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Updated March 2023
Download a PDF copy of this Fact sheet: Registration as a registered nurse and enrolled nurse (concurrent registration) (172 KB,PDF)
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) undertakes functions as set by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory (the National Law). The NMBA regulates the practice of nursing and midwifery in Australia, and one of its key roles is to protect the public. The NMBA does this by developing standards, codes and guidelines which together establish the requirements of the professional practice framework for the professional and safe practice of nurses and midwives in Australia. This fact sheet provides guidance to nurses who wish to register as both a registered nurse (RN) and an enrolled nurse (EN).
This fact sheet is relevant to:
In accordance with the National Law, the NMBA recognises that you may hold registration as both an RN and as an EN (concurrent registration).
The registration requirements, level of education, responsibilities and scope of practice of an RN and an EN are different. Practising in both roles may create potential risks including:
You can reduce these risks by ensuring that you are fully aware of, and always work within, the scope of practice and standards expected within each role. You should also ensure that your employer and colleagues are clearly aware of the role in which you are practicing.
In order to hold registration as an RN and an EN, you must satisfy the criteria for registration as set out in the National Law and all the relevant registration standards. For both types of registration you must hold a relevant qualification recognised by the NMBA. This means that you must hold a qualification as a registered nurse and a qualification as an enrolled nurse.
Note: Completing one year of a bachelor degree for nursing as a registered nurse is not equivalent to completing a Diploma in Nursing that leads to registration as an enrolled nurse.
If you wish to renew your registration with the NMBA as both an RN and an EN you must be able to demonstrate that you meet all the standards for practice and registration standards required for each role, including recency of practice and continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for both types of registration.
You are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of CPD for each registration you hold, that is, 20 hours as an RN and 20 hours as an EN. If CPD activities are relevant to both your RN and your EN role, those activities may be counted as evidence for both RN and EN CPD hours. The activities should be relevant to your context of practice and improve your knowledge, expertise and competence as an RN or as an EN.
More information on CPD is available on the NMBA website.
You need to be able to demonstrate that you have practised for the equivalent of 450 hours as an RN and the equivalent of 450 hours as an EN, over the past five years. There may be aspects of your practice that is relevant as both an RN and an EN and these hours may be counted for both registration types.
The NMBA’s Decision making framework for nursing and midwifery and standards for practice provide guidance to both RNs and ENs when making decisions about scope of practice and responsibilities. In order to minimise risk when you are working, it is essential that you work within the scope and standards of practice relevant to the role you are working in that is, your role as an RN or as an EN.