Staff Nurse is one of the most sought-after government posts for nursing graduates in Andhra Pradesh. Many candidates assume it works like a typical competitive exam, with a syllabus, a question paper and a cut-off. In recent Andhra Pradesh cycles the picture has been different, and that difference decides how you should spend your time. This guide explains who recruits Staff Nurses, what qualification and registration you need, how the age limit and relaxations work, how the 100-mark merit calculation is built, what the post pays, which documents cause trouble, and how to prepare for the stages that actually exist.
The most important point comes first. The notification we could read in full from the official health department portal, Notification No. 08/2024 of the Andhra Pradesh Medical Services Recruitment Board, selected Staff Nurses on merit weightage and not through a written test. Rules change between notifications, so treat this guide as a framework and always read the current notice on the official website before you apply. For the wider exam landscape, see the Andhra Pradesh government exams 2026 guide.
Who recruits Staff Nurses in Andhra Pradesh
Staff Nurses work in teaching hospitals, area and district hospitals, community health centres and primary health centres. The recruiting route depends on the programme that funds the post, so the first job when you see an advertisement is to identify who issued it.
The Andhra Pradesh Medical Services Recruitment Board, usually shortened to APMSRB, sits under the Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department. Its notifications are published on its own portal and mirrored on the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare website and the Directorate of Medical Education website. In Notification No. 08/2024, dated 27 February 2024, the Board invited applications for Medical Officers and Staff Nurses in Urban Primary Health Centres and Urban Health and Wellness Centres under the National Health Mission, on a contract basis. Of 189 vacancies in that notice, 87 were Staff Nurse posts.
District-level offices have also advertised Staff Nurse contract posts in the past, for example through the District Medical and Health Officer or the hospital services coordinator of the Andhra Pradesh Vaidya Vidhana Parishad. These notices follow the same general logic, but each office states its own dates, vacancies and rules. Candidates who treat one notice as a template for all of them are the ones who miss a condition.
As on October 2026, we could not open the full text of the most recent notification. Secondary reports describe a 2026 notification from the Board covering several hundred Staff Nurse posts, but we have not been able to confirm its figures against the official document, so we do not quote them as fact. Check the Board portal for the current notice, its dates and its vacancy table.
The nature of the post: contract and regular
An important detail is the mode of appointment. The posts in Notification No. 08/2024 are filled on contract under the National Health Mission. That is a different thing from a regular, pensionable cadre post, and candidates should read the mode of recruitment column of every notice, because it affects tenure, renewal, the pay structure and what the merit list is valid for.
The 2024 notification states that the merit list prepared under it is valid for one year or until the next notification is issued, whichever is earlier. Vacancies are described as provisional and can increase or decrease with the needs of the department. In practical terms this means a merit list is not a permanent queue. If you miss a cycle, you apply again in the next one, and your weightage, which depends on years since qualification and service, is recalculated on that notification's reference date.
Regular posts in teaching hospitals and other institutions are filled under separate notifications and service rules. The framework in this guide for qualification, registration and documents applies broadly, but the selection method and pay structure for a regular post can differ, so never carry the contract rules over without checking.
Eligibility: qualification and registration
Eligibility has two parts, an academic qualification and a professional registration. Both must be in order on the date the notification specifies.
| Requirement | What Notification 08/2024 states |
|---|---|
| Qualification | GNM or B.Sc (Nursing) course from a government or private institution recognised by the Andhra Pradesh Government |
| Registration | Registered with the Andhra Pradesh Nursing and Midwife Council, with up-to-date renewal |
| Date for qualification | Qualification must be held on the date of the notification |
| Equivalent qualification | Attach a copy of the government order recognising the equivalence, or the application is rejected |
Source: APMSRB Notification No. 08/2024 (official, health department portal). As on October 2026, check the latest notification for any change.
Here is how the pathways to these qualifications work, from the Indian Nursing Council's published eligibility criteria. For General Nursing and Midwifery, the entry requirement is 10+2 with English and at least 40 per cent at the qualifying examination, and a registered Auxiliary Nurse Midwife with passing marks is also eligible. For B.Sc Nursing, the entry requirement is 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and English, with an aggregate of 45 per cent. Post Basic B.Sc Nursing is open to those who hold a GNM certificate and are registered as RN and RM with a State Nurses Registration Council.
