The annual competition for places on the nursing registration-diploma programmes is conducted by the Nursing Careers Centre. The principles of equity and parity of treatment for all applicants underpin the selection processes employed by the centre. Responsibility for the overall running of the centre now rests with An Bord Altranais. From next year, the application system for places on the nursing diploma programmes will be administered by the Central Applications Office, CAO.
The minimum age and educational requirements for entry to the nursing diploma programmes are set by An Bord Altranais. An applicant must be at least 17 years of age on or before 1 June of the year of the application, and have obtained in the leaving certificate a minimum grade C3 in two higher level papers and a minimum grade D3 in four ordinary or higher level papers. A person who does not meet the minimum educational requirements and who is 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the year of application may apply as a mature applicant.