Australian Immigration Daily News

Educational Testing Service (ETS), creator of the TOEFL iBT® test, welcomes the revised English-language registration standards announced by the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA).

From 1 July 2015, regulated health practitioners in Australia will be able to use their TOEFL® test scores to demonstrate English-language proficiency required for initial registration.

The professions covered by AHPRA under the revised English language requirements are:

• Chinese Medicine                  
• Chiropractic                           
• Dental            
• Medical
• Medical Radiation                 
• Midwifery
• Nursing                       
• Occupational Therapy           
• Optometry
• Osteopathy                             
• Pharmacy                               
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry
• Psychology                             

The National Boards, which regulate health practitioners in Australia, set the TOEFL iBT score requirements for registration at 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing, and 23 for speaking.

AHPRA will accept test results from one test sitting, or a maximum of two test sittings in a six month period under the conditions described in the English Language Skills Registration Standard documents.

“The change will maintain the high level of English-language proficiency expected of registered health practitioners in Australia, while streamlining the visa and registration processes,” said Eileen Tyson, Executive Director of Global Client Relations at ETS. “We look forward to working with employers and recruiters across Australia’s medical and health industry to support their needs and sustainable growth.”

For more information about the TOEFL iBT test:

www.toeflgoanywhere.org.

For more information about the registration standards for English language skills:

http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx

See the related article in The Australian:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/toefl-gains-toehold-in-australia/story-e6frgcjx-1227413966818