Learn the difference between an Enrolled Nurse (EN) and a Registered Nurse (RN) in Australia. Know which option may be right for you.
Do you want to start your nursing career sooner?
Or do you want to specialise in areas like mental health or emergency nursing?
Are you looking for a shorter, more affordable pathway?
Your answers can help you decide whether becoming an Enrolled Nurse (EN) or a Registered Nurse (RN) is the better fit.
In this guide, we'll compare the two pathways so you can choose the one that best matches your goals.
An Enrolled Nurse (EN) completes a Diploma of Nursing and works under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, while a Registered Nurse (RN) completes a Bachelor of Nursing and has a broader scope of practice. Becoming an RN takes longer, but it also offers greater career progression, leadership and specialisation opportunities.
Feature | Enrolled Nurse (EN) | Registered Nurse (RN) |
Qualification | Diploma of Nursing | Bachelor of Nursing |
Typical study duration | Around 18–24 months | Around 3 years |
Ahpra registration | Yes | Yes |
Scope of practice | Works under the direction and supervision of an RN | Practices independently and leads patient care |
Main responsibilities | Supports patient care and assists with treatments | Assesses, plans, delivers and evaluates patient care |
Career opportunities | Entry-level nursing roles | Wider range of nursing, specialist and leadership roles |
Specialisation options | Limited | Broad range of specialist pathways (e.g. ICU, emergency, mental health) |
Average salary | Lower | Higher |
Typical workplaces | Hospitals, aged care, community health, GP clinics | Hospitals, specialist units, community health, aged care, mental health and more |
An Enrolled Nurse (EN) is a qualified healthcare professional who provides direct care to patients under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN). To become an EN in Australia, you'll usually complete a Diploma of Nursing and register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
An Enrolled Nurse may:
Monitor patients and record their health observations
Assist with personal care, mobility and daily living activities
Administer medications within their scope of practice
Perform basic clinical procedures, such as wound care and dressings
Support Registered Nurses in delivering patient care
Educate patients about their treatment and recovery
Keep accurate patient records and communicate with the healthcare team
Enrolled Nurses can work in a variety of healthcare settings, including:
Public and private hospitals
Aged care facilities
Community health services
Rehabilitation centres
General practice (GP) clinics
Mental health and disability services
A Registered Nurse (RN) is a healthcare professional who is qualified to assess, plan, deliver and evaluate patient care. To become an RN in Australia, you'll typically complete a Bachelor of Nursing and register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
A Registered Nurse may:
Assess patients and develop care plans
Deliver and evaluate patient care
Administer medications and treatments
Monitor patient progress and respond to changes in their condition
Coordinate care with doctors and other healthcare professionals
Educate patients and their families
Supervise and support Enrolled Nurses and other care staff
Registered Nurses work across a wide range of healthcare settings, including:
Public and private hospitals
Emergency departments
Intensive care units
Mental health services
Community health centres
Aged care facilities
General practice (GP) clinics
Schools, universities and correctional facilities
Both Enrolled Nurses and Registered Nurses play an important role in Australia's healthcare system. However, they differ in the qualifications you'll need, the type of work you'll do and the career opportunities available.
Feature | Enrolled Nurse (EN) | Registered Nurse (RN) |
Qualification | ||
Typical study duration | Around 18–24 months | Around 3 years |
Ahpra registration | Required | Required |
Scope of practice | Works under the direction and supervision of an RN | Practices independently within their scope of practice |
Patient care | Supports and delivers nursing care | Assesses, plans, delivers and evaluates patient care |
Clinical decision-making | Limited | Leads clinical decision-making and care planning |
Leadership | Supports the healthcare team | Can supervise ENs and lead nursing teams |
Specialisation opportunities | Limited | Wide range of specialties, including mental health, ICU, paediatrics and emergency nursing |
Career progression | Can progress to RN through further study | Greater opportunities for advanced practice, education and leadership |
Typical salary | Lower | Higher |
The right pathway depends on your goals, budget and where you see your nursing career in the future. Here's a quick guide to help you decide.
An Enrolled Nurse (EN) may be right for you if you... | A Registered Nurse (RN) may be right for you if you... |
✓ Want to start working sooner | ✓ Want a broader scope of practice |
✓ Prefer a shorter and more affordable study pathway | ✓ Want more responsibility in patient care |
✓ Plan to gain work experience before continuing your studies | ✓ Want to specialise in areas like mental health, emergency or paediatrics |
✓ See yourself becoming a Registered Nurse later through further study | ✓ Want more long-term career progression and leadership opportunities |
✓ Want a faster pathway into Australia's healthcare workforce | ✓ Are happy to study longer for greater career flexibility and earning potential |
Good to know: There's no one-size-fits-all pathway. Some students choose to become an Enrolled Nurse first so they can enter the workforce sooner, while others study a Bachelor of Nursing from the start to access a wider range of career opportunities.
An IDP counsellor can help you compare both options based on your goals and circumstances.
Yes. Many nurses begin their careers as an Enrolled Nurse (EN) before continuing their studies to become a Registered Nurse (RN). This pathway lets you enter the workforce sooner while building towards a broader scope of practice and more career opportunities.
