The Nursing Council of New Zealand protects the health and safety of the New Zealand public by setting standards and ensuring that nurses are competent to practise.

Internationally qualified nurses (IQNs) applying for nursing registration in New Zealand who need a competence assessment are required to pass an IQN Theoretical Examination, and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Candidates will be directed to complete either the registered nurse competence assessment or the enrolled nurse competence assessment depending on the scope of practice they are applying to register in.

Theoretical Examination

The Theoretical Examination must be completed at Pearson VUE test centres located in New Zealand and internationally. 

The registered nurse examination and the enrolled nurse examination both consist of two parts:

Part A: Medication Safety

Park B: Nursing Knowledge

See Nursing Council registration for IQNs for more information on the examination framework and requirements.

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Resits

A total of three attempts are allowed to pass the examination.

Part A and B must both be completed for the first examination attempt. Candidates only need to resit the part they failed. If candidates fail both parts they need to resit both parts.

If you do not pass after three attempts, you have not met the Nursing Council’s requirements and your application for registration will close.

Costs

The table provided details the examination costs, which are to be payable in New Zealand currency:

Communication of results

Your results will be available on your Pearson VUE dashboard soon after completion of an exam attempt.

The Nursing Council will communicate with you, within six weeks, when you have either passed both modules or you have used all your allocated three attempts. This communication will confirm your final result and outline next steps available to you.