Nursing

Nursing is a respected and growing industry that is essential for the health of the community. Our Diploma course prepares you to work as an Enrolled Nurse under the supervision of a registered nurse in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, aged care, primary health, GP clinics, community settings and mental health.

CIT’s Diploma of Nursing is fully accredited by the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). This means, when you complete your studies at CIT, you will be eligible to apply for your Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration to become an Enrolled Nurse right away!

Industry Placement

Mandatory Professional Experience Placement (PEP) (minimum 400 unpaid hours in total) will be provided in areas such as acute care, aged care, mental health rehabilitation, community nursing, diabetic and wound clinics, primary health and palliative care.

Mandatory Professional experience placement blocks will be over three semesters.

Stage 1: 3 weeks
Stage 2: 4 weeks
Stage 3: 4 weeks

Please note: A student who is pregnant cannot attend Professional Experience Placement for a period commencing six (6) weeks prior to the estimated date of delivery. A student can return to placement six (6) weeks after the actual date of birth, provided they submit a doctor's letter of fitness from a registered medical practitioner confirming they are fit to return to nursing duties.

Why study nursing at CIT?

  • Ultramodern, on-campus training hospital facility
  • Clinical industry placement fully coordinated by CIT
  • Fully accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)
  • Be eligible to apply for your Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration to become an Enrolled Nurse right away!
  • Many job opportunities in Canberra and throughout Australia

Use your mouse on the video below to get a 360` look at CIT's Nursing Lab.

  • Course Details
    Course/s

    Diploma of Nursing | HLT54121
    CRICOS: 112865H

  • Course Duration
    Duration

    TOTAL CIT PACKAGE: 1.5 years
    Diploma of Nursing: 1.5 years including a combination of online learning, face-to-face learning and skill development in the Simulated Laboratory (3- 4 days per week in class and simulated labs). Includes mandatory Professional experience placement.

  • Course Intake
    Intake

    2026 Semester 1 (February, April)

    2026 Semester 1 (July, October)

    2027 Semester 1 (February, April)

    2027 Semester 2 (July, October)

  • Course Campus
    Campus

    CIT Bruce

  • Course Fees
    Fees*

    Tuition Fees:

    2026 Semester 1: $9,940 per semester (Total qualifications tuition fees $29,820)

    Extra Fees:

    Material fees: $5900 approx., Uniform/Equipment: $500 Placement books: $200 approx., Stationary: $50 First Aid Training: $150– $250, Police check from the Australian Federal Police* Working With Vulnerable People Check: $135 approx.

    *Note: A police check with a disclosure may prevent Professional experience placement and therefore affect your entry and/or progress in the course.

  • *Please note - Course fees are listed in $AUD and are based on a semester rate. Total course cost will vary depending on semester start date. Small tuition and material fee increases may occur annually in line with CIT's fee pricing review. Fees are subject to change.

  • Entry Requirements

    Academic requirements:

    • You must be at least 18 years of age to apply for this qualification.
    • Year 12 Certificate (or equivalent) with at least a “C” grade average in English and Maths (completed within the last 10 years) Please provide evidence of your most recent and highest completed level of completed studies.
    • Numeracy test - the college will email the Numeracy test information to you after you send your application to CIT International
    • A police check – from the Australian Federal Police for “Code 8” - Hospital Employment ($56 approx)
    • A letter from a General Practitioner confirming fitness to work as a nurse (cost of a general consultation) - please use letter from this link GP letter (PDF)
    • Evidence of current immunisation status for the following: Tuberculosis (TB), measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (Chicken pox), hepatitis B with titre, pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria, tetanus and influenza (up to $400 approx.)
    • You will need to show evidence of your COVID-19 vaccine
    • A current Senior First Aid Certificate National Unit of Competency First Aid  HLTAID011 ($150-$250 approx.)
    • An ACT Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) Card

    Students over the age of 20 may be eligible for adult entry. Please refer to Entry Requirements for more information.

    English requirements:

    • IELTS: 7.0 overall (Academic) (minimum band score in each section: - - 7.0 for listening, reading, and speaking and 6.5 for writing)
    • TOEFL iBT - 94 (minimum scores in each section: listening - 24, reading - 24, writing - 24, speaking - 23)
    • PTE Academic - 66 (minimum scores in each section: listening – 66, reading – 66, writing – 56, speaking - 66)

    The below listed documents are useful tools to assist you with your Nursing applications process, these documents are located on the CIT International Publications page:

    Students who achieve an overall IELTS 6.5 (Academic) or IELTS 6.0 (Academic) can apply for the Certificate IV in Mental Health which may provide a pathway into the Diploma of Nursing.

    Upon completion of the Mental Health program, students must sit an IELTS test and meet the Nursing English proficiency requirement (Academic IELTS 7.0 with no band score less than 7.0).

    All students will be registered with AHPRA for the duration of the course. http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Student-Registrations.aspx
    This course has three mandatory clinical industry placements (400 hours in total). Provided in areas such as: Acute Care, Aged Care, Mental Health Rehabilitation, Community Nursing and Palliative Care. Before any clinical placements can commence, you will have to provide: a doctor's certificate (to say you are fit to undertake nursing duties); evidence of commencement of required vaccinations; a First Aid Certificate valid for the duration of the course and a completed police check. CIT teachers will arrange all placements.

  • Course Subjects - Diploma

    Diploma of Nursing | HLT54121

    Complete all subjects in each stage before moving to the next stage. This course has a mandatory industry placement. Studies cannot be undertaken without concurrent professional placement experience.

    Stage 1:

    • HLTINF006 Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control
    • BSBMED301 Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately
    • HLTENN036 Apply communication skills in nursing practice
    • HLTENN045 Implement and monitor care of the older person
    • HLTENN035 Practise nursing within the Australian health care system
    • HLTAAP002 Confirm physical health status
    • HLTENN037 Perform clinical assessment and contribute to planning nursing care
    • HLTENN038 Implement, monitor, and evaluate nursing care plan
    • HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct client care
    • CHCCCS038 Facilitate the empowerment of people receiving support

    Stage 2:

    • HLTENN041 Apply legal and ethical parameters to nursing practice
    • HLTENN044 Implement and monitor care for a person with chronic health conditions
    • HLTENN042 Implement and monitor care for a person with mental health conditions
    • HLTENN039 Apply principles of wound management
    • HLTAAP003 Analyse and respond to client health information
    • HLTENN043 Implement and monitor care for a person with acute health conditions (Part One)
    • CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
    • CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
    • HLTENN040 Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy – Part 1

    Stage 3:

    • HLTENN043 Implement and monitor care for a person with acute health conditions (Part One)
    • HLTENN040 Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy (Part two)
    • CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
    • HLTENN068 Provide end of life care and a palliative approach in nursing practice
    • HLTENN047 Apply nursing practice in the primary health care setting
    • HLTENN057 Contribute to nursing care of a person with diabetes
    • CHCPOL003 Research and apply evidence to practice
  • Likely Job Outcome

    Work as an Enrolled Nurse after registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

  • Teaching Methods and Assessment

    Study is conducted in the Simulated Work Environment (SLE) where students will practice skills and perform assessments prior to industry placements, for example, personal care, manual handling, performing vital signs and administering medications. Study modes also include clinical placements (work experience), self-directed learning and online learning and student engagement through e-Learn.

    Students are assessed in various ways. Students must complete class work, assignments, practical components and project work throughout a course. They may then be assessed using a combination of these tasks. Assessment outcomes may be based on proving competence in various clinical skills, successfully completing theory-based quizzes and assignments and projects, or a combination of all four assessment methods.