A typical pathway looks like this:
Step | Typical pathway |
|---|---|
1. Study | Complete a Diploma of Nursing and become an Enrolled Nurse (EN). |
2. Work | Gain practical experience as an Enrolled Nurse while building your clinical skills. |
3. Continue your studies | Apply for a Bachelor of Nursing. Some universities may offer credit for your previous study, which can reduce the time needed to complete your degree. |
4. Become an RN | Graduate from an approved Bachelor of Nursing and apply for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). |
Choosing the EN-to-RN pathway can be a good option if you want to start working sooner while keeping the door open to further study. The amount of credit transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) you receive depends on the university and your previous qualifications.
Read more: Bachelor of Nursing Guide
The time it takes depends on the nursing pathway you choose. Becoming an Enrolled Nurse is generally faster, while becoming a Registered Nurse requires a longer period of study but can lead to broader career opportunities.
Pathway | Typical duration |
|---|---|
Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled Nurse) | Around 18–24 months |
Bachelor of Nursing (Registered Nurse) | Around 3 years full-time |
EN → RN pathway | Around 4.5–6 years in total, depending on your work experience, study load and any credit transfer offered by your university |
Good to know: If you start as an Enrolled Nurse, some universities may recognise your previous study through credit transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This may reduce the time it takes to complete your Bachelor of Nursing, depending on the university and your qualifications.
Registered Nurses generally earn more than Enrolled Nurses because they have a broader scope of practice and greater clinical responsibilities.
Role | Typical annual salary (AUD) |
Enrolled Nurse (EN) | |
Registered Nurse (RN) |
Note: Salaries are a general guide only and can vary depending on your employer, location, experience, shift penalties and area of nursing. Nurses working nights, weekends or in specialised roles may earn more.
Whether you choose to become an Enrolled Nurse or a Registered Nurse, you'll need to complete an NMBA-approved nursing qualification and register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) before you can practise in Australia.
Requirement | Enrolled Nurse (EN) | Registered Nurse (RN) |
Approved nursing qualification | Diploma of Nursing | Bachelor of Nursing |
Ahpra registration | Required | Required |
Eligible to practise as a nurse | Yes | Yes |
Want to know more about nurse registration? Read our Ahpra Registration Guide.
Yes. International students can become nurses in Australia by completing an approved nursing qualification and meeting the registration requirements.
In most cases, you'll need to:
Complete an NMBA-approved Diploma of Nursing or Bachelor of Nursing
Meet the English language requirements for Ahpra registration (such as IELTS or another accepted English test)
Apply for Ahpra registration after graduating
Begin your nursing career as an Enrolled Nurse or Registered Nurse, depending on the qualification you completed
If you're not sure which pathway is right for you, an IDP counsellor can help you compare nursing courses, understand entry requirements and plan your study journey in Australia.
An IDP counsellor can help you compare the EN and RN pathways, choose between a Diploma or Bachelor of Nursing, apply to your preferred institution, and guide you through your Student visa application.
We'll also help you plan your study journey with your future nursing career in mind.
Ready to take the next step?
No. An Enrolled Nurse (EN) and a Registered Nurse (RN) are different nursing roles. An EN completes a Diploma of Nursing and works under the direction and supervision of an RN. An RN completes a Bachelor of Nursing and has a broader scope of practice, including assessing, planning and managing patient care.
Yes. Many Enrolled Nurses choose to continue their studies by completing a Bachelor of Nursing. Depending on the university, you may receive credit transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which can reduce the time needed to complete your degree.
Yes. An Enrolled Nurse is a qualified and registered nurse who provides direct patient care. Like Registered Nurses, ENs must complete an approved nursing qualification and register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
Registered Nurses generally earn more than Enrolled Nurses because they have a broader scope of practice and greater clinical responsibilities. Actual salaries vary depending on your experience, employer, location and area of nursing.
To become a Registered Nurse in Australia, you'll typically need to complete a Bachelor of Nursing, which usually takes around three years of full-time study. After graduating, you'll need to register with Ahpra before you can practise.
Yes. International students can study nursing in Australia by enrolling in an approved nursing course that meets NMBA requirements. After graduating, you'll also need to meet the English language and Ahpra registration requirements before practising as a nurse.
Yes. Both Enrolled Nurses and Registered Nurses must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) before they can practise in Australia.
To register as a nurse in Australia, you'll need to meet Ahpra's English language requirements. IELTS is one of the accepted tests. The required scores depend on Ahpra's current registration standard. Be sure to check the latest requirements before applying.
Yes. International students in Australia can generally work while studying, provided they meet the conditions of their Student visa. Many nursing students also complete clinical placements as part of their course, giving them valuable hands-on experience.
It depends on your goals. If you want to start working sooner, becoming an Enrolled Nurse may be a good option. If you're looking for broader career opportunities, leadership roles or the chance to specialise, becoming a Registered Nurse may be the better fit. An IDP counsellor can help you compare both pathways and choose the one that's right for you.
Book an appointment
We'll call you back
Call
1800664700
