On 30 September 2025, the new registration standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines – designated registered nurse prescribercame into effect. This new endorsement standard enables suitably qualified and experienced registered nurses (RNs) to apply for an endorsement for scheduled medicines with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). The NMBA designated registered nurse prescriber endorsement will enable a registered nurse to administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, supply and/or use Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines, in partnership with an authorised health practitioner, within their scope of practice and in accordance with relevant state and territory legislation.

This significant change to nursing practice is designed to improve and expand access to timely and affordable care, especially in rural and remote areas, while easing pressures on acute and primary care settings with endorsed registered nurses who have completed the NMBA-approved postgraduate qualification (or equivalent units), demonstrate at least three years’ clinical experience and undertake a six-month clinical mentorship being able to prescribe in partnership with authorised prescribers

  • December 2024: Health Ministers approved the Registration Standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines – designated registered nurse prescriber.
  • January 2025: The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) published the Registered Nurse Prescribing Accreditation Standards, ensuring education providers are ready to deliver approved education programs.
  • July 2025: ANMAC commenced assessment and accreditation of education programs. Following accreditation these programs of study will then need to be approved by the NMBA prior to enrolment of students.
  • September 2025: Registration Standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines – designated registered nurse prescriber standard takes effect in Australia.
  • Note: ANMAC approved programs of study leading to endorsement for scheduled medicines as a designated registered nurse prescriber are not yet available

To apply for endorsement as a designated registered nurse prescriber with the NMBA, the registered nurse must be able to demonstrate they:

  • Hold general registration as a registered nurse in Australia, with no conditions or undertakings relevant to this endorsement
  • Have completed 5,000 hours of clinical experience within the past six years (which is the equivalent to three years full-time)
  • Have completed:
    • NMBA-approved units of study leading to endorsement for scheduled medicines as a designated registered nurse prescriber

OR

    • Units of study equivalent to the NMBA-approved units of study leading to endorsement for scheduled medicines as a designated registered nurse prescriber

Once endorsed, the designated registered nurse prescriber will only be able to prescribe if they have:

  • an active prescribing in partnership agreement with an authorised health practitioner/s;
  • are undertaking or have completed a six-month period of clinical mentorship with an authorised health practitioner
  • a signed approval from their organisation/employer.

Medical practitioners, nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives are examples of authorised health practitioners.

An Implementation Oversight Group (IOG), co-chaired by the Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officers (CNMOs) of New South Wales and South Australia, has been established to guide the national roll-out of designated RN prescribing.

IOG membership includes representatives from jurisdictional and Commonwealth CNMOs, the NMBA, Ahpra and ANMAC. 

The group will work with key stakeholders to oversee a nationally consistent approach to implementation.

The SA Health Nursing and Midwifery Office (NMO) is leading the  implementation of designated registered nurse prescribing in South Australia. The goal of statewide implementation is to provide a consistent and supported approach that leads to the integration of sustainable designated registered nurse prescribing roles across appropriate SA Health sites and services.

Current planning and preparation for implementation of the new designated registered nurse prescribing includes:

  • National and inter-jurisdictional collaboration
  • Statewide policy development
  • Co-designing  and development of a clinical mentorship agreement template
  • Co-design and development of an authorised prescriber partnership agreement template
  • Establishing pathway to support the designated registered nurse prescribers transition to prescribing
  • Engagement and consultation with key stakeholders including health services, regulators, education providers and professional bodies
  • Participation in a research collaborative with Flinders University, Queensland University of Technology and Queensland Health

For further information on designated registered nurse prescribing, please refer to the following resources or visit the NMBA website.

Key contacts