, with 66 in listening, reading and speaking and 56 in writing

• TOEFL iBT: 94 overall — 24 listening, 24 reading, 24 writing, 23 speaking

If you are combining results from two sittings that fall either side of that date, each test is assessed against the scores that applied on the day you sat it.

One change worth flagging: PTE speaking rose from 66 to 76, while the overall requirement dropped from 66 to 63. If you scraped through on speaking under the old rules you may no longer meet the standard, even though your overall score looks stronger than before. AHPRA has been clear that the change does not alter the level of English required — it aligns the scores with the Department of Home Affairs migration settings.

Results must be from the last two years. The standard sets out three pathways to meet it: the primary language pathway (at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed in English in a recognised country), the English language test pathway, and an exceptional extended education pathway. Importantly, the education pathways are about your schooling — not your nationality, and not your work history. Nursing experience in an English-speaking country, including the NHS, does not on its own meet the standard.

6. Fit and Proper Person Declaration

Each year, you’ll need to declare whether there are any impairments, disciplinary actions, or unresolved complaints that could affect your ability to practise safely. Be honest — transparency is key, and AHPRA considers each case individually.

7. Updated Resume Requirements

When applying for registration for the first time or reapplying after a lapse, AHPRA expects a professional resume detailing your:

• Qualifications

• Clinical experience

• Employment history with start/end dates

• Contact details of referees

Keep it accurate and up-to-date. Make sure your resume reflects your scope of practice and relevant skills.

8. International Nurses: NMBA Streamlining Continues

Since 23 April 2025 there has been a dedicated registration standard — General registration for internationally qualified registered nurses — for nurses who have registered and practised in an NMBA-approved comparable jurisdiction. It streamlines the assessment for those who qualify. If you do not meet its requirements, the existing IQNM assessment process still applies.

For other international applicants, AHPRA continues to use the Self-check and IQNM assessment process via the AHPRA IQNM Portal.

If you are not certain which of those applies to you, this free eligibility check maps your qualification to the right pathway in about two minutes.

9. AHPRA registration for nurses – registration fees

On the NMBA fee schedule effective 18 September 2025, the annual registration fee for general registration is AUD $193, or $189 if your principal place of practice is New South Wales. Late renewal adds AUD $30.

If you are applying for the first time, the application fee for general registration is a separate AUD $332. For internationally qualified nurses the IQNM assessment is $410, and the OSCE, where it is required, is $4,000.

Need Help Navigating AHPRA registration for nurses?

At IHR Group, we work closely with nurses across Australia — and those planning to relocate here — to find permanent hospital roles that align with their experience and goals. While we don’t offer AHPRA application support, we’re always happy to connect you with reliable resources and point you in the right direction.

Want to explore job opportunities for registered nurses in 2025?

Register your details with us to stay in the loop.

AHPRA’s requirements don’t change drastically year-to-year, but it’s essential to review the standards regularly to ensure compliance. Stay proactive, and your registration process will be smooth and stress-free.