Application

Applications are now accepted for all the 16 specialties
under the Voluntary Scheme on Advanced and Specialised Nursing Practice

1. Who can apply?

The Nursing Council of Hong Kong ("the Council") has endorsed that a currently employed registered nurse ("RN") in Hong Kong meeting the following criteria should be eligible to apply for recognition as an advanced practice nurse:

  1. obtained a post-RN registration Clinical Master in Nursing / Health ScienceNote 1 in the related specialty; or
  2. obtained a post-RN registration Master degree in health related streamNote 1 AND completed the Post-registration Certificate Course ("PRCC") / Hospital Authority's Specialty Nurse Recognition Scheme Certificate / recognised in-service trainingNote 2 for at least 80 hours ; or
  3. is a Fellow of The Hong Kong Academy of Nursing & Midwifery (“HKANM”)(formerly known as The Hong Kong Academy of Nursing ("HKAN")) or equivalent; AND
  4. possessed six years of full time post-registration nursing experience immediately prior to his/her application in which at least the most recent four years must be serving in the related specialty area.

Note 1: The lists of recognised master programmes, which have been compiled with reference to courses recognised as attaining Level 6 of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework, are provided below. They are subject to regular review and update. For non-local qualifications which are not included in the lists, applicants are required to apply for assessment services from the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (“HKCAAVQ”).

Lists of Recognised Clinical Master in Nursing / Health Science Programmes and Master Programmes in Health Related Stream

Note 2: The recognised in-service training should be specialty training with structured content and clear learning outcomes, and have interaction as well as assessment components.

2. Application Procedures

The applicant should complete the application form and enclose originals and photocopies or notarized copies of the following to his/her current employer:

  1. Graduation certificate / transcripts of studies of a Clinical Master in Nursing / Health Science in the related specialty, or a Master degree in health related stream, and where applicable, a true copy of the qualifications assessment report issued by the HKCAAVQ;
  2. Proof of completion of the training programme, i.e. Post-registration Certificate Course (“PRCC”) / Hospital Authority’s Specialty Nurse Recognition Scheme Certificate / recognised in-service training for at least 80 hours, if any;
  3. Diploma of fellowship of The Hong Kong Academy of Nursing & Midwifery (“HKANM”)(formerly known as The Hong Kong Academy of Nursing ("HKAN")), if any;
  4. Documentary proof(s) certifying the total number of years of full time post-registration clinical experience immediately prior to his/her application and in the related specialty area respectively issued and/or certified by his/her employer(s); and
  5. Declaration form completed not more than six months before the application for recognition.

Upon receipt of the application, the current employer should certify the duration of full-time post-registration clinical experience of the applicant concerned in the specialty he/she is applying for immediately prior to the application. The employer should check, certify and submit the applications together with the supporting documents in one lot for its employees whose eligibility are ascertained to the Central Registration Office of the Department of Health.

Forms and Reference
Application for Recognition as an Advanced Practice Nurse pdf
Notes to Employers pdf
Covering Letter for Employers for submission of applications pdf
Presentation of the Online Briefing conducted on 26 January 2021 pdf
Frequently Asked Questions pdf

3. Enquiries

For enquiries, please contact the Council Secretariat at (852) 2527 8422 during office hours, or by e-mail at aa_nm1@dh.gov.hk. The office hours of the Secretariat are as follows:

Mondays: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesdays to Fridays: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
(Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays)