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FILIPINO NURSES AND THE VALUE OF OBTAINING AHPRA REGISTRATION.

The Australian Health Practitioners Registration Agency (AHPRA) is the regulatory body that governs the health profession. You must be registered with the AHPRA if you wish to be recognised as a Registered Nurse for employment or skilled migration.

The requirements for Australian registration are very stringent and specific. Further, Filipino nurses who have gained their qualifications from the Philippines do not automatically meet these requirements. They must complete a three month bridging program in Australia to qualify for registration.

Before applying for a bridging program, nurses must make an initial application for registration which includes submitting their qualifications, having at least 3 months nursing experience (voluntary work is acceptable) and achieved IELTS 7.0 Academic or OET ‘B’ in each component of the English test. In total, estimated fees for registration and the bridging program are approximately $15,000.

However, despite this quite straightforward process, many Filipino nurses are coming on student visas studying aged care, enrolled nursing, business or hospitality. Unless there is intention to pursue a career change, I find it difficult to understand why fully qualified nurses would choose to undertake a completely unrelated course or “demote” themselves to an enrolled nurse or aged care worker. Of course, this pathway might be useful for someone who wants to come into Australia quickly (most likely to find a job) or if they intend to apply for registration down the track.

Unfortunately, the bridging program does not guarantee employment. Nevertheless, this is the only way to be employed and qualify as a registered nurse. And, should a job offer not come immediately, the option of permanent residency through a skilled migrant application is available.

In addition to the bridging program, Filipino nurses who have not passed the PRC board exam or have no nursing experience may complete a graduate nursing program in one to two years. This then automatically qualifies them for nursing registration.

For those who are currently in Australia on an unrelated visa, it would be highly advisable to apply for nursing registration as soon as possible. If you leave this process towards the end of your current visa, you may be stuck in a situation where your visa is about to expire and the AHPRA have not even begun assessing your application. You will have no choice but to return home or enrol in yet another unrelated course reapplying for yet another student visa – either way, you’d be back to square one carrying the burden of regret that you probably should have done it earlier.

The value of being a registered nurse in Australia today cannot be overemphasised. Not only is it inscribed as an occupation in high demand, it also falls within immigration policy definitions as being in the “best interests of Australia”. Although there may be limited time from completing a bridging program to securing employment, this pathway far outweighs the costs and efforts of beating around the bush. Obtaining nursing registration provides more dignified opportunities to remain or return to Australia – it is even considered an exception in overriding a No Further Stay condition.

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