Frequently Asked Questions

In order to get registration with An Bord Altranais you must submit a completed application form detailing your nursing experience from graduation to date, a birth certificate, photograph and appropriate application fee. You must arrange to have the following documentation sent directly from source to An Bord Altranais: Proof of your nursing training programme(s), verification documents of your good standing from the Nursing Councils of the countries/states/provinces where you have engaged in the practice of nursing, a professional reference from your current/last employer and the English competency test if applicable.

To maintain your registration with An Bord Altranais you must pay your annual retention fee. Failure to pay the retention fee will result in your name being erased from the Register of Nurses under Section(1)(b) of the Nurses Act, 1985.

Non-European Union applicants for registration in a Division of the Register maintained by An Bord Altranais are required to demonstrate proof of English language competence if English is not their first language or primary language of expression. Following a recent evaluation of the ability of nurses and midwives to demonstrate competence in interpersonal relationships[1] and the standard required by An Bord Altranais in relation to proof of English language competence, An Bord Altranais has determined that applicants whose application form, accompanied by the appropriate fee, is received on or after the 1st April 2007 will be required to demonstrate that they have reached the following standard:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test. 

Note: A score in excess of the minimum requirement in some or all of the components of the test will be required to achieve an overall score of 7.0.

OR

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)/Test of Written English (TWE)/Test of Spoken English (TSE).

Applicants may undertake the Paper-based TOEFL Test (plus TWE & TSE) or the Internet-based TOEFL Test (TOEFL iBT).
The Computer-based TOEFL Test was discontinued on the 30th September 2006. Results of tests taken prior to its discontinuation will be accepted provided they are not more than two years old.

The Test Report Form must be submitted to An Bord Altranais directly from the Test Centre where the applicant undertook the Test. The Test must have been undertaken no more than two years prior to the date of application or the applicant must provide evidence of having worked full time as a nurse or midwife in an English-speaking environment since having completed the test. This will be assessed on an individual basis.

As part of the application for registration process the applicant will be required to arrange to have a Test Report Form submitted directly to An Bord Altranais by the test centre where the applicant undertook the test. Only Test Report Forms that have been forwarded by the test centre directly to An Bord Altranais will be accepted.

The test must have been undertaken no more than two years prior to the date of application or the applicant must provide evidence of having worked as a full time nurse in an English-speaking environment since having completed the test. This will be assessed on an individual basis. Further information on the test may be obtained from www.ielts.org or www.ets.org/toefl/ .

Upon receipt of the documentation your file will undergo an administrative check and if all the registration documents are in place your file will be forwarded to the Education Department to be assessed.  The normal timeframe for this assessment is 4 weeks. However if the Education Department require further information/clarification in order to make a final decision on your application, this timeframe may be extended.  A letter will be issued to you either noting a final decision or seeking further information/clarification.

If you have completed your training in an Irish Institute of Nursing training your registration will be fully completed within fifteen working days of receipt of your completed application form.

Yes. An employment agency or any other person authorized by you can check on the progress of your application and can act on your behalf to obtain information/documentation to complete the application.