Skills assessment · ANMAC
ANMAC skills assessment: fee, timing, and the visa after it
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) is the assessing authority for nursing and midwifery occupations under the General Skilled Migration program. ANMAC's positive skills assessment is required to claim points and lodge an EOI for the 189 / 190 / 491 in a nursing or midwifery occupation.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed 15 October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Full assessment
- A$595
- Modified (AHPRA-registered)
- A$395
- Registration
- AHPRA, separate
- Feeds into
- 189 · 190 · 491 · 482 · 186
The migration agent that other migration agents learn from. WIDEN is an OMARA-approved CPD provider — our training is rated ★4.8 by 40+ registered migration agents.
About the CPD →MARN 1576536
WIDEN does not assist with the ANMAC skills assessment or AHPRA registration in any way. ANMAC + AHPRA are also separate from each other — ANMAC assesses migration skills, AHPRA (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia) registers you to practise. Both processes are entirely outside WIDEN's role. WIDEN provides migration advice — visa subclass, points test, EOI, sponsorship pathways — that uses the ANMAC outcome but is separate from it.
What ANMAC costs and how long it takes
| Assessment | Fee | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Full skills assessment | A$595 | Overseas-qualified nurses and midwives without AHPRA registration |
| Modified skills assessment | A$395 | Already registered with AHPRA; ANMAC relies on the registration |
| Direct care skills assessment | A$545 | Where recent direct clinical practice has to be shown |
| GradReady | A$395 | Recent graduates of an Australian nursing or midwifery program |
| Outcome letter update · internal review · external appeal | A$145 · A$300 · A$300 | Appeal within 30 days of the outcome letter |
Fee schedule read 17 August 2026; no GST; ANMAC can adjust fees each financial year. ANMAC publishes no fixed processing period. A complete file is decided in weeks; an incomplete one sits, because the application stays open for twelve months for documents. Priority processing is available on request in three cases: a visa invitation with sixty days to lodge, an expired earlier assessment, or an employer sponsorship offer.
Enrolled nurse or registered nurse: two different lists
Both are assessed by ANMAC, but the visas differ. A registered nurse in any specialty, a midwife or a nurse practitioner is on the lists for the 189, 190, 491, 482 and 186. An enrolled nurse (ANZSCO 411411) is on the Core Skills Occupation List for the 482, 186, 494, 190 and 491, but not the 189, so the points route for an enrolled nurse runs through a state nomination. "Registered Nurses nec" (254499) is the code for a registered nurse whose field is not one of the named specialties; it is on every list the named codes are on.
Occupations ANMAC assesses
- Registered Nurse (ANZSCO 254xxx — multiple subspecialties)
- Midwife
- Nurse Practitioner
- Enrolled Nurse (where eligible for the relevant visa subclass)
English language
Both ANMAC and AHPRA expect strong English. AHPRA accepts OET, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and Cambridge English (C1 Advanced) with minimums published on the AHPRA website. Migration English requirements (for points and visa grant) are assessed separately by the Department of Home Affairs. Verify current required scores directly with each body.
Evidence checklist
- Nursing / midwifery qualification(s) — degree certificate(s) and full academic transcript(s)
- Current and previous professional registrations in country of qualification
- Employment evidence — references on letterhead with dates, hours, ward / scope
- Identity documents (passport bio page)
- English test results (OET / IELTS Academic / equivalent)
- Any bridging or refresher course completion certificates
The visa after ANMAC
The ANMAC letter is the key that opens three doors, and which one you walk through decides the next two years. Points-tested: the 189 if your score clears the round, the 190 or 491 with a state nomination, where nursing is on every state's priority list. Employer-sponsored: a hospital, aged care provider or practice nominates you for the 482, with the 186 two years later; healthcare nominations now sit at the front of the processing queue under the September 2026 directions. Already in Australia on a student or graduate visa: the order of AHPRA registration, the ANMAC letter and the lodgement date is what matters, and it is the thing a consultation settles. The nursing migration guide walks the whole path; the employer page is for the hospital or provider that wants to sponsor you.
Speak with WIDEN
RPL occupation guides assessed by ANMAC
In-depth Recognition of Prior Learning guides for occupations in this authority’s area — what evidence each one expects, and how a VET qualification differs from this migration skills assessment.
