IELTS Academic
- overall
- 7
- listening
- 7
- reading
- 7
- writing
- 6.5
- speaking
- 7
Tests on or after 23 Apr 2026 (unchanged from before). Up to two sittings of the same test within 12 months; in two sittings no component below 6.5.
SourceChecked 29 Oct 2026
Your route to Australia
Your route to Australia
Also involved: Ahpra (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency)Last checked 29 Oct 2026Confidence: high, checked on official pages
Language test · Minimum scores
OET
- listening
- 350
- reading
- 360
- writing
- 350
- speaking
- 360
Tests on or after 23 Apr 2026. Tests on or before 22 Apr 2026: B, B, C+ (writing), B.
SourceChecked 29 Oct 2026
PTE Academic
- overall
- 63
- listening
- 58
- reading
- 59
- writing
- 60
- speaking
- 76
Tests on or after 23 Apr 2026. Older tests: overall 66, L/R/S 66, W 56.
SourceChecked 29 Oct 2026
TOEFL iBT
- overall
- 91
- listening
- 22
- reading
- 22
- writing
- 23
- speaking
- 24
Tests on or after 23 Apr 2026. Older tests: 94 (L24 R24 W24 S23).
SourceChecked 29 Oct 2026
Cambridge C1 Advanced
- overall
- 178
- listening
- 175
- reading
- 179
- writing
- 180
- speaking
- 194
Tests on or after 23 Apr 2026; C2 Proficiency 185 (W 176).
SourceChecked 29 Oct 2026
Licensing exam
Outcomes-based assessment stage 1: MCQ (NCLEX-RN)
- NCSBN via Pearson VUE
- NCLEX-RN computer test, sat in your own country; only for Stream B applicants
SourceChecked 29 Oct 2026
Outcomes-based assessment stage 2: OSCE
- Ahpra, Adelaide Health Simulation (South Australia)
- Clinical OSCE at graduate-nurse level; only after passing the MCQ
SourceChecked 29 Oct 2026
Your steps
- Do the free Self-check on the NMBA site to learn your stream (A, B or C)
- Pay the assessment fee and complete Orientation Part 1
- Stream B: pass NCLEX-RN at a Pearson VUE centre
- Stream B: pass the OSCE in Adelaide
- Meet the English standard and apply for general registration through Ahpra
- Complete Orientation Part 2 after registration
Official fees
Fees as listed by the regulator on the date shown. Visa, travel and test fees are not included.
- NCLEX-RN registration (MCQ stage): USD 200 (Rises to USD 350 from 1 Feb 2027) · Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
- NCLEX international scheduling fee: USD 150 (Plus VAT where applicable) · Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
- OSCE: AUD 4,000 (NMBA FAQ page last reviewed 25 Jan 2024) · Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
- Assessment fee (after Self-check): AUD 640 (NMBA FAQ page last reviewed 25 Jan 2024; current fee table could not be read today) · Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
- Annual registration fee, RN (1 Jun 2026 to 31 May 2027): AUD 193 · Checked 29 October 2026 · Source
Recent changes
- : New English minimum scores for tests on or after this date (OET numeric 350/360, PTE 63 with speaking 76, TOEFL 91); IELTS unchanged. · Source
- : IQRN fast-track standard: nurses with 1,800 hours since 2017 in the UK, Ireland, US, BC/Ontario, Singapore or Spain can register without NMBA exams. · Source
- : Announced: NCLEX registration fee rises to USD 350. · Source
Most nurses from India, the Philippines, Nepal and Africa are Stream B (NCLEX + OSCE). Application and initial registration fees were not confirmed today (fee table unreadable), so they are left out.
General information from official sources, not legal or immigration advice.