New Zealand · Licensing & Skills

Nursing Council registration

The registration pathway for internationally qualified nurses (IQNs) to achieve registration as a Registered Nurse in New Zealand via the Competence Assessment Programme (CAP) or the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

Who it suits

Who this pathway suits

Internationally qualified registered nurses.

Eligibility

Eligibility at a glance

  • Bachelor's degree in nursing comparable to NZ standard
  • Current registration as an RN in country of practice
  • English: IELTS Academic (7.0 in Reading, Listening, Speaking; 6.5 in Writing) or OET (B in Reading, Listening, Speaking; C+ in Writing)
  • Pass the theoretical exam and clinical OSCE at the National Simulation Centre
Process

How the process works

  1. Submit credentials to CGFNS / Nursing Council
  2. Pass online theoretical exam
  3. Travel to New Zealand and pass the clinical OSCE examination
  4. Receive Annual Practising Certificate
Documents

Documents you will typically need

  • Nursing degree, transcripts, verification of registration, CGFNS report, English test results
Good to know

What to keep in mind

Registered nurses are on the Green List Tier 1, granting immediate permanent residency under Straight to Residence as soon as job offer is secured.

Official source: Nursing Council of New Zealand. Government authorities make all final decisions; no outcome is guaranteed.

Ecosystem Architecture

Parallel Options & Supporting Tools for Nursing Council registration

Explore supporting intelligence briefings, interactive points assessment tools, institutional services, and parallel global migration pathways.

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Is Nursing Council registration the right route for you?

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