Midwifery and Nursing Professionals

How to become a Nurse Practitioner

Provides advanced and extended nursing care to people as authorised in relevant nursing legislation, in a range of health, welfare and community settings.

Main tasks

Assesses and diagnoses people's health conditions and needs
Orders and interprets diagnostic tests and investigations
Prescribes and administers medications and treatments independently, within the scope of nursing practice
Develops and implements patient care plans and management strategies
Provides education and guidance to people and their families on health promotion, disease prevention and self-care
Refers patients to specialist Medical Practitioners and other Health Professionals for further assessment and treatment
Evaluates and monitors peoples' responses to treatments and interventions
Maintains accurate and up-to-date patient records and documentation

Ways in

University: Nursing & Midwifery degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
TAFE and VET: Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121)
Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Typical full-time pay: $113,984 a year
About 363,800 people work in this job group now, and about 458,600 are projected by 2035. (+26.1%)
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Nurse Practitioner?

Ways in include: Nursing & Midwifery degrees; Diploma of Nursing.

How much does a Nurse Practitioner earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $113,984 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Nurse Practitioner a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 26% by 2035, from about 363,800 to about 458,600 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Nurse Practitioner?

Usually. 85% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Nurse Practitioner?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04