Key messages
- In December 2024, Health Ministers approved for appropriately experienced and qualified registered nurses (RNs) to prescribe Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines in partnership with an authorised health practitioner (e.g. medical practitioner or nurse practitioner). These RNs will be known as designated RN prescribers.
- To become a designated RN prescriber, an RN must complete further study. RNs must also be endorsed through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
- The Department of Health is working with Safer Care Victoria to implement designated RN prescribing in Victoria.
- Designated RN prescribing will likely be implemented in Victoria in stages. This means designated RN prescribers may initially be able to practice only in limited settings.
- RNs interested in becoming designated RN prescribers should read the information contained on this page. This page will be updated as new information becomes available.
In Victoria a range of health professionals can prescribe medicines. This includes:
- doctors
- dentists
- optometrists
- nurse practitioners
- podiatry prescribers
- endorsed midwives.
Health Ministers approved designated RN prescribing in December 2024. It will enable registered nurses to prescribe Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines in partnership with an authorised health practitioner (e.g. medical practitioner or nurse practitioner). It will also help improve access to medicines for Victorians, especially those in rural and remote areas. Implementation in Victoria is underway.
Designated RN prescriber
A designated RN prescriber is an RN with an endorsement to prescribe Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines. They do this in partnership with an authorised health practitioner.
This endorsement is called an endorsement for scheduled medicines - designated registered nurse prescriber.
Becoming a designated RN prescriber
To apply for the endorsement, an RN must:
- Hold general registration as an RN in Australia, with no conditions or undertaking relevant to this endorsement.
- Have completed 5,000 hours of clinical experience within the past six years (equal to three years full-time experience).
- Have completed postgraduate study that leads to the endorsement or have completed equivalent units approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
The NMBA publishes all approved programs of study on its website. See the NMBA's website for approved programs of .
RNs who want to study to become designated RN prescribers should talk to their employers prior to enrolling to ensure their employers can accommodate their practice as designated RN prescribers.
Important clarifications
RNs cannot practice as designated RN prescribers until amendments to Victoria’s drugs and poisons regulations are in place. At this stage, these amendments will be in place around mid to late 2026. Further information will be provided in due course.
RN prescribing may be implemented in Victoria in a phased approach. If so, the first phase of the rollout would be in the following settings:
- hospitals
- residential aged care
- palliative care
- prisons and police gaols
If rolled out in a phased approach, initially, designated RN prescribers will be unable to prescribe outside these settings.
Understanding the roles
Nurse practitioner (NP)
Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses who have completed a Master's level education. Nurse Practitioners can diagnose, treat and prescribe medicines within their scope of practice.
Rural and Isolated Practice Registered Nurse (RIPRN)
A RIPRN can supply and administer medicines from Schedules 2, 3, 4 and 8 independently in accordance with the Primary Clinical Care Manual (Queensland Health) and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) 2016.
RIPRNs cannot prescribe medicines for patients to take home. RIPRNs work in rural and regional Urgent Care Centres, bush nursing hospitals and bush nursing centres. RIPRNs undertake study at a post-graduate certificate level.
Designated Registered Nurse prescriber
A designated RN prescriber will be able to prescribe Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines in partnership with an authorised health practitioner.
Designated RN prescribers must successfully complete postgraduate study that leads to the endorsement for scheduled medicines – designated registered nurse prescriber.
More information
RNs interested in becoming designated RN prescribers should see the following resources published by :
- Fact sheet: Registration standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines – designated registered nurse prescriber
- Guidelines for registered nurses applying for and with the endorsement for scheduled medicines – designated registered nurse prescriber
Reviewed 19 November 2025