A common question is whether a Post Basic B.Sc holder is eligible. The 2024 notice speaks of GNM or B.Sc (Nursing), so a candidate with a post-basic degree should check whether the current notice names the qualification they hold, and attach any government order needed to show equivalence. Do not assume.
Registration with the Andhra Pradesh Nursing and Midwifery Council
The Andhra Pradesh Nursing and Midwifery Council was established under Act No. 5 of 1964. Its own website says it registers the certificates of nurses, midwives, health workers, health visitors and B.Sc nurses, and that certificates must be renewed every five years in line with Indian Nursing Council recommendations. A candidate trained in another state can register in Andhra Pradesh after obtaining a No Objection Certificate.
For recruitment, the practical rule is that your registration must be valid on the relevant date, and the 2024 notice says in plain words that the renewal must be up to date. A registration that lapsed because the five-year renewal was missed is a real reason for rejection, and fixing it takes time.
Here is a simple way to handle it. Take out your registration certificate today, note the registration number and the renewal date, and put a reminder in your calendar well before the expiry. If you were trained in another state, start the No Objection Certificate process early, because it depends on two institutions. If your certificate shows a spelling of your name that differs from your degree or ID card, ask the Council for a correction before the notification arrives. A name mismatch discovered at the verification desk can cost you the post.
Age limit and relaxations
The 2024 notification fixed the upper age limit at 42 years under G.O.Ms.No.105, General Administration (Service-A) Department, dated 27 September 2021, with relaxations for specified categories. The age was counted as on the date of the notification.
| Category | Should not have completed |
|---|---|
| OC candidates | 42 years |
| EWS, SC, ST and BC candidates | 47 years |
| Differently abled persons | 52 years |
| Ex-servicemen | 50 years |
Source: APMSRB Notification No. 08/2024. As on October 2026, the reference date and the figures are set by the current notification, so read its age clause. A further point is worth stating: the notice says age is reckoned on the date of notification, not the last date to apply. A candidate who completes 42 years only after the notification date is therefore still counted as within the OC limit. Always read the clause and count from the stated date.
For the wider rules on relaxations across Andhra Pradesh recruitments, see the Telugu guide on age limit relaxation in our Telugu library.
Reservations
The 2024 notification applies the rule of reservations under Rule 22 of the Andhra Pradesh State and Subordinate Service Rules and the instructions issued from time to time. It cites the government orders governing BC, SC and ST reservations, reservations for differently abled persons, reservations for economically weaker sections, reservations for ex-servicemen, and reservations for meritorious sportspersons.
What does this mean for you? It means your category certificate must be in the format and validity the notice demands, and that the merit list is drawn up by category and roster point, not as one flat list. If you apply under a reserved category, check the date on your certificate. Some certificates need to be recent, and an old certificate at verification is a common cause of delay. If you rely on a local-status claim, keep your study and residence proofs ready in the form the notice names.
Method of selection: the 100-mark merit calculation
This is the section that changes how you prepare. The 2024 notification states total marks of 100 and no written examination. The marks are divided like this.
| Component | Marks | How it is calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Academic marks | 75 | 75 per cent of the marks are allotted to the aggregate of marks obtained in all years of the qualifying examination, or an equivalent qualification |
| Waiting-period weightage | up to 10 | 1 mark for each completed year after acquiring the requisite qualification, counted as on the date of the notification |
| Contract, outsourcing or honorarium service | up to 15 | Weightage for satisfactory service, certified by the competent authority |
Source: APMSRB Notification No. 08/2024.
The 15 marks for service have their own sub-rules. They are given at 2.5 marks per six months in a tribal area, 2.0 marks per six months in a rural area and 1.0 mark per six months in an urban area. No weightage is given for service of less than six months, and spells of service are also considered. The notification adds a separate rule for COVID-19 service: where a person served for COVID-19 on contract, outsourcing or honorarium and was appointed by the competent authority under the government orders it lists, and the service is certified by the controlling officer, weightage applies, and a person who served less than six months receives 0.83 marks per completed month.
A worked example
Take two candidates. Candidate A finished the qualification five years before the notification date and scored 70 per cent overall. Candidate B finished it two years before and scored 78 per cent.
