Ochre Recruitment
Information for Occupational Therapists
To work in a Government funded agency, an Overseas Trained Occupational Therapist (OT) needs qualifications acceptable to OT Australia. An Occupational Therapist is not required to be registered to work in NSW and there is no NSW registration board (it varies between Australian states).
OT Australia
This is the professional association for OTs in Australia. Initial membership of OT Australia requires recognition of overseas qualifications by the Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Boards (Australia and New Zealand).
The Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Boards (Australia and New Zealand) Inc (COTRB)
This is responsible for assessing overseas Occupational Therapy qualifications for recognition in Australia.
The Overseas Qualifications Assessment Committee (OQAC) is the part of the COTRB responsible for the administration of assessment procedures.
Many reports and documents have to be submitted throughout the assessment proceedings.
New Zealand applicants who are temporary residents of Australia can apply for membership of OT Australia without undergoing assessment of qualifications as long as they hold a current Annual Practicing Certificate.
Criteria For Applicants
- Have completed and attained a degree in a World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) approved tertiary level education program in OT, equivalent to an Australian bachelor degree.
- Have good standing in own country, and be able to be registered and/or licensed there.
- Have English as a first language OR
- Have completed OT education in English OR
- Completed the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Occupational English Test (OET) exam.
Acceptable scores are:
>IELTS minimum score of seven (7) in each of the four components
>OET grades A or B only in each of the four components with an overall pass.
For further information and assistance in getting registered in Australia please contact Tammy Breen on +61 3 6224 4399
