Common English language standards for health professions

From 1 July 2015, new English language standards for registration will come into effect for all health professions, except Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice.

The new standards introduce additional pathways for applicants to demonstrate evidence of their English language skills. 

These new standards apply to all applicants for initial registration, regardless of whether they qualified in Australia or overseas, except for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners. 

The new standards are:

A common standard for 12 professions: Chinese medicine, chiropractic, medical radiation, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathy, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry and psychology. Dentists and doctors will have these and additional standards.


The standard applies to all applicants for initial registration.

Detailed information about the new requirements can be found on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) website.