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Updated March 2023
Download a PDF copy of this Fact sheet: Recency of practice (91.8 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.
The NMBA’s Registration standard: Recency of practice requires nurses and midwives to have recent experience practising their profession and make sure their profession skills are current and up to date. For an individual who is registered as both a nurse and midwife, this applies to their skills and experience in both professions.
The following questions address common queries that you might have about the Registration standard: Recency of practice.
Recency of practice means that a nurse or midwife has maintained an adequate connection with, and recent practice in the profession/s since qualifying for, or obtaining registration.
Practice means any role, whether remunerated or not, in which the individual uses their skills and knowledge as a health practitioner in their profession. Practice in this context is not restricted to the provision of direct clinical care. It also includes using professional knowledge (working) in a direct non-clinical relationship with clients, working in management, administration, education, research, advisory, regulatory or policy development roles, and any other roles that impact on the safe, effective delivery of services in the profession.
The NMBA recognises practice hours if the evidence you provide demonstrates that you have practised nursing and/or midwifery, and that you:
Clinical practice is when the nurse or midwife is directly involved in providing direct clinical care or providing oversight of direct clinical care of patients, or is directly involved in clinical education of either pre-registration or post-registration students, including bridging programs. Some examples of clinical practice roles are:
Non-clinical practice is where a nurse or midwife is not directly involved in providing direct clinical care or providing oversight of direct care of patients or is not directly involved in clinical education of either pre-registration or post-registration students, including bridging programs.
Some examples of non-clinical practice roles are:
You need to provide evidence that you have practised for a period equivalent to a minimum of 450 hours, within the past five years.
The types of evidence you can provide include:
The types of evidence that are accepted are at the discretion of the NMBA.
No. The hours do not need to be continuous and can be accumulated over the past five years. As long as they are equivalent to a minimum of 450 hours, and the type of evidence you provide is accepted by the NMBA, it is sufficient evidence.
Yes. You need to declare annually and if audited provide evidence showing that you have completed the equivalent hours in both nursing and midwifery within the past five years.
This means that you need to be able to demonstrate that you have practised for the equivalent of 450 hours in nursing and the equivalent of 450 hours in midwifery, over the past five years.
However, if you consider an aspect of your work could provide evidence for both nursing and midwifery practice, you may make a case for that. An example of this could be caring for women who have had a caesarean section, and their babies.
Yes. You need to declare annually when you renew your registration and, if audited, provide evidence showing that you have completed the equivalent hours in both nursing and midwifery within the past five years.
Yes. You need to maintain recency of practice relevant to the endorsement that you hold and declare annually that you have practised for the equivalent of 450 hours relevant to your endorsement over the past five years.
If you are audited, you will need to be able to demonstrate recency of practice relevant to the endorsement that you hold. For example, a midwife with an endorsement for scheduled medicines will need to be able to show recent practice relevant to prescribing and administration of medicines and a nurse practitioner would be required to show recency of practice at the nurse practitioner (advanced practice nursing) level.
Yes. You need to provide the same level of evidence needed for practice completed in Australia.
For information on the evidence you need to provide to demonstrate that you have practised nursing and/or midwifery, see section above ‘What are practice hours?'.
If you have not worked sufficient hours over the past five years, you need to contact the Ahpra office in your state or territory, to get advice about your individual circumstances.
You may be asked to successfully complete:
You will need to declare at the time of registration renewal that you do not meet recency of practice. Your renewal will be assessed and you may be requested to provide further information.
For further information, refer to the NMBA’s Fact sheet: Re-entry to practice.
Yes. You should make sure to keep evidence of your practice for at least five years, in case you are selected for audit by the NMBA.
No. When you renew your registration you are making a declaration to say that you have met the requirements. Evidence will only be requested if you are selected for audit. Remember to keep your evidence for at least five years in case you are selected for audit by the NMBA.
If you do not meet the recency of practice registration standard, you will need to contact your local Ahpra office, in your state and territory, to get further advice.
Please note that each individual application is considered on its merits and circumstances by the NMBA.
Nurses and midwives are reminded that as professionals they have a responsibility to ensure that they are safe and competent to practice. This is particularly important when nurses and midwives transition from non-clinical to clinical practice and/or change their scope of practice.
Gabby is a registered nurse with 10 years of clinical experience. She takes a role in a different area of the health sector, where she is not required to be registered. Gabby lets her registration lapse and is no longer on the register. After a period of time, Gabby’s employment circumstances change and she is now required to be registered again.