Physiotherapists Registration Board of Western Australia

Policies and Guidelines

The following policies have been adopted by the Board:

Additional qualifications

Registered physiotherapists holding recognised postgraduate diplomas, Masters degrees and doctorates in physiotherapy will be eligible to register those qualifications subject to the content of the course work and production of satisfactory documentation establishing that the holder has in fact been awarded either the postgraduate diploma, degree or doctorate. Qualifications.

ii)

Practice Names

A physiotherapy practice name must be registered with the Board, but there are no longer restrictions on the wording of the practice name.

The Board suggests, prior to registering a practice name with the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, a physiotherapist may wish to submit the proposed name to the Board for approval. This may assist in avoiding unnecessary expenditure at the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.

Upon approval being granted for the use of a practice name, it will be necessary for the following to be provided to the Board:

1.	The original Business Name Extract (or certified copy thereof), setting out full details of ownership of the business name. This is available from the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
2.	If the business name is owned by a company, then the Board also requires a statutory declaration from a director of the company, giving full details of the directors of the company, and providing you with permission to use the business name in your practice as a physiotherapist.

iii)

Duplicate Registration Certificates

The Board will not issue duplicate registration certificates. However, all certificates are forwarded by certified mail with a return receipt, to maintain a record that certificates have been received.

iv)

Acupuncture

Under previous legislation, the definition of physiotherapy referred to the external application of treatment which meant that acupuncture, as a physiotherapy modality or service, was specifically not permitted.

In the new Act, "physiotherapy" is defined as "a method of treatment prescribed by the Regulations". This change has effectively removed the restriction on the provision of acupuncture as a physiotherapy treatment. This means registered physiotherapists may now provide acupuncture as a treatment option, and for that service to be billed as a physiotherapy service.

Criminal screening

To assist in the protection of members of the public, a current criminal screening (no older than four years) is required. This may be in the form of a:

National Police Clearance
Department of Health check
Department of Education check
Working with Children Check.

The screening of criminal records will apply to:

	all currently registered physiotherapists;
	physiotherapists applying for restoration to the Register; and
	new applicants for registration.

vi)

APC Supervised Clinical Practice

1.	All overseas-trained physiotherapists must be assessed by the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC) before being eligible for registration. Refer www.physiocouncil.com.au
2.	Once the applicant has successfully completed the Screening Examination, the candidate can arrange for a period of supervised clinical practice.
3.	At this stage, the applicant will need to make application for conditional registration with the Board for a six-week period of supervised clinical practice.
4.	The Board will require a letter from the applicant stating: specific dates; and the location and name of the registered physiotherapist who will be supervising the clinical practice.
5.	In addition, the Board requires a letter from the supervising physiotherapist acknowledging their responsibilities, and the conditions of the conditional registration.
6.	The conditional registration will be for the purpose of clinical practice only, and will be restricted to the dates and location as requested in the written application. A extension of the conditional registration will be granted for the purpose of undertaking the clinical examination. Written notification from the APC detailing the day and location of the clinical examination should be forwarded to the Board. Written confirmation of the extension of conditional registration will be forwarded to the applicant.
7.	The cost for conditional registration is the same as that for full registration.

vii)

Conversion from conditional to full registration

Once an applicant is in receipt of a Final Certificate from the APC, this may be brought to the registration office, or a copy bearing original certification forwarded by mail, and the Register will be amended, and the applicant forwarded a Certificate of Registration.