Specialisation as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists is conferred upon physiotherapists who have attained the highest level of expertise in their particular field of physiotherapy. These physiotherapists have successfully completed a rigorous training and examination process.

Specialists are known as ‘Fellow Australian College of Physiotherapists’, the pre-eminent professional body representing specialist physiotherapists in Australasia. Fellows contribute to the professional education of their colleagues, actively engage in their own professional development, and are involved in research activities.

Currently, the pathway to becoming a specialist physiotherapist is a three-step process.

1. Attain Titled status/ACP membership in one of the eligible disciplines
2. Meet the experience and professional pre-requisites as detailed in the ‘Application Form’ (link through)
3. Successfully complete the training program and exams, including written, practical and oral components.

The training program has four elements:

1. development of specialist skills in your chosen discipline
2. participation in professional education
3. commitment to lifelong learning and professional development
4. participation in research activities.

The two-year training program is a self-directed adult learning program.

Working in a small cohort that is facilitated by an ACP Fellow, members develop their knowledge base, clinical reasoning skills and expertise through facilitated clinical /case training, marked mock exams and formal written tasks. The program concludes with two days of clinical examinations and a Viva Voce, giving candidates the opportunity to demonstrate specialist level clinical skills.

Eligibility for Fellowship by Clinical Specialisation

Associate membership is a mandatory pre-requisite for acceptance into a Specialisation pathway. In addition, you must have a minimum of three years of full-time equivalent clinical practice in your discipline, either after gaining ACP Membership via the Experiential Pathway or after completion of your master’s degree.

To apply, complete the application and payment forms, and submit before 30 October 2020. Make sure you have the following supporting documents ready:

• a detailed curriculum-vitae
• contact details of three professional referees.

Available to any member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association who is undertaking original research or publishing a scholarly book.

Fellowship by Research 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 Research does not mean you are a clinical specialist.

Research Fellows must not refer to themselves as ‘specialists’ as this is a protected title.

Once your work has been assessed and your results approved, 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.

How it works

You can submit original research, a published scholarly book or monograph as part of your application to become a Fellow.

For a book or monograph, simply fill out the application form. You will be notified if you are accepted. The next step is to submit three copies of your book. 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 the proposed work.

Step 2: If your application is successful, you automatically become an Associate of the College.

Step 3: You work with your allocated supervisor to prepare your work for submission. This must happen within two years.

Step 4: Two examiners assess your work and provide their assessment within six weeks.

Whether you submit original research or a book/monograph, all submissions are assessed on whether they:

• are original work
• show academic rigor
• have made a significant contribution to the advancement of an area of knowledge relevant to the physiotherapy profession.

Eligibility

For all applications:

• you must be a registered physiotherapist and a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association
• the work you submit cannot be submitted for any other award, such as a PhD or master’s thesis.

There are also separate eligibility criteria depending on the type of work you submit.

Original research 

• collection of at least three peer reviewed papers must be submitted
• the applicant must be the sole or first author of at least two
• at least two papers must relate to original research undertaken by the applicant.

Book or monograph

• the applicant must be the sole or main author
• the work demonstrates academic or professional leadership in a field of physiotherapy practice
• the work is evidence-based, not simply a synthesis of knowledge.

Books published during the previous year may be submitted.

Fellowship by research timeline

Initial application takes up to eight weeks to process and, if accepted, candidates have up to two years to complete their body of work. Assessment takes up to two months to complete.

Fellowship as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists is conferred to physiotherapists who have met the criteria for Leadership/Management—being designed in 2019.