Eligibility Assessment
What is the Eligibility Assessment?
The Eligibility Assessment is a simple document-based assessment designed to ensure that you hold an appropriate entry-level physiotherapy qualification and are therefore eligible to continue with the Standard Assessment Pathway.
What Will a Successful Eligibility Assessment Give Me?
Successful Eligibility Assessment candidates, who have completed their Cultural Safety Training*, will be awarded with an Interim Certificate and be able to apply for the Written Assessment. The Interim Certificate is valid for two years and allows you to meet one of the requirements for Limited Registration for Supervised Practice with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia (the Board), which is a part of AHPRA. For information on other requirements for Limited Registration for Supervised Practice, please contact the Board directly.
With Limited Registration you can practice as a physiotherapist (under certain conditions), to assist you in preparing for the Clinical Assessment.
You will be able to download your Interim Certificate and apply for the Written Assessment via your Dashboard.
*From the 15th January 2020, all candidates starting the Standard Assessment Pathway (including candidates in the FLYR stream) or Equivalence of Qualification Pathway, will be required to complete the Cultural Safety Training program.
Insurance Coverage?
You are automatically entitled to free insurance and membership with the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA). Please click here for more information.
As it is an “opt out” system, you can indicate via your application form for the Eligibility Assessment if you don’t want your details forwarded to the APA for the purposes of free membership and insurance.
If you choose not to opt out however, you will be automatically covered by the insurance and become APA members as soon as your application is accepted by the APA.
How Do I Apply?
To be suitable to apply for an Eligibility Assessment, you need to be:
- An overseas qualified physiotherapist (with a minimum diploma-level qualification); AND
- Meet the educational/qualification requirement for (or already hold) registration without any restriction; OR
Able to legally practice without restriction in your country of training (if no regulatory body currently exists).
How Does the Eligibility Assessment Work?
The Eligibility Assessment is a points-based assessment. You will be awarded points based on your ability to meet various criteria. The total number of points you are awarded will determine if you are suitable for further assessment via the Standard Assessment pathway and if so, which stream you qualify for.
Please see the tables below for further information.
How Many Points do I Need?
| Assessment Stream | Points Required |
| FLYR (Eligibility and Written Assessment only) | 140 |
| Full Standard Assessment Pathway (Eligibility, Written, and Clinical Assessment) | 50 |
| Not Eligible for Assessment | Less than 50 |
How are Points Awarded?
| Category | Criteria | Points | |
| Country of Entry-Level Qualification | Canada, Hong Kong (SAR of China), Ireland, United Kingdom | 50 | |
| Recency of Registration* *only applies when Country of Entry-Level Qualification criterion has been met |
CORU, HCPC, Physiotherapists Board Hong Kong, or Canadian provincial/territorial registration without restriction (as per Country of Qualification) held within past 5 years | 40 | |
| Practice without Restriction | Meet qualification requirement for (or already hold) registration without restriction OR be able to legally practice without restriction in country of training | 30 | Minimum requirements to be eligible for assessment |
| Entry-Level Physiotherapy Qualification | Diploma-level or higher | 20 | |
