AHPRA Application Process for Bridging Program

Initial Registration of Overseas Nurses (IRON) is the bridging program designed for overseas trained nurses who do not meet the standards imposed by AHPRA. There have been multiple instances of friends or friends of friends asking me about this matter but, since I underwent pathway number 2, I did not have a clear idea regarding this in the first few years of staying here in Oz. However, times and circumstances change. 

My husband came to Australia in 2014 wanting to pursue his career in nursing. Back then, he did not yet have the IELTS test scores that AHPRA wanted.  He made several attempts to pass the IELTS but, always falling short in one of the categories. My husband, armed with self-doubt and clouded judgement, became discouraged. We talked through his issues and we decided that taking the OET (Occupational English Test) would be the better option. In the latter parts of 2015, he took the OET and passed on his first try. 

Moral lesson: Never give up. English is only a second language, not a test of intelligence. There are several test scores AHPRA accepts (IELTS, OET, PTE and TOEFL). Just know which test would better suit your skills. Below again is the link for the changes in english requirements of AHPRA. Always check for changes in their website.

https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx

Moving along with the story, since my husband passed his OET, it was time to get to work. First thing I did was to read the AHPRA website regarding International Nurses and Midwives (I had more free time to read the information than he did, so I just read the website). There is a lot of information on the website. I strongly suggest to digest the information first before proceeding. After reading and understanding the information, I then printed out a copy of the form (AGOS-40). This form would guide you regarding certain document you need to submit. (Note: all documents to be submitted should be certified, do not submit original documents). I told my husband to fill out the form and sign the last page. There is a document checklist included in the form. 

Changes in AHPRA requirements: International criminal check under Fit2work, accreditation standards of the school, a detailed breakdown of the pharmacology subject according to AHPRA's template and the english requirements.

The international criminal check part of the application is done through Fit2work. If you do not have the results of the check, you can write on the form the reference number given to you by the said company. Once you do receive the outcome, which will be sent through the e-mail you have provided, you need to submit a certified copy to AHPRA. If you want to do this step before you submit your documents, go right ahead. 

The accreditation standards of the school document is a bit tedious to do. I can recall how my mom went back and forth the school and CHED. Back in 2014, when the accreditation standards became a part of the requirements, getting one from CHED (Commission on Higher Education) was difficult since they did not know what they were asked of. But since there were quite a number of nurses asking for the same document, they created a process on how to obtain the said document. 

You need to go back to your college and ask for the following documents: certified photocopy of Transcript of Records (TOR), certified photocopy of diploma, certified photocopy of special order (if any), school endorsement letter, certified photocopy of Related Learning Experience (RLE). You also need the following documents, photocopy of PRC licence, certified photocopy of Government Recognition (GR) for BSN and a duly notarised authorisation/special power of attorney if application is through a representative. Now, I do not claim to know how this was all processed as my mom went to my husband's school and accomplished this task. What I do remember from her stories was the certified documents from the school were sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and she had to claim the documents there before returning to CHED. She then gave CHED the certified documents and other documents needed and it took 1 business day to be processed. The document needs to be sent by CHED as per AHPRA's requirements. 

The pharmacology certification needs to be directly sent from the school to AHPRA. Along with the pharmacology certification, they also need to send out a course description of the curriculum of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and a course outline. Since we were living here in Oz already, my husband and I just sent my mom an authorisation letter to process everything that needs to be done.  Fortunately for us, there were a few people who have done this in the past so the school's registrar knew what to do and she guided my mom correctly. 

With the special power of attorney (SPA) needed by CHED, my husband and I went to the Philippine General Consulate in the city CBD (Sydney). Before going there, make sure you have 45 AUD, cash, since they do not have eftpos, a photocopy of your passport and driver's licence or photo card or medicare card and the prepared SPA. They do have a template for the SPA on their website, so just edit it. It takes one business day for the document to be processed. When he was able to claim the SPA, I gave it to my sister because she was flying out to the Philippines in the next few days. But, if no one is flying out the Philippines, just send it via courier service (DHL, Fedex or even LBC).

Another key point in the application process: When submitting your certificate of employment (COE), please ask your employer to state the type of work you have undergone (full time, part time, contractual or casual). Australia has all these types of workers in the workforce. Unlike in the Philippines, if you have been employed as a Staff Nurse, they automatically know you have worked full time hours. So here, they do not know that fact. You definitely have to ask your employer to include this in your COE.

Documents he submitted to AHPRA:

1. Completed AGOS-40 form and signed

2. Curriculum Vitae as per AHPRA's format (found on their website)

3. Proof of identity documents as per stated in the form

4. Transcript of Records and Related Learning Experience Document, BSN Diploma

5. Board certificate, PRC licence and Board test scores

6. International Criminal History check under Fit2work

7. Certificate of Good Standing from PRC (directly submitted by PRC to AHPRA)

8. Pharmacology certification together with the course description and course outline 

9. School accreditation document from CHED 

10. English test results 

11. Certificate of Employment

It took about 3 months for his papers to be assessed. It would have been quicker if the documents needed from the Philippines were sent to AHPRA straightaway, as he already had a case officer one month after submitting the initial documents to AHPRA Sydney. He then received his notice of refusal to be registered as a nurse and a bridging letter. He then had to reply to the e-mail saying he agrees to the terms given by AHPRA and will undergo the bridging program. There is a link on the documents e-mailed to him by AHPRA to where he needs to undergo the bridging program. There are several schools offering this program and I suggest you weigh the pros and cons before enrolling in one. That bridging letter is the reason why you have to undergo this whole process before studying. The schools require you to have that letter before enrolling together with other requirements (vaccination history).