Registered Nurse (Surgical) (ANZSCO 254424)

On the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List and Core Skills Occupation List

From the official Home Affairs skilled occupation lists, as at 2026-08-12. Lists change at each government update — always confirm on the official page before acting.

Which lists is Registered Nurse (Surgical) on?

MLTSSL — Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List. The widest list — occupations on the MLTSSL can access the points-tested permanent skilled visas including the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), which needs no state nomination or employer.

CSOL — Core Skills Occupation List. The employer-sponsorship list — occupations on the CSOL can be nominated for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) and the Employer Nomination Scheme 186.

Visas this occupation can access

Being on a list makes the occupation nominatable for these visas — each visa still has its own requirements (points, age, English, a positive skills assessment, and for sponsored visas a willing employer or state).

Skills assessment

A positive skills assessment for Registered Nurse (Surgical) comes from:

What the assessment actually involves

ANMAC's qualification, English and Full/Modified pathway assessment applies the same way here as for every RN specialisation. Surgical requires a professional reference a recent, documented period of paid work on a surgical ward — pre- and post-operative patient care — within ANMAC's recency window (confirm the current period with ANMAC), distinct from operating-theatre (Perioperative) nursing.

Where these applications come unstuck

The overlap with Perioperative is the recurring confusion: theatre-based scrub or scout nursing does not evidence this code, and surgical-ward post-operative care does not evidence Perioperative. Applicants who worked across both settings need to be precise about which hours went where before nominating either code.

An honest read on this pathway

A reasonably common ward rotation for internationally trained nurses, so the evidence is often easier to source than for more niche specialties — the main risk is misfiling theatre experience against this code instead of Perioperative.

Registration and assessment both need paperwork. Nursing and health applications run two document trails at once — the skills assessment and professional registration. The Document Vault keeps one register of what you hold, what each body has asked for, and what is still outstanding.

Talk it through with a registered agent

Whether nominating Registered Nurse (Surgical) is your best route depends on your points, experience evidence and timing — exactly what a MARA-registered agent works through in an initial consultation. Describe your situation once through Migratio and compare real consultation quotes from registered agents, free.

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