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Australian College of Physiotherapists

History

The Australian College of Physiotherapists was inaugurated in 1971 and the first Fellowships were conferred on members of the Australian Physiotherapy Association on the submission of Monographs or Theses. In 1981, the College became the body within the Australian Physiotherapy Association to award a second type of Fellowship – Fellowship by Specialisation, the first of which were granted in 1984.

In 2006, the Australian College of Physiotherapists in collaboration with the Australian Physiotherapy Association undertook an extensive review of the process of Specialisation. The outcome of the review was a model that provided a career path for physiotherapists from graduation (Tier 1), to Titled Membership (Tier 2) and to Fellowship by Specialisation (Tier 3). See Flowchart.

Specialisation pathways

The new processes and procedures for the stage from Tier 2 (Titled Membership) to Tier 3 (Fellowship and Member of the Australian College of Physiotherapists) are now in operation.

The Australian College of Physiotherapists (‘The College’) is the body within the APA which awards the title of ‘Specialist’ to members who have undertaken the required training and have passed the final practical and oral examinations. Under APA policy, only those members who have passed these exams and been admitted as Fellows of the College are allowed to use the term Specialist in advertising their practice.

An important step on the way to becoming a specialist is to qualify as a Titled Member of one of the APA National Groups. In most cases this requires the completion of a relevant coursework masters program (or the equivalent). For the period 2007–2010 there is an opportunity for existing Titled Members to apply for recognition of their advanced standing as clinicians and proceed straight to the final exams. In 2007, a total of 37 new Fellows of the College were created through this process.  A further 29 successful candidates were created through this process in 2008.  The main pathways from newly graduated physiotherapist to Titled Member and then to Specialist (and Fellow of the College) are illustrated in the flowchart.

Interim specialisation pathway

Provision has been made for an interim period for recognition of advanced standing of highly experienced Titled Members who can provide evidence of fulfillment of the requirements of the training program that will otherwise be required. These members can apply for direct entry to the final examinations for specialisation.

For members of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia and Sports Physiotherapy Australia the interim period for recognition of advanced standing has now passed. The deadline for becoming a titled member was December 2008 and the deadline for recognition of advanced standing was 30 January 2009 (for the May 2009 examination block) and 31 July 2009 (for the November 2009 examination block). The interim pathway for members of MPA and SPA ends in December 2009.

For members of all other National Groups wishing to take advantage of the interim specialisation pathway, the deadline for becoming a titled member is December 2009 and the deadline for recognition of advanced standing is 30 January 2010 (for the May 2010 examination block) and 31 July 2010 (for the November 2010 examination block). The interim pathway for titled members of all Groups other than MPA and SPA ends in December 2010.

Last Updated - Tuesday, 11 August 2009 10:13