Nursing courses
7 nursing qualifications in Australia, from certificates to the degree, compared side by side: cost, duration, providers and where each one leads.
- Qualifications
- 7
on this page
- Providers
- 87
across all qualifications
- Median pay
- $92,400–$114,000
across roles in this field
- Employment growth*
- +24%
1 of 2 roles in shortage
Which of these is right for you?
We don't recommend one provider over another, but four things usually decide which qualification is the right one to start with.
- How much time can you give it?
- A certificate usually runs months, not years, and gets you working sooner. A degree is a multi-year commitment, but it's the only route into a registered profession like pharmacist.
- Do you want to study online, on campus, or both?
- Check each qualification's study modes below. Some are online only, some require placements or on-campus units even in a mostly online course.
- What's your entry point?
- If you're starting from school leaver or career change with no background in the field, the lowest rung on the ladder is usually the realistic start, not the top qualification.
- Which role are you aiming for?
- Some roles need one specific qualification. Others accept several. The roles section below says which qualification on this page actually gets you there.
The nursing qualifications
7 qualifications, from certificates through to a degree. Each links through to cost, duration and the providers that teach it.
Degrees
Bachelor of Nursing
28 providersBachelor degree2 to 3 yearsRegistered NurseView qualification →Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurse Entry)
2 providersBachelor degree2 yearsRegistered NurseView qualification →Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurses)
2 providersBachelor degree3 yearsRegistered NurseView qualification →Bachelor of Nursing (Pre-registration)
2 providersBachelor degree3 yearsRegistered NurseView qualification →Bachelor of Nursing - Advanced Standing
2 providersBachelor degree2 yearsRegistered NurseView qualification →Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing
2 providersGraduate certificate0.75 yearsView qualification →
What nursing study leads to
The 2 roles where a nursing qualification is a recognised route in, which qualification on this page it is, and what else you need.
Registered Nurse
Enter through the Bachelor of Nursing or the Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurse Entry) or the Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurses) or the Bachelor of Nursing (Pre-registration) or the Bachelor of Nursing - Advanced Standing. Complete an NMBA-approved entry-to-practice nursing programme and satisfy registration standards before practising. Post-registration or research-only study is not an initial-registration route. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
Median salary for the role
$114,000
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data, February 2026.
Enrolled Nurse
The direct route is the Diploma of Nursing. 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 salary for the role
$92,400
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data, February 2026.