Everything You Need to Know About the APC Initial Assessment

Jul 22, 2024 3 min read
APC Initial Assessment

The Australian Physiotherapy Council exam is your ticket to becoming a registered physiotherapist in Australia. Clearing the APC exam is mandatory for international physiotherapists seeking registration to practise in Australia via the standard assessment pathway. Becoming a registered physiotherapist in Australia opens up a world of rich career prospects, lucrative opportunities, perfect work-life balance, and so many other things that you dream of. To start your journey to APC registration, it is important to be aware of the process and the steps involved.

In this blog, we will be taking a closer look at the APC initial assessment. 

APC Initial Assessment

The steps involved in the APC initial assessment are as follows.

  1. Eligibility assessment
  2. Cultural safety training
  3. Interim certificate

Eligibility Assessment 

To become a registered physiotherapist in Australia, you need to meet certain eligibility requirements. The eligibility assessment is the step that determines if you are fit to seek registration in Australia. The Australian Physiotherapy Council will conduct a document-based assessment during this stage. 

To apply for the eligibility assessment, you must:

  • Be an overseas qualified physiotherapist (with a minimum diploma-level qualification)
  • Meet the educational requirement for (or already hold) registration without any restriction in your country of training OR
  • Be able to legally practise without restriction in your country of training (if no regulatory body currently exists).

The documents required for the eligibility assessment will be:

  • Passport photo identity page
  • Evidence of change of name (if any)
  • Degree certificate
  • Statement of results
  • Evidence to practice

Cultural Safety Training Program for Physiotherapists

Completing the cultural safety training program is an important step in the process of becoming a registered physiotherapist in Australia. This program is to ensure all healthcare practitioners working within the Australian community are able to practise in culturally safe ways, especially when approaching Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This is an online program with six learning modules. You can complete your cultural safety training in approximately five hours.

Interim Certificate 

After you have successfully completed your eligibility assessment and cultural safety training, the Australian Physiotherapy Council will award you the interim certificate. The validity of the interim certificate is two years. The interim certificate is also required to get a limited registration for supervised practice with AHPRA. This can help you gain clinical experience in the Australian healthcare system.

PROCESS

FEES

Eligibility Assessment AUD 1136
Cultural Safety Training AUD 228

Conclusion

After you finish the initial assessment, you can move on to the APC written assessment and the clinical assessment. Taking the Australian Physiotherapy Council exam is a better, easier, and faster alternative to pursuing physiotherapy education in Australia. With the APC exam, you can seek registration to practise in Australia even if you have graduated from a foreign country. 

APC Exam
APC Written Assessment

With Academically’s specially designed APC exam preparation course, you can clear the exam on your first attempt. From the documentation process to Mec migration, you will receive guidance through every step of your journey. Contact our experts for a free 1:1 consultation.

Nuha Mariyam
Nuha Mariyam
about the author

Nuha Mariyam has more than three years of experience in content writing. She strongly believes in the power of creativity and the impact that it makes. With a keen eye for detail and a love for words, Nuha specialises in creating engaging and informative content across various fields, including healthcare.