I am taking a career break to care for my elderly parent and am thinking of letting my registration lapse but may want to return to practise at some point in the future. What is the best option for me?

There are several options depending on your individual circumstances and how long you wish to take off. Here are a couple of the more common approaches available to you.

If you can maintain your continuing professional development (CPD) and recency of practice requirements, it may be more appropriate for you to retain general registration. You may wish to choose this option if you are unsure how long you need to take off and how you will feel about returning to practice at a later stage.

You may also consider becoming a non-practising registrant. As a non-practising registrant, you are not required under the National Law to meet the registration standard requirements of CPD, professional indemnity insurance or recency of practice. However, if you hold non-practising registration and would like to return as a practising registrant, you must meet all the requirements of the following NMBA registration standards:

• criminal history
• professional indemnity insurance arrangements
• recency of practice.

If you do not meet the recency of practice registration standard requirement, you will need to follow the NMBA re-entry to practice requirements.

All nurses and midwives must renew their registration each year regardless of the type of registration they hold. If you do not renew your registration, your registration will lapse, and you will no longer be able to use any of the protected titles that apply for nurses and/or midwives. Your details will be removed from the Register of Nurses and/or Register of Midwives.