Making an application to the Overseas Qualification Assessment Panel (OQAP). How do I apply?
The following section contains information in relation to making an Application to the Overseas Qualification Assessment Panel (OQAP) for Assessment of Qualifications Gained outside Australia in Diagnostic Radiography/Medical Imaging Technology, Radiation Therapy or Ultrasound.
Please note: All applications are assessed on an individual basis with due diligence.
Diagnostic Radiography/Medical Imaging Technology or Radiation Therapy qualifications gained outside Australia are not immediately accepted or recognised for issue of the Australian Institute of Radiography (AIR) Validated Statement of Accreditation which is required for State registration or Licensing in Australia and by the Immigration department for migration purposes. The AIR Validated Statement of Accreditation is required for immigration purposes in the skilled migration program.
Ultrasound qualifications gained outside Australia are not immediately accepted and recognised for registration in Australia. The AIR assesses the qualifications gained outside Australia for Ultrasound and issues a Certificate of Recognition in Ultrasound. This Certificate is required for registration with the Australasian Sonographers Accreditation Registry and by the Immigration department for migration purposes. The Certificate of Recognition in Ultrasound is required for immigration purposes in the skilled migration program.
An applicant's qualifications are assessed under the following codes:
- ANZSCO Code 251211 Medical Diagnostic Radiographer
- ANZSCO Code 251212 Radiation Therapist
- ANZSCO Code 251214 Sonographer
The qualifications gained outside Australia are assessed for equivalence to the Australian standard at the time of qualification. The equivalence is at undergraduate academic level plus the associated clinical levels. Postgraduate/post qualification education and clinical experience may be taken into consideration.
The assessment is based on guidelines from the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR), of the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)
The outcome of the assessment will be one of three decisions (please also refer to the Assessment Process section):
(1) Unconditional Recognition
Qualifications gained outside Australia will be recognised as equivalent to the Australian standard at the time of qualification and the post qualification experience is also of an acceptable standard. A Validated Statement of Accreditation will be granted and a letter for use in the immigration process issued. In the case of Medical Ultrasound a Certificate of Recognition in Ultrasound will be granted and a letter for use in the immigration process issued.
(2) Conditional Rejection
Applicant will be recommended by the Assessment Panel to:
Provide further documentation to support application.
Undertake further clinical experience and then provide evidence.
After the Assessment Panel receives the required documentation they will further examine the application. An applicant has three years from notification of rejection to obtain the requested information and re-apply without incurring further expense.
(3) Rejection
Qualifications gained outside Australia that does not meet the Australian standard at the time of qualification. It maybe be recommended the applicant needs to upgrade qualifications by successfully completing an AIR accredited Radiation Science program at an Australian University. Again the applicant will have three years from the date of the rejection letter to achieve this.
Click here for information regarding Accredited Australian Courses
Application
An application must be made on an Application for Assessment of Radiography Qualifications accompanied by the appropriate documentation as requested on the application form. The application will not be processed until all the required documentation is received. This documentation must be in the form of translated (where necessary) certified/notarised copies. Do not send original documents. The accompanying documents should include but not limited to:
- Detailed syllabus of the course undertaken. Needs to show subjects and topics undertaken as well as objectives and content of each subject. In the case of Ultrasound, the qualification should be a postgraduate qualification and evidence of the undergraduate qualification must be included in the application.
- Copy of award eg degree/diploma etc.
- Copy of registration certificate if appropriate
- Letter/s from employer/s demonstrating employment history. Letter should show work and tasks undertaken in a percentage of working history and profile.
- Postgraduate qualifications if any.
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Evidence of fluency in English is required where you are not a passport holder from United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, United States of America, Republic of Ireland or Singapore.
- A certified current passport size photo must be attached to the application.
- Certified/notarised copy of a document means a copy authorised or stamped as being a true and correct copy of the original document by a person or agency recognised by the law of your country to do such. In Australia, a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations or a person before whom a statutory declaration may be made e.g. accountant, lawyer, doctor, police officer.
- An accredited translator must undertake translation of documents not in English. The original document and the translated copy must be certified and accompany the application.
