Application for Initial Assessment for Approval to Undertake the Written Assessment by Overseas Qualified Physiotherapists Seeking to Qualify

for General Registration in Australia

The information on the form is collected by the Australian Physiotherapy Council for the purpose of assessing overseas qualified physiotherapists seeking to qualify for General Registration in Australia. Please read the Privacy Notice on Page 3 of the form for full details of how the information you provide in this application may be used and shared. EXPLANATORY NOTES YOU MUST READ THESE NOTES BEFORE COMPLETING THIS FORM. ONLY USE THIS FORM IF YOU ARE SEEKING TO QUALIFY FOR GENERAL REGISTRATION WITH THE PHYSIOTHERAPY BOARD OF AUSTRALIA BY COMPLETING THE THREE PART ASSESSMENT PROCESS. PLEASE ENSURE YOU PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTS EXACTLY AS DETAILED IN THE EXPLANATION FOR EACH ITEM OR YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE RETURNED AND A FEE WILL BE CHARGED TO COVER ADMINISTRATION AND POSTAGE. THE CURRENT FEE IS $55AUD TO ADDRESSES WITHIN AUSTRALIA AND $110AUD TO ADDRESSES OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA. ALL PHOTOCOPIED DOCUMENTS MUST BE HIGH QUALITY, CLEAR AND CERTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IN THESE EXPLANATORY NOTES.

Introduction The Australian Physiotherapy Council is appointed by the Health Ministers of Australia to perform accreditation functions under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2009 (National Law). One of these functions is the assessment of the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes of overseas-qualified physiotherapists seeking to qualify for general registration as a physiotherapist under the National Law. There are two ways a person who does not hold an Australian qualification approved by the Physiotherapy Board of Australia can qualify for General Registration. One way is to successfully complete the three part APC Assessment Process. The other way is to be assessed by the Australian Physiotherapy Council as holding a qualification that is substantially equivalent to an accredited Australian entry level qualification. The Australian Physiotherapy Council does not handle applications for registration this is ONLY an application for the first part of the APC Assessment Process. Who can apply for an Initial Assessment? Any overseas-qualified physiotherapist who wants to qualify for General Registration by completing the three part APC Assessment Process can apply for an Initial Assessment. How long will the Initial Assessment take? The Initial Assessment takes up to 2 weeks from the date the Australian Physiotherapy Council receives your correctly completed application form and all the required documents exactly as stated in this form. Do not contact the office to check the progress of your assessment unless it is more than 2 weeks since you were advised that your application was sent to the assessor. Posted mail to and from overseas countries is sometimes very slow. If you agree to receive all written correspondence by email to avoid postal delays, please indicate this in Section B of the form. What are the possible outcomes of an Initial Assessment? The assessor will evaluate your application to decide if you are: 1. Approved to apply for the Written Assessment, or 2. Not approved to apply for the Written Assessment.
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Who is approved to apply for the Written Assessment? You will be approved to apply for the Written Assessment if the assessors evaluation identifies that: 1. You hold a physiotherapy qualification, and 2. You can legally practise physiotherapy without any conditions on practice in the country where the qualification was gained, and 3. You have satisfied the Australian Physiotherapy Council English Language Requirement. What does the Written Assessment involve? The Written Assessment is the second part of the APC Assessment Process. The Written Assessment uses multiple choice questions about patient case scenarios to assess the knowledge, problem-solving and decisionmaking skills required for safe and competent practice of physiotherapy in the Australian context. The patient cases are drawn from the areas of cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and neurological physiotherapy in scenarios that are commonly encountered by novice practitioners in Australia. The Written Assessment is held at many venues around the world. There are two Written Assessment sessions each year these are currently held in the first week of March and September each year. Who is approved to apply for the Clinical Assessment? You will be approved to apply for the Clinical Assessment if you pass the Written Assessment. What does the Clinical Assessment involve? The Clinical Assessment is the third and final part of the Australian Physiotherapy Council Assessment process. In the Clinical Assessment you perform as the treating physiotherapist for real patients in three separate clinical case examinations. The three case examinations are in each of the key areas of physiotherapy clinical practice in Australia: neurology, musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory physiotherapy. You must demonstrate a safe and effective physiotherapy consultation with the patient in each of the three case examinations to be awarded an Australian Physiotherapy Council Final Certificate. The Clinical Assessment is only held in Australia at venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane. Clinical case examinations are regularly between 1 February and mid-December each year. How long does it take to complete the three part Australian Physiotherapy Council Assessment Process? Most candidates complete the process within 10 months from the date of approval for the Written Assessment. There are strict limits on the time that you can take to complete each part of the APC Assessment Process. Approval for the Written Assessment is valid for 12-16 months from the date of approval of the Application for Initial Assessment. Approval for the Clinical Assessment is valid for 14-16 months after passing the Written Assessment. What happens if I fail an assessment? There are strict limits on attempts at the assessments and there is no automatic entitlement to repeat a failed assessment. The Australian Physiotherapy Council will assess whether you currently have the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes to practice physiotherapy independently in Australia at the level of a novice practitioner. It is not an assessment of your potential or future knowledge, clinical skill and professional attributes. Who can apply for an Assessment of Equivalence of Qualification? Any overseas-qualified physiotherapist can apply but if you do not genuinely consider that your qualification meets the criteria for substantial equivalence, or if you cannot obtain the documents exactly as stated in the application form for an Assessment of Equivalence of Qualification, you should NOT apply for that type of assessment. The reason for this recommendation is that the non-refundable application fee for Assessment of Equivalence is $1430AUD and the assessment will take up to 6 weeks. The non-refundable application fee for Initial Assessment for Approval to Undertake the Written Assessment is $990AUD and the assessment will take up to 2 weeks.

