- How do I apply to study nursing or midwifery in Ireland?
There are two ways of applying to undertake a programme leading to registration as a nurse/midwife with An Bord Altranais. These are detailed in full in the publication Nursing/Midwifery- A Career for you available on this website.
Firstly as a standard code applicant using your leaving certificate results or Fetac qualifications. Secondly, a mature code applicant will apply to the CAO and sit a written assessment. A place is allocated on the results of the written assessment and you do not need any previous qualifications.
N.B. When applying to the CAO there are 2 course codes an applicant to Nursing or Midwifery may use. Make sure to use the right code. For more information on Course Codes refer to page 10 of the publication, Nursing/Midwifery: A Career for You (see top of this page).
- I am an EU citizen who is over 23 years of age and do not have the requirements in the leaving certificate examination. Where do I apply?
You can apply to the Central Applications Office (CAO), by the 1 February using the Mature Code. For further information on on this refer to section 6 of the publication Nursing/Midwifery- A Career for You.
- I am over 23 years of age and do not have the requirements in the leaving certificate examination. What do I need to apply?
You need to be successful at NCC Written Assessment before being considered for an offer as a mature code applicant. However, success at the NCC Written Assessment does not guarantee an offer of a place. See Becoming a Nurse on this website for details.
All applications are through the Central Applications Office (www.cao.ie) before the 1st February.
- I am an EU school leaver. Where do I apply?
You can apply to the Central Applications Office (CAO) using the Standard Code.
- What literature should I read before completing an application?
Reading includes: Literature/Prospectus from the Higher Education Institution/s, the CAO handbook 2010, and the NCC publication Nursing/Midwifery A Career for You before completing an application.
- What qualifications will I get upon successful completion of the four year pre registration degree course?
Successful completion of the Pre-Registration Honours Degree programme entitles the candidate to apply for Registration as a Nurse/Midwife with An Bord Altranais: RCN/RGN/RNID/RM/RPN and the award of a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) (Level 8) in Nursing from the HEI.
- What further education opportunities are available upon successful completion of the course?
See the Post Registration Career Information section (click on tab on the left).
- I already have a degree from outside Ireland or another HEI and want to study nursing and midwifery. Can I use my previous degree to fast track the education programme?
An Bord Altranais sets the Requirements and Standards for Nurse Registration Education Programmes (An Bord Altranais, 2005) that stipulate the minimum number of hours in clinical and theoretical instruction that a candidate nurse must meet before they can register with An Bord Altranais. This instruction is usually achieved over the four year duration of the education programme. Once a candidate nurse finishes the education programme the relevant Higher Education Institution and associated healthcare agency needs to verify to An Bord Altranais that the candidate nurse meets the minimum requirements and standards before they can register with An Bord Altranais.
As such you need to contact the relevant HEI to verify if they can accommodate your request.
- I have a health condition that may affect my ability to study or practice as a nurse/midwife. What do I need to do to see if I can get onto an education programme?
Nursing is a demanding profession both physically and emotionally. A successful applicant must be of good mental and physical health and have the ability to achieve the required competencies of a nurse.
Please be advised that college's providing the nursing/midwifery programme will require potential students to complete a Medical Assessment Self-Declaration Form and undergo Assessment/Screening and a Vaccination programme. Satisfactory completion will be required to commence/continue with the course. For further information on these please contact the relevant collage.
An Bord Altranais has no limitations on an individual with an illness or disorder applying to study nursing or practicing as a nurse when this illness/disorder does not prohibit a nurse/midwife to practice safely and effectively fulfill his/her duties.
- I have trained as a nurse or midwife in a country other than Ireland. What do I need to do in order to practice as a nurse or midwife in Ireland?
An Bord Altranais has prepared an information booklet entitled "Information for Applicants who completed their training in a European Union (EU) Member State" and "Information for Applicants Registering as a nurse or midwife in Ireland from countries outside the European Union". Please refer to one of these information booklets if you wish to apply for registration with An Bord Altranais using a qualification obtained outside Ireland. These booklets are available to view and download by clicking here.
- I have missed the CAO Application deadline. Can I still apply?
All applications for nursing/midwifery are through the CAO by the 1st February (5.15pm). Late applications can not be submitted by mature applicants. Late applications may be submitted by standard code applicants up to 1st May (5.15pm).
- I was not successful in getting onto a pre registration nursing/midwifery education programme through the CAO. Can I go to the United Kingdom and study nursing/midwifery there?
Generally speaking courses leading to registration with the NMC as a general nurse or midwife will meet the minimum EU requirements for direct registration, but you are strongly advised to double check this with the NMC. If you complete an education programee in General Nursing or Midwifery in a European Union member state you may be entitled to direct registration with An Bord Altranais if the programme meets the minimum requirements stipulated in European Union (EU) legislation, namely EU Directive 2005/36. The best source to check if an education programme in the United Kingdom meets these requirements is the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the equivalent body to An Bord Altranais in the United Kingdom. Their website is http://www.nmc-uk.org/.
In cases where an education programme does not meet the minimum requirements stipulated in EU legislation you will have to forward An Bord Altranais the completed application form and the necessary documentation. Each application is assessed on an individual basis, so it is not possible to state if an applicant who completed such a programme would be entitled to register with An Bord Altranais until the file has been assessed.
You will find further information for applicants who have completed a nurse education programme in an EU country who wish to apply to register with An Bord Altranais on our website at http://www.nursingboard.ie/en/apply_registration.aspx.
- I have applied as an applicant for mature nursing and midwifery and have been invited to attend the written assessment. However, I am not able to attend the written assessment. Can I sit the written assessment another day?
Everyone who applies to the CAO as a mature applicant for nursing/midwifery is invited to attend the written assessment on the same day. The written assessment is held on this day only and is not repeated at a later date.
If you are unable to attend the written assessment in person, you will not be able to proceed in the competition.