Australia PR · Skills assessment guide
Planning to migrate to Australia as a nurse or midwife? If your occupation falls under ANMAC's assessing authority, a positive skills assessment is your first mandatory step toward a Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190), or Skilled Work Regional (491) visa. MovesEdu Immigration helps Indian nursing professionals understand the ANMAC process, choose the right pathway, and prepare accurate documentation that avoids delays or refusals.
Please note: MovesEdu Immigration is an Australia & Canada PR specialist consultancy. We are not ANMAC and do not issue skills assessment outcomes — we help you prepare a strong, compliant application.
Section 01
The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) is the official authority appointed to assess the qualifications and, on certain pathways, the work experience of nurses and midwives applying for skilled migration to Australia.
The assessment exists to verify that an internationally-trained nurse or midwife’s qualifications, registration and (on some pathways) work experience are comparable to the standard expected of a nurse or midwife trained and registered in Australia.
ANMAC assesses Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses, Midwives and related specialisations, as well as an assessment supporting aged care support worker migration under Australian Government labour agreements.
A positive skills assessment is a mandatory eligibility requirement for most General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa subclasses in nursing and midwifery occupations. Without it, an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect cannot be validly submitted.
ANMAC’s assessment is a migration document, distinct from AHPRA registration, which grants the right to practise. Most internationally-trained nurses complete both processes, usually in sequence, within the framework set by the Department of Home Affairs.
Assessment criteria, occupation lists and requirements are set by Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council and the Australian Government and are subject to change without notice. Always verify current requirements on the official website before applying.
Section 02
ANMAC assesses nursing, midwifery and select aged care support occupations. Always confirm your specific ANZSCO code and current eligibility before applying.
| Occupation | ANZSCO code | Suitable qualification | Typical applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | 254411 | Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent) plus relevant registration | General, medical and surgical registered nurses |
| Registered Nurse (Aged Care) | 254412 | Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent) plus relevant registration | Aged care and residential facility nurses |
| Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) | 254415 | Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent) plus relevant registration | ICU, emergency and high-dependency unit nurses |
| Registered Nurse (Mental Health) | 254421 | Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent) plus relevant registration | Mental health and psychiatric nurses |
| Registered Nurse (Community Health) | 254414 | Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent) plus relevant registration | Community and home-care nurses |
| Nurse Practitioner | 254411 | Master's-level nurse practitioner qualification plus registration | Advanced practice nurses with prescribing rights |
| Enrolled Nurse | 411411 | Diploma in Nursing (or equivalent) plus relevant registration | Enrolled/associate nurses supporting registered nurses |
| Midwife | 254111 | Bachelor of Midwifery (or equivalent) plus relevant registration | Registered midwives |
| Pathway | Details |
|---|---|
| Modified Skills Assessment | For nurses and midwives already registered with AHPRA/NMBA (Australia) or the Nursing Council of New Zealand — the most common pathway for those who have already secured Australian registration. |
| Full Skills Assessment | For applicants registered as a nurse or midwife in an approved overseas country (Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Singapore, Spain, the UK or the US) who are not yet AHPRA/NMBA registered — includes an English test requirement and minimum recent work experience. |
| GradReady Assessment (temporary stream) | A limited, time-bound pathway for recent graduates of Australian nursing/midwifery qualifications awaiting AHPRA registration — availability and dates are set by ANMAC and change periodically. |
| Direct Care Skills Assessment (ACILA/DAMA) | Supports the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement and Designated Area Migration Agreement for nursing support workers and personal care assistants, generally requiring a Certificate III (or higher) plus relevant work experience. |
Indicative only. Your eligibility depends on your specific qualification, role and years of experience matched against the current ANZSCO occupation description.
Section 03
ANMAC offers several assessment pathways depending on your registration status, country of qualification, and migration purpose.
English Language: Required for the Full Skills Assessment pathway via an approved test (such as IELTS or OET); the Modified pathway for AHPRA/NMBA-registered applicants does not usually require a fresh test for the ANMAC assessment itself.