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Certification Copies of documents provided in support of an application must be certified as true copies of the original documents. Certified copies must be high quality reproductions of original documents and will only be accepted in hard copy by mail or in person (not by fax, email, etc). Photocopies of previously certified documents will not be accepted. To have your documents certified you must take the original document and a copy of the document to a Justice of the Peace (JP), legal practitioner (lawyer, solicitor or barrister), Peace Commissioner, Commissioner of Oaths, Notary Public, Judge, Magistrate, or a person legally designated to sign documents from an embassy or consulate. The person certifying the documents must do the following, preferably in your presence: Certify that each document is a true copy of the original by writing I have sighted the original document and certify this to be a true copy of the original. Followed by the authorised persons signature, and the name, date of certification, and contact phone number, and have the stamp or seal of the authorised officer applied. Where there is more than one page, the certifier must also state how many pages are in the document and initial every page - I have sighted the original document and certify this to be a true copy of the original document of 66 pages - followed by the authorised persons signature, the name, date of certification, contact phone number, and have the stamp or seal of the authorised officer applied.
Internal reviews of decisions about applications If you disagree with the assessors decision about your application, you can request a review of the assessors decision. Your request must be sent in writing within 20 working days of the letter advising you of the assessors decision. Your request must state the reasons why you disagree with the decision, and include supplementary information or documents that support your reasons. A review fee of AUD $550.00 must be paid prior to the review. Requirements for General Registration as a Physiotherapist in Australia It is your responsibility to read information about eligibility for General Registration to practise physiotherapy in Australia on the Physiotherapy Board of Australia website www.physiotherapyboard.gov.au to ensure the other requirements for General Registration will be met if you successfully complete the Australian Physiotherapy Council assessment to qualify for General Registration.

Successful completion of the Australian Physiotherapy Council assessment process and awarding of the Australian Physiotherapy Council Final Certificate does not entitle you to practise physiotherapy in Australia and does not imply that an application to the Physiotherapy Board of Australia for General Registration will be successful as such decisions are the responsibility of the Physiotherapy Board of Australia. The Australian Physiotherapy Council accepts no responsibility if you are not approved for General Registration despite successfully completing the Australian Physiotherapy Council assessment process.
Information for intending migrants This is not an application for a skills assessment. The Australian Physiotherapy Council has a separate and different assessing role for the occupation of Physiotherapist (ANZSCO Code 252511) for the purpose of migration to Australia under the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) General Skilled Migration program. Do not use this form to apply for a skills assessment - you must use the Application for the Assessment of Physiotherapy Qualifications & Skills for Migration to Australia through the General Skilled Migration Program form available at www.physiocouncil.com.au. Please note that under migration law, you will need to apply for a skills assessment whether your basic physiotherapy qualification was completed in a country other than Australia or at an Australian University. The Australian Physiotherapy Council does not provide information about how to migrate to Australia. If you intend to migrate in a skilled migration category, important information is available via the website of DIAC www.immi.gov.au. It is essential that you read this information carefully - the first step in applying for skilled migration is to nominate an occupation from the Skilled Occupation List and have your skills and qualifications assessed by the relevant assessing authority. You can find the Skilled Occupation List on the DIAC website www.immi.gov.au. If your nominated occupation is Physiotherapist then the Australian Physiotherapy Council is the relevant assessing authority.
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Privacy Notice: Information in this form is collected in order to identify the applicant requesting an Initial Assessment, and to undertake an assessment of the individual seeking to qualify for General Registration with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia. We may also use the information collected for research and internal administrative procedures. The information collected may be passed on to other people within the Australian Physiotherapy Council and to the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). In other instances, information on this form can be disclosed without your consent where authorised or required by law. Step by step guide Step 1: Read the Explanatory Notes carefully Step 2: Complete the application form in English unless stated on the form Step 3: Ensure you have included ALL of the required information on the form and that you send the supporting documents EXACTLY as stated in the explanation for each item. Step 4: Arrange for your supporting documents to be certified as explained on page 2 of the Explanatory Notes.
NOTE: If your supporting documents are written in a language other than English, please provide the following with the application form: - one certified copy of all supporting documents in the original language; - one certified copy of the official translated version of all documents. The Australian Physiotherapy Council reserves the right to request you to provide translations completed by a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI)

