How do I know if my curriculum is similar to what's taught in Aotearoa | New Zealand?
The New Zealand physiotherapy degree programmes are audited against the Australia and Aotearoa | New Zealand physiotherapy practice thresholds. International applicants need to demonstrate the link between these thresholds and their physiotherapy qualification’s curriculum.
Information on what curriculum evidence we require can be found here.
Once you have submitted your application the final decision as to the similarity of your physiotherapy programme to the New Zealand physiotherapy programmes rests with the Physiotherapy Board. This is determined from the curriculum documents and academic transcript you supply.
How is practising in New Zealand different?
One of the main differences between Aotearoa | New Zealand physiotherapists and those from some other countries is the degree of autonomous practice. In Aotearoa | New Zealand, the public has direct access to physiotherapy because there is no referral required from a medical practitioner. Physiotherapists therefore need to be able assess, diagnose and treat patients and know when and where to refer patients. New Zealand physiotherapists are able to refer directly to most medical specialists and to prescribe investigations such as x-ray and diagnostic ultrasound for musculoskeletal conditions.
How does this affect physiotherapy degree programme curricula?
Differences in healthcare systems can lead to significant differences in what is included in a physiotherapy programme.
The physiotherapy degree programmes from countries with a similar degree of autonomy and similar healthcare system are more likely to be considered sufficiently similar and require less supporting evidence.
If your physiotherapy degree programme is not sufficiently similar and you don't have enough post qualification evidence to meet the gaps, you may make your application stronger by completing post-graduate physiotherapy study in countries with similar models of healthcare to New Zealand (such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, South Africa, or Australia). Your further study needs to include supervised clinical experience.