OSCE Exam Preparation
The OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) is the practical, second stage of Australia’s AHPRA Outcomes-Based Assessment, held in person at Adelaide or Melbourne. It assesses safe, person-centred nursing across 10 short clinical stations. Our programme combines four weeks of flexible online learning with a 3–4 day hands-on clinical intensive, including full timed mock OSCEs with individual feedback, so you walk into the exam calm, practised and confident.
- 10 stations
- 2 min read + 8 min perform
- 7 NMBA standards
- 4 weeks online
- 3–4 day intensive
- 2 mock OSCEs
Why this programme
Built around the real exam
Every module maps to the NMBA standards and the way stations are actually marked.
Flexible online, then hands-on
Learn the theory at your own pace, then convert it into skill in a face-to-face lab.
Real mock OSCEs
Sit full, timed practice circuits and receive individual, criteria-based feedback before exam day.
Small hands-on groups
The intensive is capped so you get plenty of practice time and personal attention.
Experienced RN facilitators
Learn from nurses who understand Australian practice and exactly how the exam works.
Support until you feel ready
We help you target your weak spots and walk in with a clear, calm plan.
Facilitators who have walked this path
You'll be supported by experienced registered nurses who understand Australian practice and the OSCE first-hand. We've helped many nurses through this final step: our goal is simply to get you exam-ready and make the process feel far less daunting.
Where the OSCE fits, the AHPRA registration pathway
Registration in Australia follows the Outcomes-Based Assessment (OBA) pathway. The OSCE is the final, practical step.
AHPRA self-check
Complete the self-check and receive your outcome (many nurses are placed in Stream B).
Cognitive exam
Pass the MCQ / NCLEX-RN knowledge stage.
OSCE
The practical, hands-on exam this programme prepares you for.
Apply for registration
Apply to the NMBA once you pass.
Good to know
You must pass the cognitive (MCQ / NCLEX) stage before you can sit the OSCE. The OSCE is held in person in Australia, Adelaide or Melbourne, with no offshore option. The AHPRA exam fee is paid separately, directly to AHPRA.
About the OSCE, exam format
10 stations, each a short clinical scenario: some with a simulated patient (actor), others a manikin or documentation only.
2 minutes to read the door note, then 8 minutes to perform. A full circuit runs about 3–3.5 hours.
Every station is marked against the 7 NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice, at graduate-RN level.
Where the marks really are
Examiners weight two things heavily alongside technical accuracy: SAFETY (hand hygiene / 5 Moments, patient identity, allergy and consent checks, safe disposal) and COMMUNICATION (introducing yourself, explaining care, and clear verbal, non-verbal and written communication). The most common way to fail a station isn't a knowledge gap: it's skipping the safety and communication steps while rushing to the task. The programme drills these until they're automatic.
The safe station scaffold
One scaffold taught for every manned station. It captures the safety and communication marks examiners look for.
Prepare
Read the task; hand hygiene; confirm equipment and environment.
Introduce
Introduce yourself and role; confirm identity; gain consent; check allergies.
Assess / perform
Work systematically and aloud; maintain asepsis; keep the patient informed.
Respond
Interpret findings; state your priority and plan; escalate if needed.
Close
Ensure patient comfort and safety; dispose of equipment; hand hygiene.
Document / handover
Record findings; deliver an ISBAR handover if asked.
