Australian Immigration Daily News

Skills Assessments are an integral part of visa application process.  This week, Legal Training Australia in partnership with ANMAC provided a presentation to Migration Agents discussing ANMAC skills assessment process including common pitfalls associated with lodging a skills assessment application, the assessment process as well as review rights.

For agents who were unable to attend due to the event being sold out, below is a recap of the webinar.

Only programs of study that are accredited by ANMAC and approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia will lead to registration in Australia as a nurse or midwife under the approved qualification pathway of the Health Practitioner Regulation Act (2009).

Programs that have been accredited by ANMAC and approved by the NMBA appear on the Approved Programs of Study list.

The registration process is changing… bridging programs will go and an exam (mcq) and outcomes based assessment will be required. More information nmba.org.au. Due to commence in early 2020.

Migration Agents lodge approximately 20% of applications with ANMAC.  Agents that lodge applications will ANMAC will have access to special online agent portal due to be rolled out this year.

The number of applications processed by ANMAC is approximately 6000, this year, the number is expected to remain the same.  The turnaround time is around 2 to 3 weeks.  Given the fast turnaround, in most cases it would not be possible to expedite an application.

There are five main criterion that needs to be met in order to receive a favourable outcome:

1. Proof of Identity
2. English language proficiency
3. Educational Equivalence
4. Professional Practice
5. Fitness to practice, that is the applicant must demonstrate they have no restrictions to practice

There are three broad assessment types available.

1. Modified

If you are currently registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) or the Midwifery Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) you qualify for a modified skills assessment. APPLICANTS MUST BE REGISTERED IN AUSTRALIA BEFORE APPLYING. APPLICATIONS MADE WITHOUT REGISTRATION WILL BE REFUNDED (MINUS AN ADMINISTRATION CHARGE) AND APPLICATION EXPIRED.

2. Modified Plus

If you are not registered in Australia as a registered nurse or a registered midwife but hold a current letter of 'Notice of in principle approval of registration subject to proof of identity' from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) you qualify for a Modified PLUS Skills Assessment.

3. Full Assessment

Registered nurse - if you do not hold registration in Australia, but have a minimum Bachelor of nursing qualification from Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States and hold registration as a registered nurse in that same country you qualify for a full skills assessment.  

Registered midwife - if you do not hold registration in Australia, but have a minimum Bachelor of midwifery qualification from Ireland, United Kingdom or United States and hold registration as a registered midwife you qualify for a full skills assessment.

Enrolled nurse -  you do not qualify for a full skills assessment.

Professional references are mandatory where paid work experience exists. This is not optional.

Applicants with a 3 year full-time bachelor degree in Australia are considered new graduates if they completed the course within the last 12 months.

Points are not allocated by ANMAC. ANMAC will report on periods of work that are greater than:

• 3 years overseas, including New Zealand (FTE, 5928 hours)
• 1 year in Australia (FTE, 1976)

ANMAC will only recognise work that is paid and has been completed while the applicant was registered as a nurse/midwife in that same country.

Registration verification supports the dates in the reference. We would like to once again thank ANMAC for their involvement.  If you have any questions relating to ANMAC Skills Assessment process, visit: https://www.anmac.org.au/skilled-migration-services