HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing

On completion of the Diploma of Nursing you will be eligible to apply for registration as an Enrolled Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. 

Enrolled Nurses work in Hospitals in a range of clinical areas, Community Health settings, Residential Aged Care, General Practice Clinics, Day Surgery, Point of Care Testing centres, Educators for students studying Certificate III Health related courses, with women and babies, mental health rural and remote health care settings to name just a few.

Skill recognition

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL is the acknowledgement of a person's skills and knowledge acquired through previous training, work or life experience, which may be used to grant status or credit in a subject regardless of how and where they were attained, including overseas.This can include skills from:

• Previous study excluding courses at another VET/TAFE institution, but including courses at school or college, through adult education classes or training programs at work;
• Work experience (including both work that is paid and unpaid); and/or
• Life experience (for example leisure pursuits or voluntary work).

RPL is a form of assessment. It is used to determine whether a person has acquired, through formal or informal learning, the skills and experience consistent with the stated competency standards that comprise a qualification. RPL is not time referenced, so there are no parameters on how or when the skills are acquired. However, the skills that have been acquired through life experience etc., must be current and must match the elements and performance criteria contained in the individual unit.

Students seeking RPL need to indicate this on their enrolment form at the time of enrolment.

For further information please refer to the Applicant's Guide to the Recognition of Prior Learning or contact Student Central on 1800 061 963 (free call) or email Student.Central@cdu.edu.au.

Credit Transfer

Charles Darwin University as a Registered Training Organisation recognises the Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and Statement of Attainments issued by any other Australian Registered Training Organisation.

Students are encouraged to submit any requests for credit from previous studies at the time of enrolment, to ensure they are not enrolling in units they may not need to undertake.

In order to apply for exemption/credit transfer from units completed at another training organisation, you will need to complete an Application for Exemption Form available from any campus, centre, or team, or a copy of the form can be obtained from the web.

Your completed Application for Exemption form together with attached documentary evidence (certified copy of Qualification/Statement of Attainment) to support your request for exemption/credit transfer should be submitted directly to the University either in person or by mail. Requests without documentary evidence will not be processed and will be returned to students. There are no fees attached to Credit Transfers.

Pathways

VET to Higher Education Pathway Mapping for completed Awards in the same field or discipline.

Students who successfully complete VET qualifications at the Certificate IV level or above and subsequently enrol in a Bachelor degree in the same field or discipline, will receive advanced standing as detailed in the table below.

HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing - 2026

Compulsory Student requirements:

• A Northern Territory Resident

And one of the following:

• Must hold a complete and up to date First Aid certificate to at least (HLTAID011) prior to entry.
• Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) or the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 60*.
• Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate III level or higher.
• Successful completion of at least 0.5 years of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma.
• Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.

Nursing students must meet a specific level of English language proficiency before they start in a course.

You can show English language proficiency by:

• completing a declaration that English is your primary language, or
• sitting an English language proficiency test.

All applicants are required to meet the English Language Skills Registration Standard as outlined by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) at www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/.

Applicants will be required to submit the following via their CDU application to demonstrate they meet the above standard prior to being included in offer rounds in one of the following ways:

1. Primary Language Pathway:

A signed English Language Declaration indicating the following:

1. English is their primary language; and
2. They have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country*, including at least two years between years 7 and 12.

*Recognised countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, and USA.

OR

2. English Language Test Pathway

Applicants have achieved and can supply evidence of the required minimum scores in one of the following English language tests:

• IELTS (Academic) Minimum Scores
• Band score of 7.0 in all bands
• (IELTS Indicator test is not accepted)
• TOEFL Minimum Scores
• Internet-based: total score of 94 with a minimum of 27 in Writing, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Reading and Listening
• (TOEFL Home edition test is not accepted)
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) Minimum Scores
• Overall score of 65 AND Skills profile of 65 in Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening
• Occupational English Test (OET)
• A minimum result of B/score of 350 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

TOEFL Home edition and IELTS Indicator tests are not accepted for entry to Nursing and Midwifery courses

This is a current, nationally accredited qualification from the HLT Health Training Package.

Employability Skills are embedded in the training and assessment of national training package qualifications. Information on the Employability Skills relevant to your qualification can be obtained by visiting this website and keying in the national code for the qualification: training.gov.au

Delivery at all locations is subject to sufficient demand and resources.

Locations: Alice Springs, Casuarina

Study Mode: both

Subject to demand other locations and modes may become available throughout the year.