Available to physiotherapists in the areas of practice listed below. The APA Physiotherapist Title is a measure of career progress. It represents a physiotherapist who is highly qualified in a particular area of practice. If you attain the APA Physiotherapist Title, you have undergone a rigorous process to demonstrate your physiotherapy experience and knowledge.
The following areas of practice have a titling pathway:
*The research pathway is non-clinical
There are currently two pathways that lead to Titling – academic and experiential (outlined below). Information on the pathways that are available in each practice area is provided in the APA Title Information Booklet.
Note: A portfolio pathway is being developed aligned to the APA Career Pathway. This pathway will enable physiotherapists to present a range of evidence to demonstrate their attainment of competence across the seven roles in the APA Career Pathway Competence Framework at milestone level 3 – Highly Developed. We anticipate a staged rollout as we build capacity in our assessment pool across national groups, commencing around the middle of 2021.
Academic pathway
Clinical streams - complete an APA-recognised Australian Master's degree by coursework and meet the eligibility requirements.
Research stream - complete an Australian Master’s by Research or Master of Philosophy and meet the eligibility requirements (Doctor of Philosophy is also eligible as this is a higher level qualification)
More information on the eligibility requirements is provided in the Eligibility section below.
Experiential pathway
Meet the eligibility requirements and complete the written and clinical exams. This pathway is suited to members who have not completed an Australian post-graduate coursework masters’ degree or those who have completed a masters’ which is not on the APA ‘recognised’ list (provided in the Eligibility section below).
There are three stages to this process, you must pass each stage before you can move to the next stage:
* Exception: Occupational Health physiotherapists are assessed on a portfolio and post portfolio discussion in lieu of written and clinical exams.
Once you have successfully completed one of these pathways, you have the right to use the APA Titling nomenclature in your professional title.
Example: Jane Smith completed the Titling process in the practice area of sports and exercise physiotherapy. Jane can now refer to herself as an ‘APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist’.
Please refer to the Australian Physiotherapy Board guidelines for the use of titles.
More information is available in the APA Title Information Booklet.
Each pathway has its own eligibility criteria, listed below are the minimum requirements for all pathways.
All pathways
You must have:
More information is available:
Academic Pathway
You must have successfully completed a postgraduate Australian master’s degree:
These are the Australian postgraduate coursework master’s degrees that are recognised for the academic pathway to titling.
*These courses are no longer offered; they remain eligible for academic pathway to titling
Please note: If your Australian postgraduate coursework master's degree does not appear on this list, and you believe it is recognised, please contact the Titling Officer
Phone: (03) 9092 0888
Email: ng.title@australian.physio
Experiential pathway
You must have:
For the first time in over three years we will be making a slight adjustment to our fees, commencing 1st June 2021.
Stage 1 – initial application and document assessment | $135 incl. GST |
Stage 2 – written exam fee (experiential only) | $1,200 incl. GST |
Stage 2 – remarking of written exam (if required) | $500 incl. GST |
Stage 3 – clinical exam fee (experiential only) | $1,700 incl. GST |
OHPA candidates: Stage 1 and Stage 3 fees apply
Stage 1 – initial application and document assessment | $295 incl. GST |
Stage 2 – written exam fee (experiential only) | $1370 incl. GST |
Stage 2 – remarking of written exam (if required) | $500 incl. GST |
Stage 3 – clinical exam fee (experiential only) | $1,370 incl. GST |
OHPA: $295 application fee + $1370 Portfolio assessment and post portfolio discussion
More information is available in the APA Title Information Booklet.
Applications are normally processed within 2 - 4 weeks.
Experiential pathway: the written exam usually takes around 8 weeks to complete plus a few weeks for marking, the video recorded clinical exam takes around 12 weeks to complete plus a few weeks for marking and conducting the tele/videoconference/viva.
If there are any delays, we will let you know by email or phone.
More information is available in the APA Title Information Booklet.
Read the APA Title Information Booklet.
If that doesn’t answer your question, contact the Member Support Team on (03) 9092 0888 or 1300 306 622.
Available to titled physiotherapists who are prepared to undergo at least two additional years of training in the relevant field.
Specialisation as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists is conferred to physiotherapists who have attained the highest level of expertise in their particular field of physiotherapy. These physiotherapists have undergone a rigorous training and examination process.