Step 5: Post your application to the Australian Physiotherapy Council together with your payment or proof of payment, as explained in Section K of the application form Compulsory checklist for supporting documentation Please complete this final checklist to ensure that all required documents have been included: Your passport identity page Evidence of your visa or Australian residency status (if applicable) Evidence of change of name (if applicable) Graduation certificate for your initial physiotherapy qualification Official results transcript/statement of marks for your initial physiotherapy qualification Endorsed current photograph Initial registration certificate or IAP Life Membership certificate (if applicable) Current registration certificate (if applicable) Evidence of meeting the English language requirement Payment of application fee Evidence of funds transfer/direct deposit (if applicable) Section A Section A Section A Section D Section D Section E Section G Section H Section I Section K Section K

Your application will be returned and a fee* will be charged to cover administration and postage if: 1. You do not complete the form correctly; or 2. All required documents are not provided exactly as stated in the explanation for each item and the certification and translation requirements in the Explanatory Notes.

*THE CURRENT FEE IS $55AUD TO ADDRESSES WITHIN AUSTRALIA AND $110AUD TO ADDRESSES OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA. CONTACT DETAILS Email: enquiries@physiocouncil.com.au Post: Website: www.physiocouncil.com.au

GPO Box 587 Canberra ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA

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Application for Initial Assessment for Approval to Undertake the Written Assessment
YOU MUST READ THE EXPLANATORY NOTES BEFORE STARTING TO COMPLETE THIS APPLICATION FORM.

Please use black pen and write clearly in English unless the instructions ask you to write in your own language
(i) Have you ever previously submitted any other application to the Australian Physiotherapy Council (or to ACOPRA)?

No

Yes

Year:

(ii) Please indicate when you intend to sit for the written assessment if you are approved to undertake the Written Assessment (This form is NOT an application for the Written Assessment. You must read about the written assessment time limits on Page 2 of this document):

March

September

Year:

Section A: Your personal details

1 Preferred Title (please tick): 2 Family name (surname)

Explanation
Ms

Mr

Mrs

Miss

Other

Identification and visa

documents Provide a certified copy of your valid passport photo page

3 Given names
If you are currently living in Australia, and you do not hold a valid Australian passport, provide a certified copy of your current Australian visa and any entry stamps. If you are an Australian citizen but do not hold a valid Australian passport please contact the APC Office.

4 Previous family names documentary evidence is required if you have changed your name

5 Previous given names

6 Your date of birth (day/month/year) the identity page of your passport is required
The Australian Physiotherapy Council will only use the name that appears on your current passport.

7 Your country of birth

If the name that appears on your current passport is different to the name on any of your documents, provide 1 certified copy of one of the following as evidence of your change of name: - marriage certificate - divorce papers - deed poll

8 Gender:

Male

Female

9 Your first language

10 Your country of permanent residence (legally not physically)

Please ensure you provide the documents exactly as detailed in the explanation or your application will be returned and a fee will be charged to cover administration and postage. All certified copies must be high quality and clear.
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Section B: Your contact details

11 Your address for postal correspondence (indicate country, if outside Australia)

Explanation
Contact details
These details are for you, the applicant, and must be completed.

Email correspondence
12 Your daytime telephone number 13 Your mobile telephone number
Correspondence by email ensures you receive all information about your candidature reliably and efficiently. Email correspondence will include PDF attachments. Please ensure you have ticked yes or no for email correspondence. If you do not tick either box, all correspondence will be sent by email.