Licensing/Registration: Your registration status (AHPRA/NMBA, New Zealand, or an approved overseas country) determines which pathway you are eligible to apply through.
Overseas Qualifications: Qualifications and registration from recognised overseas jurisdictions are accepted on the Full Skills Assessment pathway, but only from ANMAC’s approved list of countries.
Recent Graduates: Recent graduates of Australian nursing/midwifery qualifications may be eligible under a temporary GradReady stream, subject to availability and timing set by ANMAC.
Experienced Professionals: The Full Skills Assessment pathway generally requires a minimum period of recent, relevant paid registered nursing or midwifery work experience, documented through professional reference letters.
Section 04
Document requirements vary by occupation and individual profile. A personalised checklist is prepared after a professional profile review.
Section 05
How a ANMAC application moves from profile review to outcome.
Your qualifications, registration status, and career trajectory are reviewed to identify the right ANMAC pathway for your profile.
The most suitable pathway (Modified, Full, GradReady or Aged Care) and ANZSCO code are identified based on your registration status and actual clinical experience.
Transcripts, professional references, and registration verification requests are compiled and coordinated with your overseas regulatory authority.
The assessment application is lodged through ANMAC’s Skilled Migrant Application portal, along with the applicable fee.
ANMAC reviews your qualifications, registration and (where required) work experience through a criteria-based, document-only review — there is no face-to-face test.
ANMAC may request clarifications or further evidence; timely and accurate responses are critical to avoid delays.
A positive or not-suitable outcome is issued, with ANMAC explaining which criteria were not met if unsuccessful.
With a positive assessment, you proceed to points calculation, Expression of Interest (EOI) submission via SkillSelect, visa subclass planning (189/190/491), and — separately — AHPRA registration to practise.
Section 06
ANMAC does not currently offer priority or fast-track processing — all applications are assessed under the standard timeframe. Processing depends on application volumes and how quickly your overseas regulatory authority sends required verification documents directly to ANMAC. Choosing an ANZSCO code that doesn't match your experience can also delay your assessment.
We recommend checking ANMAC's current wait times directly and building buffer time into your visa planning rather than relying on fixed timelines.
Section 07
Published ANMAC rates, as at July 2026. Figures exclude visa charges and MovesEdu professional service fees.
| Item | Fee (AUD) | Indicative timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Modified Skills Assessment | $395 | 6–8 weeks |
| Direct Care Skills Assessment | $545 | Varies |
| Full Skills Assessment | $595 | 6–8 weeks |
| GradReady Assessment (when open) | $395 | 5–10 business days |
| Outcome letter update | $145 | — |
| Internal review | $300 | — |
| External appeal | $300 | — |
| Administration fee | $60 | — |
Fees are subject to change without notice — always confirm current fees on www.anmac.org.au before applying.
Section 08
A negative or partial result can significantly affect your points score and visa eligibility — which is why accurate preparation from the outset matters.
Section 09
MovesEdu Immigration is a Chandigarh-headquartered Australia and Canada PR specialist consultancy, supporting skilled Indian nursing and midwifery professionals through every stage of their migration journey.
Dedicated Australia PR Specialists — focused expertise in GSM pathways, not a generalist agency
Detailed Profile Review — honest assessment of your occupation fit before you spend on formal applications
ANZSCO & Pathway Guidance — careful occupation and ANMAC pathway matching based on your registration and evidence
Document Review & Preparation Support — structured checklists and reference letter guidance
Employment Evidence Assistance — help organising and presenting your clinical work history clearly
Skills Assessment Application Support — guidance through the ANMAC submission process
Dedicated Case Manager — one point of contact throughout your case
Transparent Communication — clear timelines, honest expectations, no overpromising
Online Consultations — speak with us from anywhere in India or abroad
India-Based Support — offices in Chandigarh and Amritsar, with WhatsApp accessibility
MovesEdu Immigration is an independent migration consultancy. We are not Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council, the Department of Home Affairs, or any Australian government body, and we do not determine or influence assessment outcomes.
