Website link:
https://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/IQN/NCNZ/Nursing.aspx?hkey=863ed133-6e36-486c-ab80-fec52bd0903f
The Nursing Council has implemented a new competence assessment procedure, starting from December 4th, 2023. The Council now requires applicants to undergo a new assessment process. This includes an online theoretical examination and a clinical examination.
If you’ve already submitted your application before December 4th, 2023, don’t worry – you will continue with your existing competence assessment program (CAP).
The Nursing Council has prepared an 18-month transition period (from 2024 to mid-2025) during which both the existing CAPs and the new competence examination process will be operational.
Steps involved in the application process:
- Complete English Language Requirements
Either OET or IELTS Academic is accepted.
For OET, score-350 for reading, listening, and speaking; 300 for writing.
For IELTS Academic, you must achieve a minimum score of 7 for reading, listening, and speaking; and a minimum score of 6.5 for writing.
You can achieve the minimum score in the English language tests over more than one sitting; however, the required score must be met within 12 months of first sitting the test and met within three years of your CGFNS report being transmitted to the Nursing Council.
English language evidence pathways:
Some nurses educated or registered in certain countries can provide evidence of English language competence through their education or registration pathways. Eligibility for these pathways is at the discretion of the Council.
English Language Competence Policy Guidance
You may be invited to apply for an alternate English language evidence pathway by CGFNS if your CGFNS application appears to meet one or more of the following criteria:
Nursing Qualification
Your education that led to registration as a nurse was taught and examined in English in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Ireland, Canada, or the United States of America.
The Council may require you to provide evidence that you completed your nursing education in English, for example, a transcript from your education provider.
OR
Nursing Registration
You have current nursing registration in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, or the United States of America that required you to pass an English language test.
The Council may require you to provide evidence of this.
English language evidence pathways are at the discretion of the Nursing Council
To apply to be registered in New Zealand, you must currently be registered overseas as a nurse with a registration authority.
The Council will require information from overseas authorities where you have been registered and practised in the last 10 years.
2. CGFNS verification:
Verifying and authenticating documents with CGFNS(Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools). You must do this before you can apply for registration to the Nursing Council. Their fee currently is$300 (US)
The CGFNS will review your nursing education, work experience, and language proficiency before issuing a report that you can use when applying for registration with the Nursing Council.
After your documents have been verified and authenticated by CGFNS, an email will be sent to you from the Nursing Council inviting you to apply for registration.
CGFNS will send all the documents you have provided directly to the Nursing Council.
Documents required for CGFNS:
Two forms of identity documents- notarized colour copy-International passport is must . Along with that other identity proof which is having your photo and exact name matching with passport. Other identity proof can submit any one of these. Driver’s License(s), Other government-issued photo identification-like aadhar card(India), national ID card for other countries which is having your photo. To be acceptable, all photo IDs are required to include a clear photo. Birth certificates, Marriage certificates ,Legal name change affidavits
Documents to support a change in name
If you have changed your name/s, you must provide notarised/certified copies of any names that appear on any of the documents required to support your application for registration with the Nursing Council.
All identity documents provided in support of the application for registration must be current at the date of application to CGFNS.
Nursing qualifications:
- Enrolled Nurse, you must have a Diploma in Enrolled Nursing or a comparable qualification to apply to become registered.
- If you are a Registered Nurse, you will need a Bachelor of Nursing degree (or the equivalent) or a Master’s degree in nursing that led to your registration.
Post registration experience:
You must provide a declaration to CGFNS that you have practised nursing for at least 1,800 hours. It is important that you apply to CGFNS after you have achieved the required 1,800 clinical practice hours.(this means around 10months experience minimum post registration ).But you have to submit all experience which you have more than this duration from past 10 years. The Council may also require further information from you about your practice hours if they have not been in the last 10 years.
Important thing is that, If you have no post-registration experience at all, you are not eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing Council.
You must have valid registration certificate where you are practising.
IELTS or OET score report to provide information to CGFNS.
3. Attend two online courses:
complete the Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand program.
The programme currently consists of two free online courses that will provide you with an introduction to culturally safe nursing practice in New Zealand and to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The only exception to this requirement is Australian nurses who have a different pathway to registration.
The courses provide an introduction to culturally safe nursing practice in New Zealand and to Te Tiriti o Waitangi:
Ngā Paerewa Te Tiriti Module 1
and
Foundations in cultural competence.
When you have successfully completed the short quiz at the end of each course, you will receive a certificate of completion. Both certificates must be provided to the Nursing Council via the MyIQN portal.
