Registration Pathways - Podiatrists

To practice as a podiatrist you must hold current registration.

Podiatrists are Nationally Registered through the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) via the Podiatry Board of Australia.

Australian & New Zealand Podiatry Accreditation Council (ANZPAC)
The Australian & New Zealand Podiatry Accreditation Council (ANZPAC) is the national assessing and accreditation authority in Australia. The ANZPAC assesses eligibility for registration as a podiatrist in Australia.

Trans Tasman mutual recognition agreement exists with New Zealand for the following NZ qualifications:

• Auckland University of Technology – Bachelor of Health Science (Podiatry) and Bachelor of Podiatry.

Approved programs of study can be identified by accessing the Podiatry Board of Australia website: http://www.podiatryboard.gov.au/

Overseas trained podiatrist will have their qualifications assessed by ANZPAC. ANZPAC have also been specified as the organisation to assess for the occupation of “Podiatrist” in accordance with the Migration regulations. Individuals who wish to apply for migration to Australia under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program must gain migration skills assessment from ANZPAC by completing the ANZPAC overseas assessment process. This assessment must be must be included with any visa application to the Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC). Successfully migrating to Australia as a podiatrist does not guarantee registration or employment in Australia.

The skills assessment has three stages:

1. Desk top Assessment
2. Practical Assessment
3. Reviews/Appeals.

You should apply for a Full Assessment if you:

• Are not currently registered as a podiatrist in Australia; or
• Did not complete an ANZPAC-accredited program within the two years prior to applying for a migration skills assessment.

A skills assessment remains valid for three years from the date of issue.

Refer to the ANZPAC “Assessment of Qualifications and Skills in Podiatry for Migration Purposes” (ANZSCO Code 252611).

Registration Types

• General
• Specialist - podiatric surgery
• Limited – postgraduate training or supervised practice; teaching or research; in the public interest
• Non-practising
• Student.

Podiatric Surgeon
Requires general registration as a podiatrist with the Podiatry Board of Australia and then an application for specialty registration. ANZPAC has been requested to develop an Accreditation Standard on the subject of Podiatric Surgery. Thus clarity on this specialty is difficult to attain at this point. In the meantime, there have been some programs approved for registration as a Podiatric Surgeon in SA and WA.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
All practising podiatrists must undertake CPD and are to complete 20 hours CPD per year, and hold a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certificate that include the management of anaphylaxis and the use of Automated External Defibrillator. There are additional requirements for those with endorsement for scheduled medicines and those with specialist registration as a podiatric surgeon. Refer the Podiatry Board of Australia “Guidelines for continuing professional development”.

Recency of Practice
Podiatrists must have recent practice in the fields in which they intend to work during the period of registration. The specific requirements depend on the field of practice, the level of experience and the length of absence from the field.

Criminal History
The Board will consider each case and the intended practice before deciding if a CC is required.

Endorsement for Schedule of Medicines
The Board will consider the established standard in accordance with sections 38(2) & 94 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act to determine the qualifications and other requirements that must be met to be granted endorsement under section 94 as qualified to prescribe or supply scheduled medicines. In the meantime, there have been some programs approved for scheduled medicines endorsement in VIC, NSW (Charles Sturt), SA, WA and QLD.

Endorsement for Acupuncture
Being developed.

English Language
An internationally qualified applicant must demonstrated English language competency by achieving a score of 7 in the IELTS exam or a B average mark in the OET.

Professional Indemnity Insurance
A registered podiatrist is required to have adequate insurance for their area of practice.

Registration Timeframes

• Stage 1: up to 10 weeks ($400 Modified, $650 Full)
• Stage 2: within five weeks ($1300)
• Registration: 90 days maximum (General $175, Specialist $350, Annual renewal $350)

More Information
For further information and assistance please email the Nursing and Allied Health recruitment team.