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How to become

How to become a nurse practitioner

The educational requirements and endorsement process to become a nurse practitioner in Australia.



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Nurse sitting at desk with clipboard.

Registered nurses with considerable experience in a specialised area of practice may be ready to take the next step in their careers. For some, this next step involves becoming a nurse practitioner.

Nurse practitioners are not only essential in our healthcare system but are also in demand across Australia, making this role an attractive option for those seeking career development.

So, what are the study paths available for this specialisation? And what requirements must be met in order to qualify? In this guide, we explore how to become a nurse practitioner and explain why the online learning environment is especially beneficial for this qualification.

The demand for nurse practitioners

A nurse practitioner plays a crucial role in the Australian healthcare system. As experienced clinical nurses, their responsibilities centre around providing quality patient-focused care.

Nurse practitioners in Australia

There are only around 2,425 endorsed nurse practitioners in Australia. These highly qualified professionals possess in-demand skills that our healthcare system needs.

Registered nurses ready to progress their careers and focus on a specialty might wonder how to become a nurse practitioner in Australia. Although this is a well-regarded role, becoming a nurse practitioner involves fulfilling several components.

How to become a nurse practitioner

Due to national registration standards, there are rigorous educational requirements and endorsements that a registered nurse has to meet in order to advance their career as a nurse practitioner. The process of becoming a nurse practitioner includes:

  1. Having current registration as a Division 1 Registered Nurse in Australia with no restrictions or conditions on your registration relating to professional practice.
  2. Demonstrating that you have the relevant experience of at least 5,000 hours (the equivalent of three years of full-time experience) at an advanced clinical practice level in the past six years to be eligible to study.
  3. Completing a Nursing and Midwifery Board-approved nurse practitioner master's degree.
  4. Applying for endorsement by AHPRA. Once endorsed, you can begin working as a nurse practitioner.

The courses below are listed by qualification level, from lowest to highest.

Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)
Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)
In this master's course, you will learn the professional, legal and ethical behaviours necessary to support this practice within a nursing model of care into the future. You will also enhance and apply knowledge of cultural awareness, including the history and specific health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Master's 18 months 9 Units
Units
  • Cultural Studies
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Holistic Health Assessment
  • Evidence-based Practice and Research Design
  • Nurse Practitioner Professional Practice 1
  • Clinical Pharmacology 2
  • Nurse Practitioner Professional Practice 2
  • Transition to Nurse Practitioner Practice
  • Nursing Research Project
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.
Master of Nurse Practitioner
Master of Nurse Practitioner
The Master of Nurse Practitioner prepares registered nurses for the autonomous Nurse Practitioner role in an area of specialised nursing practice: Ageing and Palliative Care, Child and Family Health, Chronic and Complex Care, Emergency and Acute Care, Mental Health and Primary Health Care. Students develop advanced skills in nursing health assessment, diagnosis, implementation and evaluation of care by undertaking studies in pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, diagnostic reasoning, advanced nursing practice and the quality use of medicines. This provides specialised graduates with the capabilities to work independently and collaboratively as expert healthcare team members, directly contributing to people's positive health outcomes. Students are prepared to meet the NMBA Nurse Practitioner standards for practice. On program completion, graduates may apply for endorsement by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia as a Nurse Practitioner. The program includes integrated supernumerary professional practice under the guidance of clinical supervisors and expert clinicians. Graduates will take up their identity in their Nurse Practitioner roles as clinical experts and, therefore, as clinical leaders, educators, researchers and mentors, influencing health service delivery at the individual, family and community level.
Master's 12 months 5 Units
Units
  • Nurse Practitioner Professional Practice
  • Introduction to Pharmacotherapeutics and Prescribing for Health Care Professionals
  • Advanced Practice: Diagnostics and Interventions
  • Integrated Pharmacotherapeutics for Clinical Practice
  • Nurse Practitioner Identity
Master of Nurse Practitioner
Master of Nurse Practitioner
This course aims to meet the needs of extended practice nurses working in various healthcare settings by developing skills and knowledge that prepare them for their advanced practice role within their scope of practice and the context of that practice. The Master of Nurse Practitioner is entirely online with placements undertaken in person at a health service near you, or as work-integrated learning within your place of work. You will be provided with the opportunity to: Develop extended nursing knowledge and clinical practice skills necessary to provide effective, comprehensive health care to particular populations of health consumers. Integrate and apply the interdisciplinary skills and knowledge required to participate effectively in the planning, implementation and management of health care programs and services  Develop an advanced understanding of the legal, ethical and political dimensions of practice to provide leadership within nursing and their specialty area of practice. Acquire research skills and apply these to the resolution and improvement of health outcomes for consumers of nursing practice across a range of practice contexts. Upon completing this Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) accredited course, graduates can apply to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) for endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Potential students should note that course completion is only one of the requirements for endorsement. They should refer to the complete requirements for endorsement as indicated in the NMBA Registration standard: Endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner.
Master's 36 months 8 Units
Units
  • Principles of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
  • Introduction to Research
  • Pharmacology for Advanced Professional Practice
  • Epidemiology and Population Studies for Health Care Practice
  • Transition to Nurse Practitioner Role
  • Advancing Research Knowledge to Inform Healthcare Practice
  • Integrated Professional Practice 1
  • Integrated Professional Practice 2
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.
Master of Nurse Practitioner
Master of Nurse Practitioner
This course aims to give students the in-depth knowledge and skills required to practice at an advanced nursing level and to provide professional leadership in contemporary clinical and professional nursing specialties. It is designed to build on specialist nurses' knowledge base and clinical skills. The role of nurse practitioner places particular emphasis on developing advanced clinical assessment skills relevant to the nurse's specialty and developing a collaborative multidisciplinary approach to patient care. The program focuses on this using the Nurse and Midwifery Board of Australia's Nurse Practitioner competencies.
Master's 24 months 7 Units
Units
  • ACADEMIC INTEGRITY MODULE
  • ADVANCED CLINICAL EVIDENCE FOR NURSING PRACTICE
  • ADVANCED CLINICAL NURSING PRACTICE
  • THERAPEUTIC MEDICATION MANAGEMENT A
  • THERAPEUTIC MEDICATION MANAGEMENT B
  • CLINICAL INTERNSHIP FOR NURSE PRACTITIONER A
  • CLINICAL INTERNSHIP FOR NURSE PRACTITIONER B
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.
Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)
Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)
Master's 36 months 8 Units
Units
  • Becoming a Nurse Practitioner
  • Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics for Advanced Nursing Practice
  • Research for Advancing Nursing, Midwifery and Health Care
  • Advanced Health Assessment, Diagnostics and Investigations
  • Epidemiology for Advanced Practice
  • Clinical Inquiry
  • Nurse Practitioner Internship 1
  • Nurse Practitioner Internship 2
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.
Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)
Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)
This professionally accredited program will prepare you to practice at the highest level of clinical nursing. The program builds advanced clinical practice research and leadership skills to inform real-world practice. Offered part-time over two years, this course has been designed specifically for students working clinically and studying simultaneously. Course content will be delivered part-time online and students will be required to attend the campus for residential block teaching. The program was designed by experienced nurse practitioners and academics collaborating with industry partners to build confidence and skills in diagnostic reasoning, advanced health assessment, independent prescribing, research methods and leadership. As an endorsed NP, you will gain the authority to work autonomously to diagnose and treat people with a variety of acute and/or chronic health conditions, refer to hospitals and specialists, order diagnostic tests, provide outreach services in rural communities and provide mentorship and clinical expertise to other health professionals. You will collaborate with a variety of healthcare professionals including nurses, NPs, GPs, medical and surgical specialists, physiotherapists, dieticians, occupational therapists, social workers and psychologists. In addition, you will be equipped to critically identify the needs of existing healthcare structures and nurture the development of a high quality, safe and compassionate healthcare system. Upon graduation, you will be eligible for endorsement by the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia, authorising you to practice collaboratively and autonomously in providing life-changing health services and transforming the health of your community.
Master's 18 months 8 Units
Units
  • Advanced Practice in Healthcare
  • Comprehensive Health Assessment and Application of Diagnostic Principles
  • Research Methods for Health
  • Pharmacology for Advanced Practice
  • Quality Use of Medicines
  • Complex Health Assessment and Application of Diagnostic Principles
  • Leadership Development in Health Contexts
  • Comprehensive and Safe Patient Care
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.