The assessment of an application may take up to 16 weeks. Practicing clinicians carry out the assessment and therefore applications need to be forwarded to the individuals from around the country.
What is the cost of assessment?
The cost of the assessment is AUD$700.00 if applying from overseas. If resident in Australia (permanent or temporary) Goods and Services tax (GST) of AUD$70.00 needs to be added for a total of $770.00. Refer to the application form for methods of payment. Payment for the assessment must be included with the application. Accepted forms of payment are bank cheque drawn in Australian dollars, MasterCard, Visa Card or American Express. Cheques must be made payable to the Australian Institute of Radiography and drawn on an Australian Bank. Overseas currency is not accepted and do not send cash. This is non-refundable cost.
English Language Requirements - please click here for further information.
Section C of the Application Form
This relates only to post qualification clinical experience. Pre-qualification clinical experience should be documented with your university course and syllabus.
Personal employment history or resume or an employer;s letter stating only dates of employment and/or a job description is not accepted in this section as evidence of clinical experience.
Letters from both past and present employers must be included in the application to verify the clinical experience. These letters need to be original or certified copies. The accompanying letters should state in % the breakdown of modalities performed. Employer's evidence of 'recency of practice' i.e. clinical experience within the last 5years is the minimum requirement. This substantiated evidence of the clinical practice should be from the Department Chief, Head of Department or similar and written on hospital or employer's letterhead paper.
The letter/s should state:
Diagnostic Radiography/Medical Imaging Technology
- The dates of employment as a Diagnostic Radiographer/Medical Imaging Technologist at the hospital/centre and the hours of employment per week.
- The work performed by applicant, including duties and responsibilities. A percentage breakdown of the different modalities undertaken in the department should be stated and inlude participation in shift work and 'on-call' work e.g. 50% general radiography, 30% CT Scanning, 20% mammography.
- The dates of employment as a Radiation Therapist at the hospital/centre and the hours of employment per week.
- The work performed by applicant, including duties and responsibilities. A percentage breakdown of the different modalities undertaken in the department should be stated e.g. 60% treatment, 30% simulation and treatment planning,10% mould room.
- The dates of employment as a Sonographer at the hospital/centre and the hours of employment per week.
- The work performed by the applicant, including duties and responsibilities. A percentage breakdown of the workload undertaken in the department should be stated e.g. 50% general ultrasound, 40% Obstetric & Gynaecology and 10% Vascular.
Appeal Process - for further information, please click here.
Registration and Licensing Requirements
Diagnostic Radiographers/Medical Imaging Technologists and Radiation Therapists are registered or licensed in the different States of Australia that is separate to the AIR accreditation process. Applicants should contact the relevant State and Territory regulating authority to enquire about the registration and/or licensing requirements.
Sonographers are required to be registered before gaining employment in Australia. For further details contact:
Australasian Sonographers Accreditation Registry (ASAR)
Secretariat
P O Box 745
Castle Hill NSW 1765
Australia
tel. 61 2 8850 1144
fax. 61 2 8850 1177
email: asar@asar.com.au
website: www.asar.com.au
Direct Application for Statement of Accreditation
Direct application applies to graduates of courses on the list of AIR Accredited Courses who do not have to undertake the full OQAP assessment. Click here for the Statement of Accreditation for graduates of overseas program. An applicant via this method must include certified copies of the information requested on the application form. They must have at least one year of clinical experience in their country of origin before applying. Applicants must demonstrate a proficiency in English - please click here for further information. Direct applications will be dealt with in a shorter timeline and an applicant should receive their Validated Statement of Accreditation within one month, subject to the application being approved.
The fee for this assessment is AUD$220.00. Refer to the application form for methods of payment. Payment for the assessment must be included with the application. Accepted forms of payment are bank cheque drawn in Australian dollars, MasterCard, Visa Card or American Express. Cheques must be made payable to the Australian Institute of Radiography and drawn on an Australian Bank. Overseas currency is not accepted. Please do not send cash.
Further Enquiries
Email enquires in relation to this process should be directed to: osassess@air.asn.au. For further contact information (including telephone and fax numbers) please refer to the "Contact Us" page of this website.
Documents listed are published in PDF format.
