I am an internationally qualified OT and want to practice in Australia…Where do I start?

To practice as an occupational therapist in Australia, you must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). To apply for your registration with AHPRA as an internationally qualified OT, you first need to have your skills assessed by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (OTC). Before you panic, no, you do not have to sit in an exam like old uni times! This “skill assessment”, also known as “Stage 1 desktop assessment”, is a PAPER-BASED audit. You must gather the required personal and professional documentation, complete an application form, and email all that to OTC. OTC will then assess your information against a set of criteria and confirm your eligibility for registration.

What documents do you need?

• Proof of identity (Bith certificate, passport, and driver’s licence or ID card where relevant or another official photo-bearing document).

• Documents related to your qualification as an occupational therapist (for example, your degree, diploma, certificate, etc.).

• Proof of your English language proficiency.

Please note that to undertake Stage 1, you will be requested to pay a fee. Visit https://www.otcouncil.com.au/assessment/assessment-fees/ to see updated values.

You can also find all the detailed information about the documentation and process of the “Stage 1” here: https://www.otcouncil.com.au/assessment/forms-stage-1/

If you already have all your documents, what is next?

Well, I would say first, breathe! I know how stressful it can be, mainly due to bureaucracy in our countries of origin.

Next, complete the “Stage 1” application for desktop assessment and return to OTC with all required documentation and applicable fees.

What would happen after that?

Once you complete the “Stage 1” by emailing OTC with all required documents and forms, OTC will undertake the assessment. Upon completing “Stage 1”, they will issue a formal acknowledgement letter and mail it to you. With this letter, you can apply for your limited registration for internationally qualified practitioners, also known as the “Stage 2”. That is required to obtain your general registration with AHPRA.

If you want to know more about the “Stage 2”, subscribe to my newsletter to receive future posts!

Best of luck with your Stage 1 application, you can do it!

*This post is based on information available on AHPRA and OTC websites as of January 2025. You should visit their websites for updated information about the process.