Assessment of Equivalence of Qualification

[Catarina]

Hello!
I am planning to move to Australia with my boyfriend in september or october this year. Initially I'm not going as a physiotherapist, but I want as soon as possible to get my registration there. I have been looking over and over in the www.physiocouncil.com.au site to know what is the best option for me. It is really not understandable why so many problems in recognize certified physiotherapists. I have finished my graduation (4 years) in 2006 and since then I have been working in Portugal, mean while I took a postgraduation in sports physiotherapy and now I'm finishing my master in Physiotherapy Sciences, still then I have to go under such a hard way to be able to work in australia as a physiotherapist.
I wonder if anybody has made the ASSESSMENT of EQUIVALENCE of QUALIFICATION method, it seems to me that is just getting all the comprovatives of my studies, also in english and wait 6 weeks but I'm not really sure.
I will go to australia because my boyfriend has a great job opportunity there, and I am really afraid of not getting all the process well done. I will go to wollongong, if anyone could help me how exactly should i proceed or if anyone has already passed through this process i would really appreciate. Also having any contact with physio's in wollongong would be great.
Thank you,
Catarina

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[physioemma]

Hi Catarina. Just to let you know, I emailed the APC directly and asked about the assessment of equivalence of qualification for my UK degree and they told me it would NOT be granted for a UK degree. Perhaps you can email them and get a direct answer for your degree? I decided to take the Limited Reg in the public interest option, and have really struggled to find an employer willing to take me on, esp as the process takes 8-10 weeks after you have a job offer, so really hard tfor employers who have vacancies to fill quickly. But I just have found something now...so hoping the application goes smoothly. However, the APC have also told me that at some point soon they may get rid of this option for overseas PTs unless there is a natural disaster in Aus and they are really really desperate (!!!) - they really want to make it hard for us! So I think taking all the exams for the full reg might be the only option. However, if you can come here via New Zealand first, get NZ reg and work there for a short period, then you can transfer to Aus (apparently now it is not so easy to take this option without actually working in NZ as the APC are aware people are doing that to get to Aus, and just asking you to take the exams anyway...).

I know it is a very frustrating process, and I am coming to the conclusion that I will just have to take all the exams at some point if we stay in Aus for several years... However, on a happier note, I have been job-hunting and have noticed plenty of jobs near woolongong, for sports physios (which I am not!) so you should be able to find something...!

Good luck! Emma

[carolinejohn]

hi
i am looking for books and samples of MCQ for the Australian written exam for registration as Physio. I successfully pass the OET exam and i am now preparing for the Written one.
If anyone has information,please help me.
Thanks

[Fiona04]

Hi,

Can I ask if your course was 3 or 4 years at University? Did they specify all UK universities would not be granted or all 3 year Uk university courses would not be granted? I studied in Scotland therefore my course was 4 years which is the same as Australian courses. I was wondering if that would make any difference. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Fiona

[juliej]

Hi Catarina,

I was wondering how you got on with your registration? Or if anyone has actually managed to secure registration through the Assessment of Equivalence Method with a UK physio degree? I have looked through the criteria and feel that my course meets it- but would love to hear from others?!

I'm looking to go out to Oz within the next 12 months, I want full reg; however, with the Assessment of Equivalence (if successful) you could have your reg finalised and apply for a job prior to moving to Oz, which obviously takes away the stress of job hunting once you get there! Although the down side is I can't find any blog from anyone who has achieved this, and Physioemma you state that the APC told you no UK course graduate would be granted this....was there any reason provided behind this statement? -This method is also the most expensive. I have no qualms with taking the exams as they are focused at entry level so with postgrad experience and a wee bit of revision there 'shouldn't' be anything to worry about....HOWEVER, my main concern is that although you can take the written exam here in the UK, the clinical part can only be taken in Oz, so you'd have to fly out there to take exams (in the hope that you pass- especially after giving up a good job in the UK), wait confirmation of pass and then apply for full reg, await this coming through, then you can start the job hunt! Obviously this is a much more stressful situation to be in and I'm not sure how long the last few sections would take...days?weeks?. Plus if you don't pass there is no guaranteed chance to re-take!

Any advice from anyone who has been through/is going through this would be a great help.

Thanks

[physioemma]

Hi,

Can I ask if your course was 3 or 4 years at University? Did they specify all UK universities would not be granted or all 3 year Uk university courses would not be granted? I studied in Scotland therefore my course was 4 years which is the same as Australian courses. I was wondering if that would make any difference. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Fiona

Hi Fiona. The reply I got was that 'no UK degree would be granted equivalence of qualification'. My degree was a 2 year MSc (post-grad entry), with the syllabus based on an Australian course (Flinders uni i think). I guess the best thing to do is just email them and ask directly, as perhaps the 4 year course is ok...hope so for you!!

Emma

---------- Post added at 10:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 AM ----------

Hi. No - they didn't give any reason or explanation....just getting a reply was quite hard enough!! But email them again and ask - they might have changed their tune! I agree that the exam process is a nightmare in terms of time/logistics and cost, and esp if doing it from the UK, but not sure what other options there are (NZ?? - not sure if many people have gone via this route recently?)... Gd luck! Emma

[pt.marciof]

Hi

Have you tried the ASSESSMENT of EQUIVALENCE of QUALIFICATION?
How did it go?