General information only. Fees, processing times, and eligibility criteria for ANMAC change. Verify current details at www.anmac.org.au before relying on this page.
This page does not constitute migration advice (s 23, Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021). WIDEN does not issue skills assessments — ANMAC does. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) only after a paid initial consultation under section 43 of the Code, with a written service agreement issued before further work commences (section 42). The OMARA Consumer Guide is provided to all clients before the consultation begins. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed by any registered migration agent (s 15). PI insurance held under the Migration Agents Regulations 2026. Complaints via our Complaints Policy or directly to OMARA.
Not sure which visa fits you?
Answer three questions. An automated guide points you to the route that usually applies. General information only.
Ask Keshab a question — it costs nothing
Tell Keshab your situation and your question. Keshab reads it personally and replies within a business day. Asking costs nothing. Advice on your own case is the paid consultation.
Ready now? Skip the form. Pick a time and talk to Keshab directly — your documents on the table, a straight answer, and a written summary afterwards. $330 inc. GST, credited toward your fee if you engage.
Pick a time — no enquiry needed →Questions we get asked first
Who does ANMAC assess?
ANMAC is the assessing authority for migration purposes for Registered Nurses (RN), Midwives, Nurse Practitioners, and Enrolled Nurses (where eligible). ANMAC also assesses whether your overseas nursing qualification and registration is comparable to Australian standards for migration purposes.
Do I need AHPRA registration before ANMAC?
AHPRA (the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia regulator) and ANMAC are separate processes. To work as a registered nurse in Australia you need AHPRA registration. ANMAC's migration skills assessment is required for the visa points test and skilled visa pathway. In practice many applicants progress both — AHPRA registration is often a prerequisite for the ANMAC assessment outcome being useful for actual employment. The exact sequence and requirements depend on your background and pathway — check the current published requirements.
What English level does ANMAC require?
ANMAC and AHPRA both have English requirements. AHPRA accepts OET, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and Cambridge English C1 Advanced, with minimum scores published on the AHPRA website. Migration English requirements for points and visa grant are separate and assessed by the Department of Home Affairs. Verify the current required scores with the relevant body before booking a test.
How much does an ANMAC assessment cost?
On ANMAC's fee schedule read on 17 August 2026: full skills assessment A$595; modified skills assessment A$395 for nurses and midwives who already hold AHPRA registration; direct care skills assessment A$545; GradReady A$395 for recent Australian graduates. An outcome letter update is A$145 and an internal review or external appeal A$300, lodged within 30 days. Fees do not attract GST and can change each financial year.
How long does an ANMAC assessment take?
ANMAC does not publish a fixed period. In practice a complete file is decided in weeks, not days; an incomplete one waits, because the application stays open for 12 months for documents. Priority processing exists in limited cases: a visa invitation with 60 days to lodge, an earlier assessment that has expired, or an employer sponsorship offer. Allow for it before any visa deadline rather than after.
What evidence does ANMAC need?
Nursing qualifications and transcripts, professional registration in your country of qualification (where applicable), employment evidence, identity documents, and English test results. ANMAC's published checklist is the authoritative source — follow it exactly to avoid delays.
What does "Registered Nurses nec" mean?
nec is "not elsewhere classified": ANZSCO 254499 covers registered nurses whose field is not one of the named codes such as aged care (254412), medical (254418), critical care and emergency (254415) or mental health (254422). It is on the Core Skills Occupation List and open to the 189, 190, 491, 482 and 186. You claim it when no named specialty fits your actual work; the assessment and the visa both turn on what you did, not the label.
Can an enrolled nurse migrate to Australia?
Yes. Enrolled Nurse (ANZSCO 411411) is assessed by ANMAC and is on the Core Skills Occupation List for the 482, 186, 494, 190 and 491. It is not on the 189 list, so the points-tested route needs a state nomination. Diploma-level overseas qualifications are compared against the Australian Diploma of Nursing; AHPRA registration as an enrolled nurse is a separate step.
What if my nursing qualification is not directly comparable?
ANMAC may issue a not-comparable outcome or require bridging study (such as an Initial Registration for Overseas Nurses — IRON program) before recognition. The right response depends on the specific reasons given. AHPRA may also have its own bridging requirements separate from ANMAC. Plan for the possibility that bridging requirements may apply.
Keep reading