Want to Work as a Nurse in New Zealand? Here’s What You Need to Know

Overseas Nurses Registration Process

If you are a nurse with Overseas Nurses Registration, here’s how you can get registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand:

• Documentation verification with CGFNS

The Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) uses CGFNS to verify and confirm the credentials of Internationally Qualified Nurses (IQN). You’ll need to submit these documents to CGFNS for verification:

• Identify documents

• You need to provide your employment history, showing at least 1,800 hours of nursing experience after registration.

• You will need to provide details of your education history, showing the nursing qualification that made you eligible to register as a nurse, and it should match New Zealand’s standards.

• You will need to provide proof of your current registration or licenses held in the past 10 years.

• You will need to show your English language skills, either through the OET or IELTS, unless you meet one of the alternative language pathways.

Once your documents are verified, CGFNS will send the report to NCNZ after you’ve reviewed and approved it. You can find more information on the CGFNS website.

• Completion of Online Process

To meet the requirements as an IQN, complete two free online courses on culturally safe nursing in New Zealand and submit the certificates to NCNZ.

• Fitness to Practise

Fitness to Practise requires IQN applicants to have a criminal history check for any country they've lived in for more than 12 months during the past seven years. This check is done by an authorized agency for the NCNZ. If you have spent six months or more in New Zealand, you will also have to do a criminal history check with the Ministry of Justice.

• Competent to Practise in New Zealand

Once you have done everything above, NCNZ may want to check your skills to practice as a registered nurse. This could include a written test and a clinical exam. The theoretical exam evaluates your nursing knowledge and is taken online. It’s held at an accredited exam center, either in New Zealand or internationally. Before the clinical exam, which is the Objective Structured Clinical Examination, you’ll attend a two day preparation course. The clinical exam takes three hours, and both the exam and the orientation course must be attended in person at an accredited center in New Zealand.

Support from Zealand Immigration

Understanding the entire registration process can be difficult, and that is where Zealand Immigration comes in. With many years of experience in helping healthcare professionals, including nurses, obtain a visa for nurses in New Zealand, we can assist with every stage of the process, from initial registration to securing a visa and completing the documentation.

Our team of experts gives valuable support, making sure that you have all the information and moreover help you to simplify your application.  If you are seeking advice on visa requirements, help with paperwork, or guidance through the assessment process, we are here to make sure that your journey to becoming a registered nurse in New Zealand is as smooth as possible. Getting a New Zealand Nursing qualification is an important step for overseas nurses' registration.