14 Your email address

15 I would like the Australian Physiotherapy Council to send all correspondence to me via email to the address provided in this form:

Yes

No

Section C: Third party contact details (optional)

16 Authorisation of another person to receive all correspondence I, (Write your full name)

Explanation
Third party authorisation
Only complete this section if you are authorising another person (for example a family member or migration agent) to act on your behalf regarding your application for assessment by Australian Physiotherapy Council. PLEASE NOTE: If you complete this section, the Australian Physiotherapy Council will send all correspondence to the authorised person and not to you.

authorise the person named below to act on my behalf in relation to my assessment by the Australian Physiotherapy Council and instruct the Australian Physiotherapy Council to send all correspondence about my assessment to the authorised person and not to me. 17 Details of authorised person Authorised persons Title: Authorised persons full name

Mr

Mrs

Miss

Ms

Other

Authorised persons correspondence address (indicate country, if outside Australia

Authorised persons email address

Authorised persons daytime telephone number

Mobile telephone number

Your signature

Date (day/month/year)

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Section D: Your initial physiotherapy qualification

18 What is the academic title of your initial physiotherapy qualification? In English

Explanation
Graduation certificates
Provide a certified copy of your physiotherapy graduation certificate, diploma or degree. Your official certificate must include the official university stamp.

In your own language (where applicable)

19 Name of the institution where you completed the qualification

Your official results

transcripts/statement of marks Provide a certified copy of your official transcripts for your initial physiotherapy course. Your official transcripts or statement of marks must include: - a list of each individual subject in your entire physiotherapy course - the grade or result you were awarded for each subject - the official university stamp

20 Full address of the institution where you completed the qualification

21 What are the normal entry requirements for the course?

22 What is the normal length of the course studied full time? Number of years OR Number of semesters or terms

23 Normal length of semester or term Number of weeks

24 Date you commenced course: (day/month/year)

25 Date you completed course: (day/month/year)

26 Did the course requirements include periods of clinical education in a hospital or clinic during the course?

Yes

No

27 Did the course requirements include an internship period in a hospital or clinic at the end of the course? Yes No

28 Were you required to complete a period of clinical internship or supervised practice or an examination AFTER you completed the course in order to be approved for full and unrestricted practice?

Yes

No

Please ensure you provide the documents exactly as detailed in the explanation or your application will be returned and a fee will be charged to cover administration and postage. All certified copies must be high quality and clear.

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Section E: Your current photograph

Print name of Guarantor (Attach photo here)

Explanation
Your current photograph
Securely attach (do not glue) a passport sized photograph of yourself taken less than three months ago and endorsed by a guarantor. Your guarantor must: - not be related to you by birth or marriage - have known you for at least 12 months - be at least 18 years of age - be able to endorse the back of the photo by writing, this is a true photo of (your name) and signing their name

Has your photograph been signed by your guarantor?

Contact phone number for Guarantor

Signature of Guarantor

Section F: Physiotherapy Board of Australia

29 Are you seeking to qualify for General Registration with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia?

Explanation
Requirements for General
Registration with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia

Yes

No
This information is available at www.physiotherapyboard.gov.au

30 I have read the other requirements for eligibility for General Registration as a physiotherapist in Australia and I acknowledge it is my responsibility to ensure I can meet those requirements.

Yes

No

Section G: Recognition for unrestricted practice

31 Registration/recognition authority in country of training

Explanation
Evidence that your
qualification is recognised and you are able to practise physiotherapy in the country of training without any restrictions

32 Date of initial registration/recognition Provide an explanation if you do not have any evidence that your qualification is recognised in the country of training but you are practising physiotherapy in the country of training

Provide a certified copy of your initial registration certificate for FULL unrestricted physiotherapy practice OR Only if there is no registration in your country of training, you MUST provide evidence that your qualification is recognised and you are able to practise physiotherapy in your country of training.

If you qualified in India you MUST provide a certified copy of your IAP Life Membership certificate. If you qualified in South Africa, the Philippines, Canada or the USA, you must provide evidence from the relevant authority that you have met the requirements for full registration in that country this may be a certified copy of your registration.

Section H: Current physiotherapy registration

33 Are you currently registered as a physiotherapist? 34 Registering authority 35 Date of expiry
(if applicable)

Explanation
Your current registration
certificate or letter of good standing (if applicable) Provide a certified copy of your current practicing certificate or a current registration document. If your registration has lapsed, provide a certified copy of your most recent practicing certificate or registration document. If there is no registration in your country of training, or initial registration does not expire, you do not need to complete this section.

Yes

No

36 Have you ever been refused a licence or registration to practice physiotherapy, or had a licence or registration to practice physiotherapy withdrawn?

Yes

No

Please ensure you provide the documents exactly as detailed in the explanation or your application will be returned and a fee will be charged to cover administration and postage. All certified copies must be high quality and clear.
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Section I: Your English language ability

37 Tick the category that applies to you and provide the documents described for that category:

Explanation

I completed my initial physiotherapy professional education in the English language medium in one of the countries listed in the box to the far right.