Why become a nurse practitioner?

For Jessica Kumar, a child health nurse and lactation consultant at Coast Life Families, becoming a nurse practitioner was an obvious next step in her career.

“For many nurses, there is the capacity to become leaders in their areas or experts in their wards,” she says. “But often, as we rise through the ranks in nursing, management becomes more and more of your role instead.

“I found the best way to advance clinically without becoming a manager was to become a nurse practitioner.”

In this innovative and independent clinical nursing role, nurse practitioners work in speciality practice areas appropriate to their experience. These are some common settings for a nurse practitioner:

  • Family health care
  • Emergency and acute care
  • Ageing and palliative care
  • Primary health care
  • Chronic and complex care

Studying options to become a nurse practitioner

The study path towards becoming an endorsed nurse practitioner typically involves a master’s degree. However, other options exist for students who don’t meet the entry requirements for a master’s.

Sometimes, a course like James Cook University’s online Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Nursing Majoring in Advanced Practice can be a stepping stone in the desired direction.

And when it comes to thinking about ongoing education for roles like a nurse practitioner or nurse educator, Jessica’s advice is to view each course with the bigger picture in mind.

“When you study online, the courses are structured so that everything you learn points you towards the assessments,” she says. “Looking at the assessments in your first week and having a big-picture view of them can help.”

The online study format also comes with specific benefits, particularly for nurses. For Jessica, flexibility, accessibility and understanding are the most obvious advantages.

“I wanted to study with a quality university in South Australia, but I live in Queensland, so studying online is obviously a huge benefit,” she says. “Also, gaining the perspective from other nurses I’m studying with has helped to widen my own.”

There’s also the advantage of making the study fit with your schedule. “Online study is a lot more flexible,” she says. “I can look at my clinical workload and personal responsibilities before I figure out what I need to study that week, so it’s a lot more manageable.”

Most nurses are dealing with busy and even chaotic schedules, so online study is a great option for those who want to become a nurse practitioner.

The next step in your nursing career

Ready to become a nurse practitioner? Explore a range of postgraduate nurse practitioner degrees to advance your nursing career. If you have any questions about these courses, you can reach out to our Education Consultant for more information.