Nurse prescribing training scheduled for 2026
30 Sep 2025
A significant change to nursing regulation in Australia has come into effect, allowing registered nurses (RNs) to prescribe a range of medicines once they complete approved training.
The new standard, approved by state and federal health ministers in December 2024, means eligible RNs will be able to prescribe Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines under an active prescribing arrangement with an authorised health practitioner.
“This standard is one of the biggest changes to nursing regulation in decades,” said Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Chair Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey. She noted the change will improve access to safe and affordable healthcare.
New guidelines clarify that an authorised health practitioner in this context must be an “authorised autonomous prescriber.” Endorsed RNs will be educated to make diagnostic and treatment decisions within their competence and scope of practice.
While the move expands the RN role, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has expressed concerns about safety, particularly regarding Schedule 8 medicines. The RACGP recommended limiting RN prescribing to Schedule 2, 3 and 4 medicines under supervision in areas of identified need.
To become an endorsed prescriber, RNs must:
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Hold current registration with no relevant conditions
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Have at least 5,000 hours of clinical experience post-registration within the last six years
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Complete an approved education program
Although no program of study has yet been formally approved, four providers have submitted programs for assessment, which could allow hundreds of students to begin studies in early 2026. Graduates from these programs are expected from mid-2026, further strengthening the RN workforce under this new model.
Endorsed RNs will also complete a six-month clinical mentorship with an authorised health practitioner. Prescribing will align with each RN’s role, the relevant clinical governance framework, prescribing agreement, and state or territory medicines legislation.
An implementation oversight group, co-chaired by the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers of NSW and South Australia, will guide the rollout of RN prescribing across the country.
In related updates, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) released the third edition of the National Prescribing Competencies Framework. The framework outlines the skills and knowledge needed by all prescribers, including best practice in medicine use, professional obligations, person-centred care, cultural safety, and guidance on prescribing unapproved therapeutic goods, compounded products, and off-label medicines.
Source: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
