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| 1. If I am overseas-qualified, may I practise as a Physiotherapist in Australia? |
Yes if
1. You have previously been registered with an Australian State or Territory Physiotherapists Registration Board then you may still be eligible to practise your profession in Australia. You should contact the relevant State/Territory Registration Board to clarify your situation.
2.You hold a current practising certificate from the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand then you are eligible to apply directly to any Physiotherapist Registration Board, excepting Western Australia, for registration under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement.
If you are not currently registered to practise in Australia or New Zealand then:
you are required to undertake the Australian Physiotherapy Council assessment process before being eligible to apply to register to practise with one of the Australian State or Territory Physiotherapists Registration Boards. If you do not have at least one year’s experience in the practice of physiotherapy (after graduation), you may find that conditions on registration may apply in some Australian States/Territories.
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The first step is to apply to for an assessment of your eligibility to undertake the examinations.
Form 1249 lists the documents you need to submit for an initial assessment of your qualifications and skills to be carried out. If your qualifications and skills satisfy the eligibility criteria you will be invited to undertake the professional examinations - Written Examination and the Clinical Examination. On successful completion of the examinations process, you will receive confirmation of your eligibility to apply to register to practise as a physiotherapist in Australia, and – if applicable – be issued with a statement of suitability for migration purposes (under a Skilled Migration visa, in the occupational category of Physiotherapist, ASCO code 2385-11).
To practise Physiotherapy in Australia, you must be registered with the local State or Territory physiotherapy registration authority.
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Yes, registration requirements do differ for holders of Working Holiday Maker Visas.
Working Holiday Maker Visa Holders
You may apply directly to the Physiotherapists Registration Boards for conditional/provisional registration to practise as a physiotherapist for up to three months in any one position in that State.
Please note: Not all States have this category of registration.
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If you wish to migrate to Australia as a Skilled Migrant (in the occupational category, Physiotherapist, ASCO code 2385-11), you are required to have a skills assessment undertaken by the Australian Physiotherapy Council before applying for permanent residency.
You are required to obtain a skills assessment even if you have a qualification that is immediately acceptable to Australian State and Territory Physiotherapists Registration Boards, including a recognised Australian physiotherapy qualification.
A. Intending migrants with Qualifications Immediately Acceptable
Physiotherapists' with current Australian and/or New Zealand practising certificate and physiotherapists' who hold an Australian qualification that is recognised for registration purposes
Download and complete Form 1249a and include the listed documents.
If your qualification is deemed to be immediately acceptable, you will receive a statement confirming the suitability of your skills for the occupational category of Physiotherapist (ASCO code 2385-11) and a certificate for migration purposes. This will take up to two weeks to process.
You would then be eligible to proceed with your migration application.
B. Intending migrants with Qualifications not Immediately Acceptable
Download and complete Form 1249 and include the listed documents.
Your qualifications and skills will be assessed against eligibility criteria.
If deemed eligible to undertake the professional examinations in physiotherapy, you will be required to undertake all exam components i.e. the Written exam and the Clinical exam.
On successful completion of the assessment and examinations process, you will be issued with an Australian Physiotherapy Council Final Certificate and confirmation of your eligibility to apply to register to practise as a physiotherapist in Australia. If you have indicated your intention to migrate you will also receive your skills assessment for immigration - Skilled Migration Certificate- occupational category of Physiotherapist (ASCO code 2385-11) for migration purposes.
You would then be eligible to proceed with your migration application.
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If your qualifications are immediately acceptable to the Australian State/Territory Physiotherapists Registration Boards for registration purposes, then you would only be required to have your skills assessed if it was your intention to migrate to Australia under the Skilled Migration category. If you are just wishing to practice as a physiotherapist and not migrate you do not need to have your skills assessed.
Please note: Not all Australian physiotherapy qualifications are immediately acceptable to Physiotherapists Registration Boards. The immediately acceptable qualifications are those qualifications that are awarded following successful completion of a physiotherapy program that has been accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council. If you are uncertain whether your Australian physiotherapy qualification falls into this category, you should seek advice from the Australian Physiotherapy Council or the university from which you graduated.
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Full Exemption
Currently, only three groups of physiotherapists may apply for exemption from the Australian Physiotherapy Council examination process:
- Qualified physiotherapists who hold a current practising certificate in an Australian State/Territory
- Qualified physiotherapists who hold a current practising certificate in New Zealand and
- Overseas citizens holding an accredited Australian university degree in physiotherapy
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Provided the Australian Physiotherapy Council receives all required documentation with your application, we aim to process your eligibility assessment application within 5 to 6 weeks from the date it is received at the office. The result will be sent to you by post or, if you indicate you wish to receive electronic communication, it will be sent by email.
Please remember: If you have an overseas physiotherapy qualification that is not recognised for immediate registration to practise in Australia, your eligibility assessment is only the first stage of the process of obtaining a skills assessment. The eligibility assessment is not an assessment of your skills for migration purposes. Your eligibility assessment determines your eligibility to undertake the professional examinations in physiotherapy. You are required to successfully complete the entire examinations process before you can obtain your skills assessment certificate.
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All Candidates are required to meet the English Language Requirement.
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The Australian Phyisotherapy Council is the gazetted Australian assessing authority for the occupation of Physiotherapist (ASCO code 2385-11).
The Australian Physiotherapy Council assesses your current clinical competency whereas Registration Boards assess and evaluate your application for registration and grant or withhold registration.