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New Zealand

Your journey, step by step

Confidence: high, checked on official pages

Your route to New Zealand

Your route to New Zealand

Regulator: Nursing Council of New Zealand (Te Kaunihera Tapuhi o Aotearoa)
Last checked 29 Oct 2026Confidence: high, checked on official pages

Language test · Minimum scores

IELTS Academic

listening
7
reading
7
writing
6.5
speaking
7

Same-test sittings may be combined ('clubbing') if all scores are met within 12 months of the first sitting; test-centre only.

SourceChecked 29 Oct 2026

OET (Nursing)

listening
350
reading
350
writing
300
speaking
350

Cannot mix OET with IELTS; fully online testing not accepted.

SourceChecked 29 Oct 2026

Licensing exam

Competence assessment: theory exam

  • Pearson (exam centres overseas or in NZ)
  • RN: 120 MCQ in 165 min (Part A 12 Q, Part B 108 Q) on ethics/law, medicine calculations, nursing care
  • Attempts: Up to three attempts; re-sit only the failed part
SourceChecked 29 Oct 2026

Competence assessment: OSCE

  • Nurse Maude Simulation and Assessment Centre, Christchurch
  • 10 stations of 12 min, after a 2-day course at the University of Canterbury
  • Attempts: Two re-sits allowed
SourceChecked 29 Oct 2026
Document verification

TruMerit (formerly CGFNS) document verification for NCNZ

Source

Your steps

  1. Verify ID, registration, qualifications, English and 1,800 post-registration hours through TruMerit
  2. Apply to the Nursing Council (NZD 485)
  3. Complete the two free 'Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand' courses and police check
  4. If the Council directs: pass the theory exam (Pearson)
  5. Then attend the 2-day course and pass the OSCE in Christchurch
  6. Get registration and annual practising certificate, then work visa

Practise now

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IELTS Academic readingOET readingClinical nursing knowledgeDrug dosage calculationsDestination rules and safety

Official fees

Fees as listed by the regulator on the date shown. Visa, travel and test fees are not included.

  • Nursing Council application processing fee: NZD 485 (Exam provider costs are listed separately and were not confirmed today) · Checked 29 October 2026 · Source

Recent changes

  • : New requirements announced for internationally qualified enrolled nurses. · Source
  • : Competence assessment changes implemented (theory exam plus OSCE replace the old programme). · Source
  • : English Language Competence Policy refreshed (IELTS/OET only, clubbing allowed). · Source

Not every IQN must sit the competence assessment; the Council decides after assessing the application. Many nurses later move on to Australia (OECD 2025).

General information from official sources, not legal or immigration advice.