Australia – the land of opportunities and dreams; Nursing – a path to fulfilling the Australian dream!
Majority of temporary visa holders in Australia dream of making Australia their permanent home. To fulfil this dream, the most common path one takes is studying for a degree that leads to permanent residency. However, not all degrees lead to Australian PR. Hence, one has to choose a degree leading to an occupation that is on the Skilled Occupation List. A costly (but definitely worth it) option, undertaking a new degree in what could be very different educational settings may pose several challenges. For example, constant research, assessments, group works, practical tests, internships, exams, and much more – all of which you may have already completed in your home country.
However, if you have studied nursing and are a registered nurse in your home country, you may have another option. You can assess your overseas nursing qualifications and get the Australia nursing registration without having to complete another nursing degree in Australia. Yes, it is true! You can get the Australian nursing registration in as little as six months. The new assessment model (which replaced the popular bridging program in 2020) that includes the Outcome Based Assessment (OBA) is the pathway that leads to registration. The OBA has been developed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) for assessing and determining international qualified nurses’ suitability to practice as nurses in Australia. It assesses whether an international nurse possesses the knowledge and experience and meets the same healthcare standards as Australian graduate nurses.
An accelerated registration pathway for overseas nurses, OBA is a two-stage assessment process consisting of two key exams: the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
NCLEX-RN is a standardised test introduced by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to determine if a candidate is ready to be licensed as an entry-level nurse in Australia. This MCQ format computer-based exam is the cognitive assessment of internationally qualified nurses and midwives (IQNMS). NCLEX-RN is administered by the National Council State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) through Pearson VUE test centres. You must pass this test to move to the second stage of OBA – OSCE.
OSCE is a clinical exam designed to assess the knowledge, skills and competence of future medical professionals at the graduate-level nurse or midwife from an Australian NMBA-approved program of study. Currently, this test is delivered at the Adelaide Health Simulation in Adelaide, South Australia.
Once you clear both the stages of OBA, i.e. NCLEX-RN and OSCE tests, you can apply for your nursing registration with AHPRA and NMBA.
Prepare for your NCLEX-RN and OSCE
There are tons of resources available for you to prepare your NCELX-RN and OSCE. One of the best ways to prepare is with Nurse Assist International (NAI). NAI was established in 2020 by a group of Nurse Educators who pride themselves on their passion for education and academics. We are the first provider to offer the OBA preparatory course in Australia and a leading provider of NCLEX and OSCE preparatory programs. We specialise in delivering OBA preparatory courses to internationally qualified nurses, enabling you to pass your NCLEX-RN and OSCE exams on the first attempt.
NAI’s NCLEX preparatory course helps international nurses like you acquire knowledge and skills to pass the computerised multiple-choice examination. The preparatory program is based on the test plan of the examination and is delivered by experienced registered nurses and NCLEX – RN trainers.
In addition, we offer an extensively designed OSCE preparation class that will help you build your confidence with the strategies and your critical thinking to ace the examination. We provide the OSCE training in our state-of-the-art simulation labs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Dedicated experienced educators, one-on-one consultation, a wide array of practice and mock tests simulating actual exam scenarios, unlimited practice tests, live and recorded sessions and 24X7 support are the key features that make us stand out in the crowd.
Our OBA preparatory course is 11 weeks in duration, and we offer intakes every month so you can start your preparation at your preferred time.
So, what are you waiting for? Join our NCLEX-RN and OSCE preparation course run by qualified and experienced teachers and get a step closer to your Australian dreams!