Nursing In New Zealand

How to become a Registered Nurse in New Zealand

Nursing is one of the most respected professions in New Zealand, with many other benefits attached. A registered nurse’s professional career gets going as soon as they get their registration in NZ. Also, due to the shortage of nurses in New Zealand, eligibility assessment for Residence application is given priority by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

There are several pathways that lead to becoming a registered nurse in NZ and gain nurse training NZ. A lot depends on your qualification and experience. However, the final step remains meeting the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) requirements.

Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) Requirements

• Nursing Qualification– B.Sc., Post B.Sc., or M.Sc.
• Work experience –Minimum 2 years in the last 5 years (after gaining registration from the home country)
• English language certification–IELTS Academic you must achieve a minimum score of 7 for reading, listening, and speaking; and a minimum score of 6.5 for writing.
  – OET you must achieve a minimum score of 350 for reading, listening, and speaking; and a minimum score of 300 for writing.

New Zealand Nursing Registration Process

You should be an overseas registered nurse with two years of practical experience in the last five years. If you are, you must first apply to The Credentials Verification Service for the Nursing Council of New Zealand (CVS-NCNZ) CGFNS International Inc.

CGFNS International would then inspect the authenticity of your work experience, personal identity, and education documents. This process determines that your education and work experience are genuine and satisfy the NCNZ requirements.

Once the report is ready, CGFNS will forward the same to the NCNZ. The NCNZ will review the report and decide on your registration.

If you do not meet the requirements, you may be required to complete a Competency Assessment Programme (CAP) to get the registration.

Competence Assessment Program (CAP)

CAP enables overseas registered nurses to meet the competence requirements of the Nursing Council of New Zealand to become eligible for a New Zealand Registered Nurse Practising Certificate and work in all healthcare settings.

This course comprises 6-12 weeks of training, combining classroom days and clinical duties.

Course fees: The course fees range from NZD 9000 to NZD 12000, depending upon the institute.

Study Pathway

If you are not yet a registered nurse and want to become one, you can always study nursing in New Zealand. Many New Zealand educational institutions offer nursing courses NZ that lead to registration as a Registered Nurse or Enrolled Nurse. The qualifications include:

• A bachelor’s degree or,
• A graduate-entry master’s degree or,
• A New Zealand Diploma in Enrolled Nursing.

Salary of a Registered Nurse in NZ

The starting salary of a Registered Nurse in NZ is NZ $60,000 per annum. Senior experienced workers earn about NZ $85,000 per annum.

Immigration Advisers New Zealand Ltd will help you understand the process of becoming a Registered Nurse in New Zealand and even assist you with securing a CAP seat and processing your visa application.

Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd to access the most updated and relevant information so that you can plan ahead and explore possibilities. Contact us at contact@nzimmigration.info  or call +64 09 3790219 to find out all there is to know about the procedures involved.

References: Link 1    Link 2

FAQ’s