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NP standards for practice

Last checked 5 October 2026

General information only, not legal or regulatory advice; check the official NMBA page before applying.

The NMBA Nurse practitioner standards for practice took effect on 1 March 2021. They are the minimum standards for both beginning and experienced NPs, across practice settings. They build on the registered nurse standards for practice.

The standards sit across four domains: clinical, education, research and leadership. The NMBA says the criteria under each statement are examples of NP behaviour, not a complete list.

The 4 standards and 12 statements​

Standard 1: Assesses using diagnostic capability​

  • 1.1 NPs demonstrate complex and critical thinking to conduct comprehensive, relevant and holistic health assessments.
  • 1.2 NPs demonstrate accountability in the timely and considered use of diagnostic investigations to inform clinical decision making.
  • 1.3 NPs integrate theoretical and practical knowledge to apply diagnostic reasoning to formulate diagnoses.

Standard 2: Plans care and engages others​

  • 2.1 NPs critically and ethically translate and integrate evidence-based knowledge into planning care.
  • 2.2 NPs educate and support others to enable their active participation in care.
  • 2.3 NPs consider quality use of medicines and therapeutic interventions using their comprehensive knowledge when planning care.
  • 2.4 NPs collaborate and consult for care decisions to obtain optimal outcomes for the person receiving care.

Standard 3: Prescribes and implements therapeutic interventions​

  • 3.1 NPs use professional knowledge when prescribing indicated non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions.
  • 3.2 NPs manage episodes of care, establishing and maintaining respectful relationships with people at the centre of care.
  • 3.3 NPs recognise their duty of care and practise in accordance with federal, state and territory legislation and professional regulation governing NP practice.

Standard 4: Supports health systems​

  • 4.1 NPs engage in reflective practice and evaluate the outcomes of their practice.
  • 4.2 NPs advocate for, participate in, or lead systems that support safe care, partnership and professional growth.

Showing the standards in your application​

The endorsement guidelines say applicants who completed an NMBA-approved NP program are generally not asked for separate evidence of meeting the standards, because the program shows it. Pathway 2 applicants are asked to map their units of study to the standards and to provide position descriptions and narratives.

How EndorseMe helps​

  • Portfolio records (open in EndorseMe) has a Standards tab where you map your evidence to the NMBA standards.
  • Case exemplars (open) asks you to map each case to the standards.
  • In the Sim, practice feedback can be grouped under the NMBA practice statement each point relates to. This is practice feedback only. It is not an assessment against the standards.

Official sources​