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1 July 2015
REGISTRATION STANDARD:
ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS
This standard applies to all applicants for 3. You have undertaken and satisfactorily completed at
initial registration. least six years (full-time equivalent) continuous
education taught and assessed solely in English,
It does not apply if you are applying for non-practising in any of the recognised countries, which includes
registration or if you are a student. tertiary qualifications in the relevant professional
discipline which you are relying on to support your
eligibility for registration under the National Law.
What must I do?
OR
If you are applying for initial registration you must
demonstrate your English language competency in one 4. You achieve the required minimum scores in one of
of the following ways: the following English language tests and meet the
requirements for test results specified in this standard:
1. English is your primary language and you have
undertaken and satisfactorily completed: a. the IELTS (academic module) with a minimum
overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in
a. all of your primary and secondary education each of the four components (listening, reading,
which was taught and assessed solely in English writing and speaking).
in a recognised country, and
NOTE: We will only accept test results:
b. tertiary qualifications in the relevant
professional discipline, which you are relying i. from one test sitting, or
on to support your eligibility for registration
under the National Law, which were taught ii. a maximum of two test sittings in a six month
and assessed solely in English. period only if:
no score in any component of the test is d. the TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94
below 6.5 and the following minimum score in each section
of the test:
b. the OET with a minimum score of B in each of
24 for listening
the four components (listening, reading, writing
and speaking). 24 for reading
27 for writing, and
NOTE: We will only accept test results:
23 for speaking.
i. from one test sitting, or
NOTE: We will only accept test results:
ii. a maximum of two test sittings in a six
month period only if: i. from one test sitting, or
you are tested in all four components in
ii. a maximum of two test sittings in a six
each sitting, and
month period only if:
you achieve a minimum score of B in each
a minimum total score of 94 is achieved in
component across the two sittings, and
each sitting, and you achieve a minimum
no score in any component of the test is score of 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27
below C. for writing and 23 for speaking across the
two sittings, and
NOTE: OET is not applicable for chiropractic,
no score in any of the sections is below:
osteopathy and psychology as OET has not yet
developed a specific test for these professions. 20 for listening
19 for reading
c. the PTE Academic with a minimum overall score
of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the 24 for writing, and
four communicative skills (listening, reading,
20 for speaking
writing and speaking).
e. other English language tests approved by the
NOTE: We will only accept test results:
Board from time to time and published on the
Boards website with the required minimum scores.
i. from one test sitting, or
1.2 more than two years before the date you lodge
your application for registration if, in the period
since the test results were obtained, you:
OR More information
1.3 more than two years before the date you lodge 1. Practitioners who meet this standard on the basis of
your application for registration if, in the period results from an English language test will be asked
since the test result was obtained, you: to declare that they have continued to use English
as their primary language when they apply to move
a. have been continuously enrolled in a from non-practising to practising registration.
Board-approved program of study (which
commenced within 12 months of the date 2. Further information regarding the evidence that
of the test) and undertook subjects in each applicants must provide to the Board to prove that
semester, with no break from study apart they meet this standard is set out in the relevant
from the education providers scheduled application form.
holidays, and
3. Your test results will be verified independently with
b. lodge your application for registration the test provider.
within 12 months of completing the Board-
approved program of study. 4. You are responsible for the cost of English
language tests.
2. For the purposes of calculating time, if an
applicant relies on test results from two sittings,
time begins to run from the date of the earlier Authority
sitting.
This registration standard was approved by the
Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council on 17
Exemptions March 2015.
1. The Board may grant an exemption to this standard Registration standards are developed under section 38
when you apply for limited registration in the of the National Law and are subject to wide-ranging
following circumstances: consultation.
Continuous employment means working the equivalent Recognised country means one of the following countries:
of at least 26 weeks per year.
Australia
IELTS means the International English Language Canada
Testing System.
New Zealand
Initial registration means: Republic of Ireland
a practitioner applying for registration in Australia in South Africa
the Chinese medicine, chiropractic, medical radiation
practice, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathy, United Kingdom, or
pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry and psychology United States of America.
profession for the first time; or
Secondary education means Australian school years 7
a practitioner applying for registration (including
through to 12, even where year 7 is classified as part of
moving from non-practising to another registration
primary school in a particular state or territory.
type) who has not used English as their primary
language for a period of greater than five years; or
Six years (full-time equivalent) continuous education
a practitioner who currently holds limited registration means education over a period of six consecutive
on the basis that they were granted an exemption from calendar years without a break from study apart from
this standard in the limited circumstances described the education institutions (e.g. school or university)
under Exemptions and who is applying for another type scheduled holidays.
of registration.
Student means a student currently registered under the
Initial registration otherwise does not include a
National Law.
practitioner who has had continual registration in the
Chinese medicine, chiropractic, medical radiation Test results means the official results provided by the
practice, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathy, English language test provider. If you are providing
pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry and psychology test results from two test sittings as defined, the
profession and is applying for a different category or results from both sittings must meet the requirements
division of registration in that profession, for example, of this standard.
a practitioner who holds provisional registration and
is applying for general registration; or a practitioner TOEFL iBT means the Test of English as a Foreign
who holds general registration and is applying for Language internet-based test.
specialist registration.
Two test sittings in a six-month period means that the
National Law means the Health Practitioner Regulation dates of the sittings must not be more than six months
National Law (as in force in each state and territory). apart. For example, if your first test sitting was on 1
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