The 7 NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice
| # | Standard | What it looks like in a station |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thinks critically and analyses nursing practice | Uses evidence and a clinical reasoning cycle to justify actions. |
| 2 | Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships | Introduces self, gains consent, communicates with respect and cultural safety. |
| 3 | Maintains the capability for practice | Works within scope; recognises limits; escalates appropriately. |
| 4 | Comprehensively conducts assessments | Systematic, focused assessment; collects and validates data. |
| 5 | Develops a plan for nursing practice | Forms priorities and a care plan based on findings. |
| 6 | Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality practice | Performs the skill safely and accurately; manages risk. |
| 7 | Evaluates outcomes to inform practice | Reviews the patient response and documents / hands over. |
Station domains covered
| Domain | Representative station focus |
|---|---|
| Patient assessment | Systematic A–G and focused system assessments. |
| Vital signs & deterioration | Accurate observations, interpretation and escalation. |
| Medication administration | Rights of administration and drug calculations. |
| Clinical procedures | Catheterisation, NG tube, oxygen, blood glucose, IV care. |
| Infection prevention & control | Hand hygiene 5 Moments, PPE and ANTT / aseptic technique. |
| Wound care | Wound assessment and aseptic dressing technique. |
| Communication & handover | Therapeutic communication and ISBAR handover. |
| Patient education | Discharge, medication and device teaching. |
| Emergency response | BLS, deteriorating patient, anaphylaxis, choking. |
| Mental health & documentation | Mental state / risk assessment and accurate documentation. |
Part 1, Online phase (4 weeks · about 8–11 hours per week)
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Australian practice & the exam: NMBA standards and Code of Conduct, the Australian context, cultural safety, and exactly how the OSCE is run and marked. |
| Week 2 | Assessing your patient: systematic head-to-toe (A–G) assessment and focused checks, reading and acting on vital signs, and recognising and escalating deterioration. |
| Week 3 | Core clinical skills & medication safety: infection control and aseptic technique, safe medication administration, drug calculations, and key procedures. |
| Week 4 | Bringing it together & exam readiness: patient education, emergency response and mental health assessment, then timing, station strategy and pitfalls, with recorded practice stations. |
Part 2, Clinical intensive (3–4 days · in person)
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Skills laboratory: infection control and ANTT, vital signs and A–G assessment, medication administration, and wound care. |
| Day 2 | Assessment, communication & the deteriorating patient: focused assessments with simulated patients, ISBAR handover, patient education, and BLS. |
| Day 3 | Full timed mock OSCE: a complete, exam-condition circuit with one-to-one feedback and a personal action plan. |
| Day 4 (where included) | Remediation, a second mock, and a full exam-day briefing covering venue, timing and nerves. |
What's included
- Four weeks of structured online modules and demonstration videos
- Weekly live tutorials with an experienced RN facilitator
- A curated resource library mapped to the exam
- Hands-on skills practice during the clinical intensive
- Two full, timed mock OSCEs under exam conditions
- Individual, criteria-based feedback and a personal action plan
- An exam-day briefing covering logistics, timing and nerves
- Support from the team throughout your preparation
This programme is designed for nurses who…
- Have completed the AHPRA self-check and are on the OBA pathway (typically Stream B).
- Have passed, or are about to pass, the cognitive (MCQ / NCLEX-RN) stage.
- Have an OSCE date booked or are preparing to book one.
- Want structured guidance plus real hands-on practice, rather than studying alone.
By the end, you'll be able to…
Walk into each station with a clear, calm plan for your reading time and eight minutes.
Perform a safe, systematic patient assessment and act on your findings.
Administer medications safely and calculate doses accurately.
Use correct infection-control and aseptic technique, and deliver a structured ISBAR handover.
Simple, all-inclusive pricing
Course fee A$2,000 includes the full online phase, live tutorials, resource library, clinical intensive, two mock OSCEs, feedback and exam-day briefing. The AHPRA OSCE exam fee is paid separately, directly to AHPRA. Travel and accommodation for the intensive are not included.
OSCE Exam Preparation FAQ
Do I need to have passed the NCLEX / MCQ before I start?
You can begin the online phase while you finish the cognitive stage, but you must have passed it before you can sit the OSCE.
Where is the OSCE held?
The OSCE is held in person in Australia, at Adelaide or Melbourne. It is not offered offshore. Our intensive runs close to your exam date.
Do you guarantee I will pass?
No responsible provider can guarantee a pass, and you should be cautious of any that do. We provide thorough, exam-focused preparation and genuine practice under exam conditions.
Is the AHPRA exam fee included in the course price?
No. The OSCE exam fee is paid separately to AHPRA. Your course fee covers your preparation, practice and feedback.
How big are the groups?
The hands-on intensive runs in small groups so everyone gets plenty of practice time and individual feedback.
What if I do not pass the OSCE?
Candidates who are unsuccessful can re-sit the OSCE with AHPRA. Talk to us about focused support to prepare for a re-sit.
Can I do the course from overseas?
Yes. The four-week online phase can be completed from anywhere. You then travel to Australia for the in-person intensive and the exam.
Real nurses. Real results.
Our students come from around the world with one goal: to build a better future.
“Vinod was my NCLEX-RN trainer years ago and he has strong skills in training and supporting his students with great enthusiasm and the highest standards.”
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. You were one of them in my student life.”
“I recently got a job with HSE and my overall learning experience was really good. The modules I completed really helped me with my interviews and in my current workplace.”
“Vinod Sir is an inspiring teacher and presenter. He conveys his depth of knowledge in creative and engaging ways, and his enthusiasm rubs off on his students.”
“As a student I really enjoyed the presentation of classes and his overall support and guidance during the tenure of the course.”
“A strong stimulus for students, pragmatic and result-oriented. He tailors his teaching to his students' needs and goes the extra mile. The best teacher and an adorable person.”
“Without his great supervision and guidance it would have been very difficult to pass. I passed 3 interviews from 3 different HSE hospitals, and I had the choice of whichever I wanted.”
“He is always approachable and passionate in teaching. Students become more active and attentive in his class.”
Ready to pass the OSCE?
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