For technical queries, please log tickets by emailing: [email protected]
4. Criminal history check:
You must be able to show you are of good standing to practice nursing in New Zealand. You will be required to undergo a criminal history check that will cover countries you have lived in for 12 months or more within the last seven years.
The check will be done at your cost by Fit2Work, an external agency that is our designated provider of these checks. If you have lived in New Zealand for six months or more, you are required to complete a criminal history check through the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).
The check will only be asked for once you are invited to apply to register, via MyIQN. Criminal record check-Yes. The Nursing Council will tell you how and when to do this but for more information, click here, and scroll down to the Fitness to Practice requirement.
If you have lived in New Zealand for more than 6 months, you apply to the NZ Ministry of Justice for a check here. For an international criminal history check, you must apply to Fit2Work which has been accredited by the Nursing Council. You can find out more here. Their fee (per country) currently is $159 (AUS)
5. Attend Competence assessment Exams:
This assessment includes both a theoretical examination and a clinical competence assessment process.
If you hold current registration in the UK, Ireland, Ontario, British Columbia, Singapore or the USA your application will be assessed by the Council and you may not be required to undertake the below examinations. License advisor will advise you if you need to do this after we assess your application.
A. Theoretical and clinical exam process
From 4 December 2023, an internationally qualified nurse who applies to NCNZ to become a Registered Nurse and who is required to undertake an assessment of competence, will need to successfully complete the following:
- an online theoretical exam that tests nursing knowledge, taken at an accredited exam centre overseas -Pearsonvue or in New Zealand.
and
2. a two-day orientation and preparation course followed by a three-hour clinical examination known as an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). These will take place in person in New Zealand at an accredited center.
The orientation course covers topics such as infection control protocols, communication skills, and medication management specific to New Zealand’s healthcare system. The OSCE is a clinical examination that tests your ability to apply nursing knowledge and skills in a simulated patient care environment.
What will happen to applicants already applied for CAP?. Competence Assessment Programs ?
An internationally qualified nurse who has applied to NCNZ before 4 December 2023, and is required to undertake an assessment of competence, will need to successfully complete a Competence Assessment Program (CAP).
The CAP prepares overseas nurses for the nursing role and healthcare context of New Zealand, which is different to many other countries. CAPs are generally six to twelve weeks long and include theory and clinical components.
There will be a transition phase where the council have both the CAPs and the examination process running at the same time throughout 2024 and into 2025.
Enrolled Nurses: Enrolled Nurses can continue to apply to become registered and, if directed to, will undertake a competence assessment Program(CAP).
IQN theoretical examination – Internationally conducted through Pearson VUE exam centres-120 questions within 180minutes. 3 attempts to pass examination. All the time we have to pay exam fee. Exam Contains 2 parts. Part A -Medication safety and part B-nursing knowledge. Together at initial exam attempt cost 140 NZD. If you fail one part , you can rewrite exam with that particular part which cost part a medication safety 32NZD, Part B-nursing knowledge cost 108 NZD.
Most probably UK CBT model exams. For study materials and video classes kindly contact us. We are providing study materials also.
Attend OSCE: Objective Structured Clinical Examination:
After passing theoretical exam, apply for NZ Visa .
Apply for occupation registration visa to come to nz to appear for OSCE.
Preparation Program conducted in Nurse Maude simulation center in Christ church in New Zealand
Clinical competence assessment includes 2 day preparation Program, 3rd day OSCE exam.
10 OSCE scenarios (stations) in 120 minutes.
Each station 12 minutes(2 minutes reading time, 10minute performance time -next 2 minute to move to next station).
Total 3 attempts to pass examination , same like theory examination.
OSCE will be launch from 1st June 2024 onwards
Fee for OSCE -Orientation and Preparation course fee-500 NZD
OSCE -clinical examination fee-3000 NZD
Re sit of OSCE-3000 NZD
FEES INVOLVED FOR COMPLETE PROCESS:
CGFNS Assessment fees-300 USD
Verification fee related to your nursing college, nursing licensing council -varies with each individual.
NZNC application fee -485 NZD
IQN MCQ exam- 140 NZD
OSCE exam- 3500 NZD
ICHC for each country-159 AUD
Nursing council Annual Registration fee -130 NZD
Current time line-4months after CGFNS
Are you fed up with application process?. Don’t worry; Nursing manthra is here to assist you for complete process with affordable fees. For application assistance and study materials , kindly contact Nursing manthra WhatsApp number-+971502515717
Wish you a bright future.