Section 10 · Frequently asked questions
ANMAC (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council) is the official authority appointed by the Australian Government to assess the qualifications and, in some pathways, the work experience of nurses and midwives for skilled migration purposes.
Yes, if your nominated occupation is Registered Nurse, Enrolled Nurse, Midwife or a related code assessed by ANMAC, a positive assessment is required before you can validly claim points and submit an Expression of Interest for most GSM visas.
ANMAC does not currently offer priority or fast-track processing; standard assessments typically take several weeks once a complete application and all required documents are received. Always check ANMAC's published current wait times before planning your visa timeline.
No. ANMAC assesses your qualifications and experience for migration purposes; AHPRA (the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia) is the separate body that grants the right to practise nursing or midwifery in Australia. Most applicants complete both, usually in sequence.
An English test is required for the Full Skills Assessment pathway. The Modified Skills Assessment pathway, for applicants already registered with AHPRA/NMBA or the Nursing Council of New Zealand, does not usually require a fresh English test for the ANMAC assessment itself.
The Full Skills Assessment pathway is limited to nurses and midwives registered in specific countries (Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Singapore, Spain, the UK or the US). Indian-trained nurses typically pursue AHPRA registration first, then apply through the Modified Skills Assessment pathway, or explore the aged care support worker pathway if eligible.
Subclasses 189, 190, and 491 typically require a positive skills assessment for nursing and midwifery occupations, along with select employer-sponsored and labour agreement pathways such as ACILA and DAMA for aged care roles.
Requirements vary by pathway. The Full Skills Assessment generally requires a minimum period of recent, relevant paid registered nursing or midwifery work experience; other pathways focus primarily on qualification and registration status.
ANMAC has previously run a temporary GradReady stream for recent Australian nursing and midwifery graduates awaiting AHPRA registration; availability is limited and time-bound, so current eligibility should always be confirmed on ANMAC’s website.
Different health occupations are assigned to different assessing authorities, such as the Australian Medical Council (AMC) for doctors or AHPRA for other allied health registration. We help you identify the correct authority for your ANZSCO code.
For pathways requiring work experience, ANMAC requires professional reference letters describing your clinical duties and competencies, meeting its specific reference letter requirements.
The Modified Skills Assessment is for nurses and midwives already registered with AHPRA/NMBA or the Nursing Council of New Zealand. The Full Skills Assessment is for applicants registered in specific overseas countries who are not yet AHPRA/NMBA registered.
If your country of registration is not on ANMAC's approved list for Full Skills Assessment, the common route is to first pursue AHPRA registration, then apply for the Modified Skills Assessment once registered.
Yes, ANMAC offers an assessment supporting the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA) and Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) for nursing support workers and personal care assistants.
Verification of registration or certificate of good standing letters sent directly by the overseas regulatory authority, and professional reference letters that clearly evidence relevant clinical work experience, are among the most frequently underprepared documents.
ANMAC's refund policy applies in limited circumstances, such as a change in the type of assessment required or paying for an assessment that was not needed; an administration fee may apply if a refund is issued.
No ethical consultancy can guarantee an assessment outcome, as this is determined solely by ANMAC based on your qualifications, registration status, and evidence. We focus on helping you present the strongest possible application.
Your code must match your actual clinical work experience and competencies — choosing a code that does not match your experience can delay your assessment.
ANMAC generally accepts high-quality colour scans submitted through its online portal, though certain registration verification documents must be sent directly by the relevant overseas regulatory authority.
Outcome validity periods are set by ANMAC and should be confirmed on its official website, as they can change and may differ by assessment pathway.
We assist with pathway selection, ANZSCO occupation matching, document preparation guidance, and application support — while ANMAC remains the sole assessing authority.
Keep exploring
Your assessing body is determined by your nominated ANZSCO occupation.
A ANMAC skills assessment is a critical foundation for your Australian PR application — and getting it right the first time saves you time, money and uncertainty.
MovesEdu is a private migration advisory firm. We are not a government body; all final decisions rest with Australian and Canadian immigration authorities.