The Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW requires that applicants for registration have a knowledge of the English language adequate for the practice of nursing or midwifery.

These requirements apply to applicants for registration where:

• Initial education and registration as a nurse was in Hong Kong, OR
• Initial education and registration as a nurse was in Singapore, OR
• Initial education and registration as a nurse was in Canada and where the relevant nurse registering authority does not advise that the applicant was registered by examination in the English language, OR
• Initial education and registration as a nurse was in a member state of the European Union (other than the United Kingdom and Ireland) and the education institution or registering authority verifies that the education program complies with European Union directive 77/453, OR
• Applicants hold a HBO-V qualification in nursing and are registered as nurses in The Netherlands and the education institution or registering authority verifies that the education program complies with European Union directive 77/453.

All applicants in the above categories must provide documentary evidence of achievement of required levels in a specified English language test in addition to the other documents required by the Board.

The test results must be dated within the two years prior to making application to the Board. The original test result document issued by the English language testing authority must be submitted to the Nurses Registration Board; photocopies are not accepted. The original will be returned to the applicant.

Outside Australia, nurses in the above categories should undertake the English language test performed by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Information about the IELTS English language test and locations for testing centres in all countries outside Australia can be found on the IELTS website at www.ielts.org

The Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW requires that documentation from the IELTS submitted to the Board must demonstrate that academic modules, with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the four components and an overall band score of 7.0 or more have been achieved.

For more information about the requirements by the Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW for English language competency, visit the Board website at www.nmb.nsw.gov.au