Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Re-Entry)

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Duration
0.5 years full-time, 1 year part-time
Location
Online
Next start term
Term 2, 2026
Study mode
Online
Course code
CH79
First-year fee
$2,368 (2026 Indicative) (CSP)
$15,078 (2026 Indicative) (FFP)
Commonwealth Supported Places available, offering significant fee savings. Term 1, 2026 applications have closed. Register your interest to stay informed about the next available intake.
OverviewStructure & AvailabilityRequirementsFees & ScholarshipsHow to Apply
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A nursing student and teacher discussing a patient's file with patient lying in hospital bed in background

Overview

If you are a registered nurse whose registration has lapsed, this course will enable you to regain full registration while also assisting you to build your skills and experience.

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Re-Entry) enables you to develop advanced knowledge and skills in order to return to work as a Registered Nurse. 

This course will build on your existing theoretical, practical and research knowledge. This course will include a five-day residential school and 160 hours of industry-based learning. 

On successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Nursing (Re-Entry), you will be eligible for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Study Experience

Discover more about your online Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Re-Entry) and how you'll benefit from practical residential school and clinical placement opportunities during your studies. Click 'Explore Study Experience' for more information.

  • Commonwealth Supported
  • Flexible Online Study
  • Study Full-time or Part-time
  • Professional Development
  • Residential Schools
  • Clinical Placements

Career Opportunities

Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Re-entry) and acquiring registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia you will be equipped to work as a Registered Nurse within Australia. As a Nurse, you can choose from a number of roles in the healthcare profession including positions in:

  • public and private hospitals
  • general health services
  • mental health
  • community health
  • residential care
  • indigenous health
  • remote and rural health.

Structure & Availability

The course structure and available locations can change depending on when you want to study. You can choose the intake that best suits you in the drop-down menu below.

Available Locations

Your Course

You must complete three units (24 credits):

  1. 1
    The core structure (3 units)

Unit Details

The units you'll study are listed below. Click on a unit to learn more.

Course Planner

To help you plan your studies and see which unit comes first, if one unit should be completed before another and the term you will study each unit, check out our course planners.

Browse course planners

Additional Information

Professional Practice - Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)

Core

This course has professional accreditation with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, subject to Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) approval.

Students must attend a 5-day compulsory residential school at the end of the term, before attending work-integrated learning. The location of the residential school will be determined by timetabling.

Clinical Nursing Practice - NURS20162

Students will complete 160 hours of work-integrated learning in an area of nursing where they have relevant experience. Student rosters will be at the discretion of the facility, it is expected that students work all shifts. Students may be required to travel to attend work-integrated learning.

Duration and timing of Placement Units

YearClinical Placement Unit, Duration and Timing
1

Clinical Nursing Practice (NURS20162)

  • 160 hours in Term 1 (full-time) or Term 2 (part-time)

Placement locations

As places are limited, it is not always possible to secure a clinical placement close to home. You may be required to travel to another location, resulting in additional travel and accommodation expenses.

From July 2025, the Australian Government has established a new Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) for eligible students to help manage the costs associated with undertaking a mandatory placement (also known as a practicum or work- integrated learning). Learn more about CPP.  

If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies. 

Learn more about credit and recognition of prior learning.

This course does not permit you to defer your offer and commence at a later date. If you are unable to commence in the term you receive an offer, you will be required to submit a new admission application to commence at a later date. 

Learn more about the offer process.

Requirements

To Be Eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements. 

During Your Study

While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies. 

Mandatory checks - health and work-integrated learning requirements

This course includes a range of work-integrated learning opportunities, such as clinical placements. Before you can attend a clinical placement, you will need to complete a list of mandatory checks. Visit our preparing for your nursing clinical placements webpage for more information about mandatory checks and specified deadlines. You will be unable to complete a clinical placement without first meeting these requirements.

Fees & Scholarships

Indicative First-Year Fee

The Indicative First-Year Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one academic year depending on the type of place you are offered, for example, a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or Full Fee Paying (FFP) Place. For a graduate certificate, this is usually four units studied full-time over one term or part-time over two terms. The indicative fee should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Check the Cost per Unit spreadsheet available on our Understanding Course Fees webpage. 

Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. Fee estimates for the following year are expected to be available in September each year.

Commonwealth Supported Places

With Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this course in 2026, you may be eligible for significant fee savings, provided you meet CSP eligibility requirements. CSPs are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees.

If you are not eligible for a CSP or if CSPs are full, you will be required to pay full fees.

HECS-HELP

You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan if you are offered a CSP. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees. 

Learn more about paying for university.

Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP)

From July 2025, the Australian Government has established a new Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) for eligible students to help manage the costs associated with undertaking a mandatory placement (also known as a practicum or work- integrated learning). 

Learn more about CPP.  

Part of your course costs will include Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). SSAF is charged in addition to your student contribution or tuition fees and is used to help enhance your study experience. There may also be other costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations. 

Explore other study costs.

We believe a quality education can be for everyone – regardless of background, location, or life circumstances. That's why we offer a variety of scholarships and bursaries that can give you a helping hand with a range of expenses and enhance your employability.

Explore scholarships.

How to Apply

How to Apply

Check what you need to do to apply to study this course. 

Your Application Options

Follow These Steps

  1. 1
    Check you meet the course requirements
  2. 2
    Get a Unique Student Identifier

Extra Admission Information

Learn about the assessment of applications and everything you need to know about receiving and accepting an offer to study with CQU.

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