National Registration for occupational therapists 2012

National Registration for occupational therapists starts on July 1, 2012. All occupational therapists will need to be registered with the Registration Board (AHPRA)

Please contact the Registration Board on 1300 419 495 in the first instance for all questions and concerns. If you then need further assistance, please call Occupational Therapy Australia and let us know how we can help you. We will support members to achieve national registration.

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English Language Update for Overseas Qualified Practitioners

30 Mar 2012


Joint statement released regarding English language skills for overseas qualified practitioners.

The Registration Board of Australia and the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia has released further advice to overseas qualified practitioners seeking to demonstrate English language skills.

The Boards have determined that some of these practitioners may qualify for special conditions that will allow them to register without undertaking one of the prescribed English language examinations described in the Boards’ English language skills registration standards.

To read the full statement please visit the News section of the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia’s website: www.occupationaltherapyboard.gov.au

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National Registration Misconceptions

We have recently been advised that there are some misconceptions about National Registration requirements and Occupational Therapy Australia membership, as well as the phase out of the AccOT.

Membership Association

National Registration

Occupational Therapy Australia

 Australian Health Practioners Regulation Agency 'AHPRA' Occupational Therapy Board of Australia
  • Occupational Therapy Australia role is to support members and provide services to improve their practice. So if you have difficulties in getting registered or providing evidence required, please let us know if we can support you.
  • Occupational Therapy Australia membership does not automatically deem members eligible for National Registration.
  • Occupational Therapy Australia membership remains voluntary.
  • AHPRA is the organization responsible for the implementation of the National Registration & Accrditation Scheme (NRAS) across Australia.
  • AHPRA oversees the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and works to implement the NRAS.
  • The Occupational Therapy Board of Australia is the body responsible for:
    - developing standards, codes and guidelines for the occupational therapy profession;
    - approving accreditation standards and accredited courses of study;
    - registering occupational therapy practitioners and students;
    - handling notifications, complaints, investigations and disciplinary hearings;
    - assessing overseas trained practitioners who wish to practice in Australia

In summary:

  • The CPD requirements for registration are set by the Registration Board, so please direct any questions to them in the first instance.
  • We recommend members complete 30 hours annually and start keeping track of these activities (using the CPD tracker on our website)
  • The activities undertaken in the AccOT Program and the Occupational Therapy Australia program can be used to meet your CPD requirement for registraton, however, members will need to use the registration board’s reporting format.

We hope that this has dispelled some misconceptions around National Registration and Association membership and cleared up any confusion that may have arisen.

In the meantime, information on registration requirements and previous communications from the Registration Board can be found here: http://www.occupationaltherapyboard.gov.au/

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the needs for / benefits of registration and association membership?

Registration is compulsory for all practicing occupational therapists and students.

A useful analogy is that registration is your license to drive and association membership is your roadside insurance, if there is a problem, the association supports you, it provides services to support you so you don’t get to the point of breaking down.

Registration is about protecting the public from health professionals who might put them at risk if they are not competent.
Association membership is about protecting the occupational therapy profession by providing a community and a network to influence government and other decision makers, by assisting members to build their careers by connecting them to each other based on interest areas, practice areas and regions, by offering services such as the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Conferences and discounts on insurance and professional development events. We seek to advance the professional standards of the profession and build the careers of members so they are better connected to what is going on in latest research, health policy and other arenas.


The association will help you to meet your CPD requirements by providing CPD events at a greater reduced cost.

What are the CPD requirements for Registration?


All occupational therapists will be required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of CPD in the initial 17 months to November 2013 and 30 hours per year there after. Click here for further information


Please note:For Better Access to Mental Health you are required to complete 10 hours per annum which can be used to make up the 30 hours of Registration

What changes will there be to Occupational Therapy Australia programs?

The advent of national registration has required Occupational Therapy Australia to consider some of its programs, to ensure they are relevant to the needs of members in the changed environment. As a result there are some changes that I’d like to inform you about here:

  • Phasing Out the AccOT Program

As previously communicated to members, AccOT will cease when national registration starts on 1 July 2012. The Association lobbied the Registration Board to have AccOT accepted as proof of fulfilling the CPD requirement, however, this was not approved.


Instead the Registration Board has developed its own CPD format. and meeting the standards of Occupational Therapy Australia’s CPD program will assist you in meeting the needs for Registration in the future.

Find out more about Occupational Therapy Australia’s CPD program here or call 1300 682878


We have updated the CPD Program to provide members with a format for recording and planning CPD.
Achieving 30 hours of CPD is a requirement of Occupational Therapy Australia membership to maintain your practice standards and exercise their CPD planning skills.

  • CPD for ongoing National Registration

The Registration Board will require members to prove that they have completed 30 hours of CPD a year. For members who have recorded their CPD activities using either AccOT or the CPD Program, completing the Occupational Therapy Australia CPD program you’ll probably have the required CPD to maintain your registration. You’ll just need to use the forms required for registration to demonstrate it.

How does Reistration affect Mental Health Accreditation for the Better Access program?
This process and its requirements are not affected by National Registration. Occupational therapists who want to offer services through the Better Access program will need to get accreditation from Occupational Therapy Australia and meet specific CPD requirements (a mental health component).

Overseas-qualified occupational therapists
We’ve received a number of calls and emails from members who qualified overseas, and are working with them to get further information from the Registration Board about their specific situations. Again, please contact the Registration Board with your questions, and then if you need assistance please let us know how we can help.

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The Registration Standards have been approved, and were made available on the AHPRA Occupational Therapy Board's website on 17 January 2012:

For any questions on the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia, its registration standards or the National Scheme, please call AHPRA on 1300 419 495 or log an enquiry via AHPRA’s website www.ahpra.gov.au.

Customer Service Team members are available in every state and territory office of AHPRA to assist with your query directly.

To keep up to date on the National Board or to track any changes, advice or information on its standards, codes, guidelines visit the Board’s website www.occupationaltherapyboard.gov.au