Nursing & midwifery CV guide
Lead with your registration (e.g. NMC PIN, AHPRA number, RN licence) and its status. For each post give the ward or unit, patient group, bed numbers and shift pattern.
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Sections to include
| Section (in this order) | How important |
|---|---|
| Profile | Recommended |
| Registration & licences | Expected |
| Experience | Expected |
| Education | Expected |
| Clinical skills | Recommended |
| Courses & CPD | Recommended |
| References | Recommended |
Key facts
- In the EU, qualifications of nurses responsible for general care and of midwives are recognised automatically under Directive 2005/36/EC. Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu
- Nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom must be on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register to practise. Source: nmc.org.uk
- Registered nurses in the United States are licensed by a state board of nursing after passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Source: nclex.com
- Nurses and midwives in Australia must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia through Ahpra. Source: ahpra.gov.au
- Nurses in New Zealand must be registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and hold an annual practising certificate. Source: nursingcouncil.org.nz
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
Tips
- Lead with your registration (e.g. NMC PIN, AHPRA number, RN licence) and its status.
- For each post give the ward or unit, patient group, bed numbers and shift pattern.
- List competencies: IV, cannulation, medicines management, specific equipment.
- Overseas nurses: state your OSCE / NCLEX / IELTS or OET status.
- In the EU/EEA, automatic recognition (Directive 2005/36/EC) covers nurses responsible for general care; specialist nursing qualifications go through the general recognition route.
Registration by country
Regulated jobs need the local registration or licence on the CV, or a note that the application is in progress. Confirm current requirements with the regulator.
| Country | Profession | Registration or licence |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Nurses | NMC registration (PIN) |
| United States | Nurses | State RN licence (NCLEX-RN) |
| Canada | Nurses | Provincial nursing regulator registration (e.g. CNO, BCCNM); NCLEX-RN |
| Australia | Nurses | AHPRA registration (NMBA) |
| New Zealand | Nurses | Nursing Council of New Zealand registration (APC) |
| Ireland | Nurses | NMBI registration |
| Germany | Nurses | State permission (Erlaubnis) to use the title Pflegefachfrau / Pflegefachmann, after recognition (Anerkennung) |
| Netherlands | Nurses | BIG register entry |
| France | Nurses | Ordre national des infirmiers registration |
| United Arab Emirates | Nurses | DHA (Dubai), DOH (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah Health Authority or MOHAP licence, or eligibility letter |
| Saudi Arabia | Nurses | Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) classification and registration (Mumaris Plus) |
| Qatar | Nurses | Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP, formerly QCHP), Ministry of Public Health |
| Kuwait | Nurses | Kuwait Ministry of Health licence (Medical License Department) |
| Oman | Nurses | Oman Ministry of Health licence (after the OMSB occupational classification exam) |
| Singapore | Nurses | Singapore Nursing Board registration |
| United Kingdom | Midwives | NMC registration (midwife) |
| United States | Midwives | CNM / CPM certification and state licence |
| Canada | Midwives | Provincial College of Midwives registration |
| Australia | Midwives | AHPRA registration (NMBA) |
| New Zealand | Midwives | Midwifery Council of New Zealand registration |
| Ireland | Midwives | NMBI registration |
Nurse CVs by country
- Nurse CV for the United Kingdom
- Nurse CV for the United States
- Nurse CV for Canada
- Nurse CV for Australia
- Nurse CV for New Zealand
- Nurse CV for Ireland
- Nurse CV for Germany
- Nurse CV for Austria
- Nurse CV for Switzerland
- Nurse CV for the Netherlands
- Nurse CV for France
- Nurse CV for Sweden
- Nurse CV for Norway
- Nurse CV for the United Arab Emirates
- Nurse CV for Saudi Arabia
- Nurse CV for Qatar
- Nurse CV for Kuwait
- Nurse CV for Oman
- Nurse CV for Singapore
- Nurse CV for Japan
Questions
What should a nursing CV include?
A nursing CV needs your contact details, experience, education and registration and licences, and usually profile, clinical skills, courses and CPD and references. Lead with what employers in this field check first, and back it up with specific examples. Lead with your registration (e.g. NMC PIN, AHPRA number, RN licence) and its status. The CV Atlas readiness check flags anything this field expects that your CV is missing.
What order should the sections of a nursing CV be in?
Use this order for a nursing CV: Profile, Registration & licences, Experience, Education, Clinical skills, Courses & CPD and References. Put the most important evidence for this field near the top, and list entries within each section with the most recent first. Contact details and your name always come first, in the header. Some countries change the order, for example Japan lists history oldest first, and CV Atlas applies that automatically.
How long should a nursing CV be?
It depends on the country more than the job. A nursing CV in the United States should be 1–2 pages; in the United Kingdom, 2 pages; in Australia, 2–4 pages. Keep recent roles detailed and older ones brief, so your strongest evidence sits on the first page. Pick your target country in CV Atlas and it applies the local length and paper size.
Do nurses need to put their registration on their CV?
Yes. Nurses should show their nursing registration or licence (number and status), or exam progress (e.g. NCLEX, OSCE) near the top of the CV, in its own section, with the registering body and status. If you are still applying, list it with the status “In progress” so employers can see where you stand. The body depends on the country. Confirm current requirements with the regulator before applying; CV Atlas names the usual body for the main destination countries.
How do I make a nursing CV stand out?
For each post give the ward or unit, patient group, bed numbers and shift pattern. List competencies: IV, cannulation, medicines management, specific equipment. Be specific: name the systems, settings and results, start each bullet with a verb, and keep it to one line where you can. Show the scale of your work with numbers where it helps. Tailor the first lines of your profile and each role to the job advert.
Which jobs does the nursing CV guide cover?
This guide covers 28 job titles, including Registered nurse, Staff nurse, Charge nurse / ward manager, Nurse practitioner, Clinical nurse specialist, Intensive care nurse, Emergency nurse and Theatre / perioperative nurse. They share the same CV structure and checks. If your exact title is not listed, type it into CV Atlas and pick the closest field. Country rules such as photos, length and references are added on top when you choose where you are applying.
Jobs this guide covers
Registered nurse · Staff nurse · Charge nurse / ward manager · Nurse practitioner · Clinical nurse specialist · Intensive care nurse · Emergency nurse · Theatre / perioperative nurse · Mental health nurse · Paediatric nurse · Neonatal nurse · Community / district nurse · Practice nurse · School nurse · Oncology nurse · Dialysis nurse · Learning disability nurse · Nurse educator · Nursing director / matron · Travel nurse · Licensed practical nurse (LPN) · Enrolled nurse · Nursing associate · Midwife · Health visitor · Occupational health nurse · Infection control nurse · Aesthetic nurse
Country guides
Photo, date of birth, length and paper size change by country. Start with United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, or see all 200 countries.
Open the builderYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Guidance checked October 2026; facts checked 2026-10-15. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.