ANMAC Skills Assessment: Full vs. Modified Guide for RNs
📝 ANMAC Skills Assessment for Migration
The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) Skills Assessment is essential for skilled migration visas. It is separate from your AHPRA registration and verifies your qualifications for the Department of Home Affairs.
ANMAC assesses whether your overseas qualifications, skills, and experience meet the Australian standard for General Skilled Migration visas (Subclasses 189, 190, 491) or certain employer-sponsored visas.
Types of ANMAC Assessments
The type of assessment you need depends on your current registration status with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)/AHPRA:
| Assessment Type | Applicant Status | English Language Test Required? |
| Full Skills Assessment | Registered in an approved overseas country (e.g., UK, US, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Spain, Hong Kong) but NOT yet registered with AHPRA. | YES. Must meet ANMAC’s specific, high-level criteria (see table below). |
| Modified Skills Assessment | Currently hold General Registration with AHPRA (Australia) or the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ). | NO. Your AHPRA registration satisfied this requirement. |
| Modified PLUS Skills Assessment | Have a “Notice of in-principle approval” from AHPRA but are not yet fully registered. | NO. |
English Requirement for Full Skills Assessment
For the Full Skills Assessment, you must achieve the following scores, which are typically stricter than the requirements for AHPRA registration:
| Test | Overall Minimum Score | Minimum in Each Component |
| IELTS Academic | 7.0 | 7.0 (L/R/S), 6.5 (W) |
| OET (for nurses) | B overall | B (L/R/S), C+ (W) |
| PTE Academic | 66 overall | 66 (L/R/S), 56 (W) |
| TOEFL iBT | 94 total | Minimums apply per section (24 L, 24 R, 27 W, 23 S) |
Key Differences from AHPRA Registration
Understanding the distinction between the two mandatory processes is vital for timing your migration application correctly.
| Feature | AHPRA Registration (NMBA) | ANMAC Skills Assessment |
| Purpose | Allows you to legally practice as a nurse in Australia. | Verifies your skills for skilled migration visa purposes. |
| Requirement | Mandatory to work as a nurse. | Mandatory for most skilled migration visas (189, 190, 491). |
| English | Must meet the NMBA ELS standard. | Varies by assessment type; Full Assessment requires test results meeting ANMAC criteria. |
| Validity | Annual renewal required. | Typically valid for two years from the issue date. |
ANMAC Fees (Approximate) and Timeline
- Full Skills Assessment: Approximately AUD $545.
- Modified Skills Assessment: Approximately AUD $395.
- Submission: You must use the Skilled Migrant Application Portal to manage your application, and generally, you have 12 months to submit all required documents once you start the online application.
This information clarifies the necessary step between gaining AHPRA registration (or using your overseas registration) and applying for permanent residency visas.
This video explains the ANMAC assessment process and the difference between the assessment types for nurses migrating to Australia.
[Watch This Video on the ANMAC Skills Assessment Process]
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