Candidate A gets 75 x 0.70, which is 52.5 marks, plus 5 marks for five completed years, plus any service weightage. Candidate B gets 75 x 0.78, which is 58.5 marks, plus 2 marks for two completed years, plus any service weightage. Before service weightage, A has 57.5 and B has 60.5. If A has served two years in a rural area, that is four half-years at 2.0 marks, which is 8 marks, taking A to 65.5. B with no service stays at 60.5.
This example uses the formula in the 2024 notice for illustration. It is not a prediction, and the exact method of converting your marks into the 75-mark component is set out in the current notice. Do the arithmetic with your own marks as soon as a notification is out, so you know where you stand.
What this means for preparation
There is no question paper to practise for in this pattern. Your marks are already fixed, because your academic aggregate is history. The things you can still control are the accuracy of the application, the quality of your service certificates, the validity of your registration, and your documents. That is why the rest of this guide treats paperwork as seriously as study. It is also why a candidate with a lower aggregate can still improve their position through certified service in tribal or rural postings.
Pay and allowances
In Notification No. 08/2024 the Staff Nurse remuneration was Rs. 27,675 per month on contract, against Rs. 61,960 for Medical Officers in the same notice. As on October 2026, the figure for the current cycle must be taken from the current notification. Secondary reports suggest the same figure in 2026, but we have not confirmed it against the official document.
Contract remuneration is a consolidated figure. It is not the same thing as a pay scale with dearness allowance and regular increments. If you compare offers, compare like with like, and ask what the notice says about allowances, leave and renewal.
Documents and the verification desk
Because the process is merit-based, the document check is the real examination. Candidates who lose the post usually lose it here, not in marks.
Keep one folder, physical and scanned, with the following: the GNM or B.Sc certificate and all year-wise mark memos, because the academic aggregate is built from every year; the internship completion certificate; the registration certificate and the latest renewal; the Class 10 certificate for date of birth; the category certificate and any government order needed for equivalence; service certificates from the competent authority showing dates, the area of posting and satisfactory service; and photo identity. Prepare two attested sets.
Check that the name, father's name and date of birth are spelled the same everywhere. If they are not, a correction or an affidavit-based name certificate can take weeks, so begin before the notification.
The 2024 notice makes one point explicit: a candidate holding an equivalent qualification must enclose a copy of the government order, and failing that, the application will be rejected. That kind of line is easy to miss in a long PDF, so read every numbered clause.
Step-by-step application checklist
- Open the official Board portal directly and read the full notification, including the annexure with post-wise vacancies.
- Note the dates for online application. The 2024 window ran from 28 February to 10 March 2024, about twelve days, so there is no room to postpone.
- Check qualification, registration validity and age as on the date the notice uses.
- Compute your own merit estimate using the formula, so you can apply to the right zone or district if the notice allows a choice.
- Prepare scans in the format and size the portal accepts.
- Submit, save the application PDF and the payment receipt if a fee applies.
- Watch the official site for the provisional merit list, objections window, final list and counselling or posting notice.
Exam traps and common mistakes
The first trap is assuming a written test. Candidates spend months on general studies for a recruitment that selects on weightage. Read the method of selection clause first.
The second is counting age from the wrong date. The notice states the reference date, and it is not always the last date to apply.
The third is a lapsed registration. The notice asks for up-to-date renewal. A certificate that was valid at graduation can be expired now.
The fourth is overlooking service certificates. Fifteen marks is a large part of a 100-mark score, and a certificate that does not name the area of posting, the dates, or satisfactory service from the competent authority can be rejected. Ask the issuing office for a properly worded certificate before you leave a posting.
The fifth is relying on a social-media post for dates. Dates are on the official portal only.
If a written test is part of a notification
Not every nursing recruitment is the same. Some state and central nursing recruitments conduct written tests, and a future Andhra Pradesh notice could introduce one. If that happens, the test is likely to lean on core nursing subjects. The areas below are the usual groups from a nursing curriculum, and they are sensible revision material even when no test is announced, for example for interviews or for a regular-post exam.
| Subject group | What to revise |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of nursing | Nursing process, vital signs, infection control, asepsis, drug administration routes |
| Medical-surgical nursing | Common cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and endocrine conditions, pre- and post-operative care |
| Obstetrics and gynaecology | Antenatal, intranatal and postnatal care, danger signs, newborn care |
| Paediatric nursing | Growth milestones, immunisation schedule, nutrition, common childhood infections |
| Community health nursing | National health programmes, epidemiology terms, communicable disease control |
| Mental health nursing | Basic concepts, common disorders, therapeutic communication |
| Pharmacology | Drug classes, dosage calculation, adverse effects |
| Ethics and professional practice | Consent, confidentiality, documentation, council rules |
The distribution of marks across these groups is set by each notification. We have not verified any fixed syllabus or weightage for an Andhra Pradesh Staff Nurse written test, so we do not state one. If a notice announces a test, the syllabus attached to it is the only authority.
