Criminal history

Registration standard

The revised Criminal history registration standard came into effect on 1 July 2015. This registration standard is the same across all the regulated health professions.

When a nurse/midwife first applies for registration, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) requires the applicant to declare their criminal history in all countries, including Australia.

AHPRA on behalf of the NMBA must check an applicant’s criminal history during the registration process to ensure only those nurses and midwives who are suitable and safe to practise are granted registration in Australia.

All nurses and midwives must inform the NMBA if they are:

• charged with an offence punishable by 12 months imprisonment or more, or
• convicted or found guilty of an offence punishable by imprisonment in Australia and/or overseas.

When nurses and midwives renew their registration they must disclose any changes to their criminal history.

You can read more about how criminal history checks are conducted on the criminal history checks page, and about what checks are required from countries other than Australia for some applicants and registrants on the international criminal history checks page.

Retired version

The previous version of the registration standard which is no longer in effect.