No additional information is required Proceed to Section J

Australia Canada New Zealand Republic of Ireland

I completed my primary and secondary education in the English language medium in one of the countries listed in the box to the far right, but I did not complete my physiotherapy education in one of these countries.

Provide 1 certified copy of each of the following:

South Africa United Kingdom

Your High School Certificate

Evidence that your primary and secondary education was completed in the English language medium Proceed to Section J

United States of America

I did not complete my primary and secondary education or my initial physiotherapy education in the English language medium in one of the countries listed in the box to the far right.

Provide a certified copy of your results from one of the following English language tests:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS): You must achieve a minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four components in the Academic Module. www.ielts.org
or

Occupational English Test (OET): A pass at a B level or above in all four sections of the test is required. www.occupationalenglishtest.org
Note: IELTS and OET tests results are only valid for a period of two years from the test date. If your test results expire whilst you undertake the assessment process, you may be requested to provide a new English test result.

Proceed to Section J

Please ensure you provide the documents exactly as detailed in the explanation or your application will be returned and a fee will be charged to cover administration and postage. All certified copies must be high quality and clear.

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Section J: Legal Declaration by Applicant

38 I declare that: i. The information in the application form and all documents is true and up to date ii. I am the person photographed and named in the application and all documents iii. I will inform the Australian Physiotherapy Council of any changes to my circumstance (including address) during my assessment iv. I have read and understand the Australian Physiotherapy Councils Privacy Statement issued with this application and I consent to the Australian Physiotherapy Council collecting and using my personal information in accordance with the Privacy Notice on Page 4 of this form v. If I have disclosed anyone elses personal information in this application, I confirm that I have made a copy of the Australian Physiotherapy Councils Privacy Notice available to that person vi. I have read the other requirements for eligibility for General Registration as a physiotherapist in Australia and I acknowledge it is my responsibility to ensure I can meet all the requirements of the Physiotherapy Board of Australia vii. I agree that the application fee I have paid will not be refunded viii. I agree that this application form and all documents become the property of the Australian Physiotherapy Council for the purpose of my initial assessment and agree that I will not ask for them to be returned or reused for any other purpose. ix. I agree that I will pay the required fee if my application form has not been completed correctly or if I have not provided the required documents exactly as described in the explanations.

Explanation
Only one of the following
persons can witness this declaration: Legal Practitioner Justice of the Peace Peace Commissioner Commissioner of Oaths Judge Magistrate Person legally designated to sign documents from an embassy or consulate

Please note that other persons such as Police Officers, Pharmacists, Doctors cannot witness this application unless they provide evidence that they are also one of the above.

Signature of applicant

Date (day/month/year)

Signature of witness Legal title of witness Address of witness

Stamp/Seal of Witness (if applicable)

Telephone number of witness

Date (day/month/year)

Section K: Application fee $990*

39 Payment Method please tick:

Explanation
Payment of application fee
EFT/Direct Deposit **
Payment can be made by: 1. Bank cheque/draft (no personal, business, or company cheques will be accepted) 2. Money order payable to: Australian Physiotherapy Council 3. Internet/EFT/ Deposit ** to: Bank: National Australia Bank Account name: Australian Physiotherapy Council BSB: 082-902 Account #: 57-218-4028 Bank Address: Canberra City, ACT 2600 Swift Code: NATAAU3302S (international use only)

Bank Cheque (enclosed)

Money Order (enclosed)

*The application fee is current at the date of publication (indicated on the form below). The fee
is subject to change without notice. Refunds of application fees are not available.

**ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER/DIRECT DEPOSIT:

The applicants name must be included as the reference for the payment. A copy of the deposit receipt or similar evidence of the funds transfer must be included with the application. The applicant is liable for all bank fees incurred for Electronic Funds Transfers including any fees charged to the Australian Physiotherapy Council international transfers should add $9AUD to cover these fees. Send your completed application form, required documents and the application fee (or evidence of payment) to the address below. Australia Post WILL NOT deliver applications to the street address ONLY use the street address for applications that are sent by courier. All Postal Applications: Australian Physiotherapy Council GPO Box 587 Canberra ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA ONLY for delivery by courier: Australian Physiotherapy Council Upper Level, Unit 1, Southern Cross House 9 McKay Gardens Turner ACT 2612 AUSTRALIA

Please ensure you provide evidence of payment and you have completed the application form correctly and provided all the required documents or your application will be returned and a fee to cover administration and postage will be charged.
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