How to study these groups well
Use one standard textbook per subject, usually the one from your own course, and read it once through. Then move to questions, because recall under time pressure is a separate skill. Keep an error log with a one-line reason for each miss: concept gap, forgotten value, misread question, or confusion between two close options. Revisit the log weekly.
Dosage calculation deserves special attention because it is where careless errors cost the most in real practice and in tests. Practise the basic formula of desired dose over available dose multiplied by the quantity, with unit conversions, until the steps are automatic.
A realistic preparation plan when the process is weightage-based
When there is no paper to study for, preparation shifts from marks to readiness. A four-week plan can help.
Week one is for the audit. Check registration validity, renewal date, name consistency across documents, and your category certificate. Request service certificates if you have worked on contract.
Week two is for fixing. Apply for corrections, begin renewal if it is near expiry, and collect equivalence orders if your qualification needs them. Scan everything.
Week three is for the merit estimate. Work out your academic aggregate as the notice defines it, your completed years since qualification, and your service weightage. Know your number.
Week four is for clinical revision. Even without a written test, interviews and joining-stage assessments exist in hospital work, and your first months on the job reward a candidate who keeps fundamentals fresh. Revise vital sign ranges, immunisation schedule, and the nursing process.
Candidates already working in a hospital can link study to duty. When you handle a procedure on the ward, find where it sits in the curriculum that evening and read the rationale. This works better than reading blindly.
Compare with related health posts
Staff Nurse, Pharmacist and Laboratory Technician posts sit in the same department and are often advertised through the same recruiting channels. Each demands its own qualification and its own council registration, so there is usually no cross-eligibility. The 2026 reports mention Staff Nurse, Pharmacist and Multi Rehabilitation Worker together in one notice, which reflects this shared channel, but verify against the official document. Read the notice for each post separately, even when they appear in one PDF, because qualification, registration and remuneration differ line by line.
Key facts for exams
- The Andhra Pradesh Medical Services Recruitment Board issues Staff Nurse notifications for several National Health Mission contract posts.
- Notification No. 08/2024 is dated 27 February 2024 and covers 189 posts, of which 87 are Staff Nurses and 102 are Medical Officers.
- Qualification is GNM or B.Sc (Nursing) with registration in the Andhra Pradesh Nursing and Midwife Council, with up-to-date renewal.
- Staff Nurse remuneration in that notice was Rs. 27,675 per month on contract.
- Upper age: 42 years for OC, 47 for EWS, SC, ST and BC, 52 for differently abled persons and 50 for ex-servicemen, as on the date of notification.
- Selection is on 100 marks: 75 for the academic aggregate, up to 10 for years since qualification at 1 mark per year, and up to 15 for contract service.
- Service weightage is 2.5 marks per six months in tribal areas, 2.0 in rural areas and 1.0 in urban areas.
- The merit list is valid for one year or until the next notification, whichever is earlier.
- Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council must be renewed every five years.
- The Andhra Pradesh Nursing and Midwifery Council was established under Act No. 5 of 1964.
Ten practice MCQs with answers
1. Which body issued Notification No. 08/2024 for Staff Nurses on contract under the National Health Mission? A. Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission B. Andhra Pradesh Medical Services Recruitment Board C. Staff Selection Commission D. Andhra Pradesh State Level Police Recruitment Board Answer: B.
2. In that notification, how many marks were allotted to the academic aggregate? A. 50 B. 60 C. 75 D. 90 Answer: C. The total was 100 marks.
3. A candidate completed GNM four years and four months before the notification date. Under the 1 mark per completed year rule, how many waiting-period marks apply? A. 4 B. 5 C. 4.33 D. 10 Answer: A. Only completed years count.
