CQUniversity
Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Re-Entry)
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 6 months
Enables you to regain full registration while also assisting you to build your skills and experience.

Course overview
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Re-Entry) enables you to develop advanced knowledge and skills to return to work as a registered nurse. The course will build on your existing theoretical, practical and research knowledge. This course will include a five-day residential school and 160 hours of industry-based learning. Upon completing the Graduate Certificate of Nursing (Re-Entry), you will be eligible for registration as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
From $771 (CSP)
What you will study
You must complete three units (24 credits):
Core units
- The Nurse Professional (six credit points)
- Contemporary Australian Healthcare (six credit points)
- Clinical Nursing Practice (12 credit points)
Entry requirements
To be eligible to enroll in this course, the AHPRA/NMBA must refer applicants to undertake "a board-approved re-entry to practice program". A copy of this referral must be supplied with your application. NMBA/AHPRA referrals have an expiry date. Therefore, applicants are responsible for ensuring they have sufficient time to complete the course (including work-integrated learning). For further information, please refer to the Nursing and Midwifery Board Re-Entry to Practice.
Domestic students from non-English speaking backgrounds may be required to undertake an academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with a minimum achievement of 7 across all bands and overall prior to undertaking their clinical placement. This is in order to meet Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council standard 5.6. At the discretion of the Head of Course, students may be referred to an internal English short course at their own expense. This is in order to meet Australia Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council standard 2.2.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Re-entry) and acquiring registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia you will be equipped to work as a registered nurse in Australia. As a nurse, you can choose from a number of roles in the healthcare profession, including positions in:
- Public and Private Healthcare
- General Health Services
- Mental health Services
- Community Health Initiatives
- Residential Care Services
- Indigenous Health Services
- Remote and Rural Health Services
Fees and CSP
Indicative first-year tuition fee in 2025: $2,312 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Indicative first-year tuition fee in 2025: $14,496 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The indicative first-year fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one academic year depending on the type of place you are offered, for example, a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or full-fee paying (FFP) place. For a graduate certificate, this is usually four units studied full-time over one term or part-time over two terms.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per unit you're enrolled in.
- Depending on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.