Once you achieve specialisation, you are known as a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists, the pre-eminent professional body representing specialist physiotherapists in Australasia. Fellows are sought-after by peers, other health professionals and consumers for their expertise. As a Fellow, you may contribute to the professional education of your colleagues, actively engage in your own professional development, and be involved in research activities.
The following areas of practice have a specialisation pathway:
Currently, the pathway to specialist recognition by the College is a three-tiered process through one of the recognised APA clinical groups.
Step 1: Achieve titled membership in one of the eligible areas of practice (listed above)
Step 2: Apply to the two-year training program of the College in your desired area of practice
Step 3: Successfully complete all elements of the training program and exams, which have a practical and oral component.
The training program has four elements:
The two-year training program is a formal period of education, facilitated by a Fellow of the College in the area of practice you’ve applied to. It involves some facilitated clinical training. You will be required to provide evidence of quality practice.
At the end of the program, you undergo examinations. These run over a two-day period and require demonstration of specialist-level skills.
You must be a titled member of a national group that offers specialisation (see above list) to be considered for Fellowship by Specialisation.
Titling is a mandatory pre-requisite on the pathway to specialisation.
$110 application fee + $9 900 program fee (including GST)
The program fee is paid in two instalments:
On acceptance into the program: $4950
On commencement of the second year: $4950
(Fees quoted are subject to change without notice)
Apply by: 28 October 2019
Program commences: 1 April 2020
To apply, complete the application and payment forms, and submit before 30 October 2020.
Make sure you have the following supporting documents ready:
Once we receive your expression of interest, we will let you know if you can proceed to application stage.
Your application will be processed by mid-December.
Trainees have a maximum of four consecutive years to complete the training program and a further four consecutive years to complete the examination program.
Read the Training Program Manual.
Each year, information sessions are held in September at each APA state branch. Keep an eye out for a session near you.
If your question hasn’t been answered by any of these resources, email the Manager of the College.
You can also write to us or call us:
Manager, ACP
PO Box 437, Hawthorn BC VIC 3122 Australia
Phone: +61 3 9092 0873
Available to any member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association who is undertaking original research or publishing a scholarly book.
Fellowship by Original Contribution is an academic pathway to Fellowship of the College. It involves an application process, then the submission of original work that is scientific work, professional, academic or all three. However, becoming a Fellow of the College by original contribution does not mean you are clinical specialist.
Once your work is passed by the Board of Examiners, you are known as a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists. Fellows are sought-after by peers, other health professionals and consumers for their expertise. As a Fellow, you may contribute to the professional education of your colleagues, actively engage in your own professional development, and be involved in research activities.
You can submit either original research or a published scholarly book or monograph as part of your application to become a Fellow.
Book or monograph
For a book, simply fill out the online application form below. You will be notified if you are accepted. The next step is to submit three copies of your manuscript. Your work will be assessed by two examiners within six weeks.
Original research
For original research, the process is slightly different.
Step 1: Complete the application form including an outline of your proposed work for submission
Step 2: If your application is successful, you become an Associate of the College.
Step 3: You work with your allocated supervisor to prepare your work for submission to the Board of Censors. This must happen within two years.
Step 4: Two examiners assess the work and provide their assessment within six weeks.
Whether you submit original research or a book/monograph, all submissions are assessed on whether they:
For all applications:
There are also separate eligibility criteria depending the type of work you submit.
Original research
Book or monograph
$110 application fee + $2200 review fee of final work submitted
Each resubmission of work with major revisions: $2200
(Fees quoted are subject to change without notice)
Applicants can submit their application at anytime throughout the year.
To apply, fill out the application form.
Make sure you have the following supporting documents ready:
Once your application is accepted, you will be asked to submit three hard copies of your manuscript, along with one soft copy.
It takes up to six weeks to process your application.
If you are submitting a collection of papers, you have up to two years to do this.
Once your work has been submitted, assessment takes approximately six weeks.
Read the information package on Fellowship by Original Contribution.
If that doesn’t answer your question, contact the Manager of the College.
You can also write to us or call us:
Manager, ACP
Australian Physiotherapy Association
PO Box 437, Hawthorn BC VIC 3122 Australia
Phone: +61 3 9092 0873
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