4. Service weightage per six months in a tribal area was A. 1.0 mark B. 1.5 marks C. 2.0 marks D. 2.5 marks Answer: D.
5. A Staff Nurse candidate in the SC category should not have completed how many years as on the date of notification, as per the 2024 notice? A. 42 B. 45 C. 47 D. 52 Answer: C.
6. Within what period must nursing certificates be renewed with the Andhra Pradesh Nursing and Midwifery Council? A. Every year B. Every three years C. Every five years D. Every ten years Answer: C.
7. Which statement about the merit list in the 2024 notice is correct? A. It is valid for five years B. It is valid for one year or until the next notification, whichever is earlier C. It is valid only until counselling D. It is permanent Answer: B.
8. A candidate served for five months in a rural area on contract. What service weightage does the 2024 rule give? A. 1.0 mark B. 2.0 marks C. 0.83 marks D. None Answer: D. Service of less than six months receives no weightage under this rule, apart from the separate COVID-19 provision.
9. Which of these is the standard formula for a drug dose calculation? A. Desired dose divided by available dose, multiplied by quantity B. Available dose multiplied by desired dose C. Quantity divided by desired dose D. Desired dose plus available dose Answer: A.
10. A candidate trained in another state wants to register in Andhra Pradesh. What does the Council's website say is needed? A. A fresh entrance test B. A No Objection Certificate C. A repeat of internship D. Nothing Answer: B.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a written test for Staff Nurse in Andhra Pradesh? In the official Notification No. 08/2024 there was none. Selection used academic marks, waiting-period weightage and service weightage. A future notice could differ, so read the method of selection clause each time.
Can a B.Sc Nursing candidate and a GNM candidate both apply? The 2024 notice accepted GNM or B.Sc (Nursing) from recognised institutions. Whether they are merged into one list or ranked separately is stated by each notification.
My registration is expiring. Can I still apply? The 2024 notice asks for registration with up-to-date renewal. Renew before you apply, and keep proof of renewal.
Does a fresher need experience? The 2024 notice did not require experience for Staff Nurse. Experience helps through the service weightage, which can add up to 15 marks.
How is age calculated? As on the date of the notification, with relaxations by category, as set out above. Check the current notice for its reference date.
What documents should I keep ready? Year-wise mark memos, the qualification certificate, internship certificate, registration and renewal, Class 10 certificate, category certificate, service certificates and identity proof.
Where should I look for the official notification? The Board portal, the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare website and the Directorate of Medical Education website. Avoid relying on forwarded images.
Is the pay the same in every cycle? No. The 2024 notice stated Rs. 27,675 per month on contract. As on October 2026, confirm the figure in the current notification.
Related reading
- Andhra Pradesh government exams 2026 guide
- AP government schemes notes for APPSC and SI
- Telugu edition of this guide: AP స్టాఫ్ నర్స్ రిక్రూట్మెంట్
A soft nudge to practise
If you want timed practice on general topics alongside your nursing revision, you can use the free sections on pareeksha.in, which offers 10 Lakh+ MCQs, 100+ Exams and 5,000+ Full-Length Mocks. Treat it as practice only. For dates, eligibility, age, pay and selection, the official notification is the final word.
Sources and verification
Pages we actually opened:
- Andhra Pradesh Medical Services Recruitment Board, Notification No. 08/2024 dated 27 February 2024 (PDF on the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare portal, cfw.ap.nic.in). Source for qualification, registration, age, reservations, method of selection and remuneration quoted above.
- Andhra Pradesh Nursing and Midwifery Council, About Us page (hmis.ap.nic.in/APNMC/aboutus.html). Source for the Act, registration and five-year renewal.
- Indian Nursing Council, eligibility criteria page (indiannursingcouncil.org/eligibility-criteria). Source for GNM, B.Sc Nursing and Post Basic B.Sc entry requirements.
- Directorate of Medical Education, Andhra Pradesh homepage (dme.ap.nic.in): opened, no Staff Nurse recruitment notice displayed at the time.
- APMSRB portal home page (apmsrb.ap.gov.in): opened, showed only a header.
Not verified: the full text of the 2026 Staff Nurse notification, including its vacancy count, fee, dates and age cut-off, because the official document could not be opened as readable text. Any 2026 figure is therefore not quoted as fact. Also unverified: any syllabus or weightage for a written test, durations of the GNM and B.Sc courses, and regular-cadre pay scales. Check the latest notification.
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