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What is Clinical Assessment?

The Clinical Assessment is the last stage of the Standard Assessment Pathway, and allows you to demonstrate your clinical skills and reasoning, and undertake safe and effective consultations. The assessment is conducted in a simulated environment, the Simulation Lab, with professional actors simulating real patients. There are three compulsory practical components including:

  • musculoskeletal physiotherapy
  • neurological physiotherapy
  • cardiorespiratory physiotherapy

During your Clinical Assessments, the assessors will examine your skills according to Australia’s entry-level competencies. The Clinical Assessment Information Booklet describes these competencies and the related domains and criteria that you should be mindful of when preparing for your assessments.

What is Clinical Assessment?

Where are the Clinical Assessments conducted?

All Clinical Assessments are conducted in-person at the Council’s Simulation Lab located in Melbourne.

Location:

Level 4, 302 Burwood Road
Hawthorn 3122
Victoria

How can I prepare for the Clinical Assessments?

  • Make sure you have adequate professional indemnity insurance
    You will need professional indemnity insurance to cover your Clinical Assessments. You must provide the Council with a Certificate of Currency – Professional Indemnity Insurance for a minimum of $5 million. Most candidates will already have free professional indemnity insurance via their free associate membership with the Australian Physiotherapy Association. To read more click here.
  • Read the Clinical Assessment Information Booklet
    To prepare for your Clinical Assessments, read the Clinical Assessment Information Booklet carefully. The booklet explains the assessment format, how the assessment is marked, the dos and don’ts on the day, and more
  • Clinical Assessment Marking Criteria
    Read the Clinical Assessment Marking Criteria for more insights about what the assessors are looking for, you will need to demonstrate each domain at the entry level to pass. Download the Clinical Assessment Marking Criteria to know more.
  • Complete the Council’s orientation before your assessment
    Watch our orientation video to understand what to expect at the Simulation Lab during your Clinical Assessment. The video was filmed at our previous location, but the process and equipment remain the same. You will receive resources with updated location details closer to your assessment date.
  • Go through the Simulation Equipment List
    The equipment list outlines what will be available in the Simulation Lab for you to use during your Clinical Assessments.

Welcome to Simulation Lab Video

Watch video here
Click on image to watch video
Rehabilitation Room

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Clinical Assessment cost?

Fees can be found here.

How can I apply for the Clinical Assessment?

You can apply for the Clinical Assessment via the Candidate Dashboard after successfully completing Written Assessment.

Does the Council provide training for Clinical Assessments?

The Council provides the following courses for Clinical Assessments:

Check out more information about the Council’s courses on the Learning courses for assessments webpage.

You can also access training and preparation programs provided by external organisations that you can contact independently. The Council advises you to seek information directly from these external organisations to ensure the programs meet your needs. Many of these programs can be found through the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA).

What happens once my Interim Certificate expires?

The Council recommends staying active in your assessment journey and completing all stages as soon as possible. However, if you need to renew your Interim Certificate after its two-year validity, please email us 4 weeks before its expiration date and we can issue you another Interim Certificate.

Can I undertake the Clinical Assessments if I am pregnant?

If you are over 34 weeks pregnant, the Council will not allow you to undertake the Clinical Assessments for your safety.

If you are under 34 weeks pregnant, you will need to provide a letter from your medical practitioner dated no earlier than 1 week before your assessment date confirming that you are physically and medically fit to undertake the Clinical Assessments.

What happens if I am successful in passing the Clinical Assessment?

Once successful with all the 3 components within the Clinical Assessment, you will be issued with a Final Certificate which will meet one of the qualification requirements for General Registration with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia.

What happens if I am unsuccessful in passing the Clinical Assessments?

If you're unsuccessful in passing Clinical Assessments, you will receive a feedback report highlighting the areas you need to improve.

If you are unsuccessful with any of the 3 assessment components (musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory or neurology), you will need to apply to resit the specific component.

Am I allowed to come into the Council office?

The Council does not accept visitors into our office except for scheduled Clinical Assessments.

Candidates attending scheduled Clinical Assessments must arrive on time, but will not be permitted to enter earlier than the start time specified in their candidate dashboard.

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