Skip to content
careertips

HomeCoursesNursingDiploma

Diploma · national qualification

Diploma of Nursing

Studying this diploma prepares you to work as an enrolled nurse, caring for people at every stage of life in hospitals, aged care, community health and clinics.

Compare 32 providers
Illustration of a person working as enrolled Nurse
How long it takes
18 to 24 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $16,425
Subsidised at TAFE Queensland, full fee up to $38,359
How you can study
Online or on campus
Main job
Enrolled Nurse
$92,400 median pay, In demand
Taught by
32 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

What the Diploma of Nursing asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • a genuine interest in caring for people
  • good communication skills
  • an ability to work calmly under supervision
  • respect for people from all backgrounds

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Diploma or Bachelor?

The Bachelor of Nursing is the higher level qualification. This diploma reflects the role of an enrolled nurse working under the direct or indirect supervision of a registered nurse.

See the course

Where this course can take you

Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.

Jobs you can do with it

  • Enrolled Nurse

    Enrolled nurses give hands-on clinical care in hospitals, aged care homes and community settings, working under the supervision of a registered nurse or doctor.

    What else you need

    Complete an NMBA-approved Diploma of Nursing and all placements, then meet enrolled-nurse registration requirements. This is not a registered-nurse qualification. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.

    Median pay$92,400

    In demand

If you study further

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $16,425

at TAFE Queensland. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.

Paying the full fee

$26,475 to $38,359

across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.

  • Chisholm InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $20,559
    Full fee
    $38,359

  • GOTAFEVIC

    Subsidised
    $19,360
    Full fee
    $37,040

  • Holmesglen InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $17,856
    Full fee
    $37,570

  • The GordonVIC

    Subsidised
    $19,185
    Full fee
    $32,631

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Subsidised
    $16,425
    Concession
    $14,250
    Full fee
    $26,475

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.

Where you can study this course

There are 32 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

25 units: 20 that everyone takes and 5 you choose.

  • Assessing a patient's health
  • Giving medicines and IV therapy
  • Wound care and infection control
  • Acute, chronic and aged care
  • Mental health and palliative care
  • Legal, ethical and cultural practice
See all 20 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

  • Loading the details for CHCDIV001…

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

It prepares you to work as an enrolled nurse, caring for people at every stage of life in hospitals, aged care, community health and clinics. You work under the direct or indirect supervision of a registered nurse. Roles it leads to include Enrolled Nurse, Assistant In Nursing and Aged Care Worker.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

The qualification itself has no entry requirements. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.

Is a licence, registration or check required to work in this area?

Yes. To register and practise as an enrolled nurse in Australia you must complete a Diploma of Nursing program accredited by ANMAC and approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Check the provider's accreditation with AHPRA before you enrol.

How is it different from Bachelor of Nursing?

The Bachelor of Nursing is the higher level qualification. This diploma reflects the role of an enrolled nurse working under the direct or indirect supervision of a registered nurse.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.