IRISH SOCIETY OF CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPISTS

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2

Tel: (01) 402 2148

Fax: (01) 402 2160

Email: info@iscp.ie

Website: www.iscp.ie

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

on the

RECOGNITION of PHYSIOTHERAPY QUALIFICATIONS

acquired outside the REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
To be used in conjunction with the Qualification Recognition Application Form and Manual

Who must apply for qualification recognition?

Recognition of your physiotherapy qualifications is required to work in the Irish public
health sector and to work in private practice as a Chartered Physiotherapist. For further
information on what to submit for recognition of your qualifications, please refer to the
Application Form for the Recognition of Physiotherapy Qualifications and the Application
Form Manual for the Recognition of Physiotherapy Qualifications. These are available on
our website: www.iscp.ie
Do I have to apply if I trained in Ireland?
RCSI, TCD, UCD & UL physiotherapy programmes are accredited by the Irish Society of
Chartered Physiotherapists and graduates can work in the Irish public health system without
individual qualification assessment.
I am Irish and trained in England, do I have to go through the qualifications
recognition process?
Yes; Irish nationals educated in another country must first apply for recognition of his/her
physiotherapy qualifications before he/she can take up a post in the Irish public health
system.
How does the ISCP assess my physiotherapy qualifications?
The professional education and training you received in your home Member State is
compared with that required in the Republic of Ireland. The assessors evaluate your
application against the Irish physiotherapy programmes in terms of content and duration
and make decisions regarding educational equivalence.
Knowledge acquired in the course of your physiotherapy professional work experience and
postgraduate education will be taken into account in the final assessment process if there is
any area of difference. Please note assessment can only be made on the information supplied
so it is important to give as much information as possible.
Please refer to: Criteria for Recognition of Physiotherapy Qualifications acquired Outside
the Republic of Ireland, available on our website for further information.
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Frequently Asked Question

How long will the application take?

A confirmation letter that your application has been received will be sent from the ISCP
office, by post, within one month of receipt of your application.
The assessment process and decision can take between 8 to 16 weeks. It is important that all
the information is submitted, as any missing information will delay the process and the final
decision.
How much is the application fee and is the fee refundable if my qualifications are not
recognised following assessment?
The application fee is 500
This fee is not refundable.
How can I pay?
Payment can be made by:
Euro Bank draft made payable to the ISCP
Cheque drawn from an Irish Bank made payable to the ISCP
Visa Debit Card please provide card number and expiry date
Credit Card Visa and Master Card are acceptable
Cash or bank transfer is NOT accepted as a payment method

Your application will not be processed until the application fee is paid.
NB: From the 1st August 2009 all credit card payments will incur a charge of 2.5% per
transaction. Please note there is no extra charge for laser card transactions.

Should I apply for recognition of my physiotherapy qualifications prior to arriving in

Ireland?
It is recommended that you apply before you arrive in Ireland. The decision can take up to
four months but in most cases it is shorter than this. It will be easier to get the documents
that you require and you will still have a means of financial support while your qualifications
are going through the recognition process.
You should also be aware that a period of adaptation or aptitude test may apply.
Are my qualifications recognised automatically if they have already been recognised
by another European Country?
Although the EU directives are designed to facilitate migration between member countries,
there is no automatic recognition of qualifications. Under the EU directives each member
country has a right to set its own standards for physiotherapy to suit the needs of their own
particular health system. Therefore, you will have to complete the Irish physiotherapy
qualifications recognition process.
If my qualifications are recognised by the Health and Care Professional Council
(HCPC) in the UK, do I need to submit a complete new application to the ISCP?
Yes, you will need to complete and submit a separate application with all the requested
documentation to the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists to have your qualifications
assessed for recognition to work in the Irish public health system.
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Frequently Asked Question

Do I need to have my qualifications recognised for the Public Health Sector?

Yes, you will need to have your qualifications recognised before being employed in the Irish
public health system.
Do I need my qualifications to be recognised to work in the private sector?
You will need to have your qualifications assessed for the private sector for a number of
different reasons:
To work under the title of Chartered Physiotherapist you first require your
physiotherapy qualifications to be recognised. Following recognition of your
qualifications you are eligible for membership to the ISCP and once you are a fully
paid member you can use the title Chartered Physiotherapist in Republic of
Ireland.
With ISCP membership you are then able to avail of the ISCP professional
indemnity insurance cover.
Irish health insurance companies e.g. VHI, BUPA and VIVAS cover private
treatments costs carried out by chartered physiotherapists.
If I come to Ireland on a working holiday visa, do I still need to have my
qualifications recognised?
Yes. It is not advisable to come to Ireland and then start the process of qualification
recognition, particularly if you are on a short visit. Also, a period of adaptation or aptitude
test may apply. It is better to find this out before you arrive and take it into account.
I do not want to waste money if my qualifications are not ultimately recognised? Can
you please advise me?
Your qualifications will be compared to the Irish physiotherapy programme qualifications.
Please refer to: Criteria for Recognition of Physiotherapy Qualifications acquired outside the
Republic of Ireland. This document will assist you in making an informed decision on
whether your qualifications will be recognised.
I have a masters degree? Will this help me achieve recognition of my qualifications?
The ISCP recognition process is a process designed to ensure that each applicants
physiotherapy education and training is broadly equivalent to the Irish honours degree
physiotherapy programme in terms of academic content and duration of study. Everyone is
compared with the level of knowledge and skills attained by a newly qualified Irish
physiotherapy graduate. If the entry to the profession in your country was a masters level
training programme then this is what will be assessed. In the case of masters (preregistration) or accelerated entry courses, the pre-requisite qualification(s) that have been
gained prior to commencing the physiotherapy training will also be included in the
assessment process.
If you have undertaken a masters as part of your continuing professional development the
ISCP will still need to assess your qualifying level of education. Masters level CPD
programmes give an in-depth knowledge in one area while the recognition process looks at a
broad range of subjects at a minimum level. If you have a significant difference in your
physiotherapy qualifying education and your Masters fulfils this deficit it will be taken into
consideration.
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Frequently Asked Question

I am a qualified physiotherapist in my own country and am applying for a Masters

course in Ireland? While completing this course I plan to work. Do I need to have my
qualifications recognition?
Yes, to work in the Irish public health system you will be required to have your
physiotherapy qualifications recognised. If you are traveling from a country that requires a
visa to enter to Ireland, you should contact the Irish Diplomatic mission in your home
country before you travel. If there is no diplomatic mission, write well in advance to the
Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin and ask for a visa application form.
You do not require a visa to visit Ireland if you are a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or
if you are from a select number of countries listed by the Irish Naturalisation and
Immigration Service
Do I need a Green Card or Work Permit if I am successful in my application?
If you are a non-EEA/EU resident and you wish to work in Ireland, you will need a permit
to work in Ireland.
Green Cards: - The Green Card permit scheme replaces the working visa and the work
authorisation scheme, which has been discontinued since February 2007. All queries
regarding the Green Card and Work Permits should be directed to:
DEPT. OF ENTERPRISE, TRADE & EMPLOYMENT
Employment Permits Section, Davitt House, 65A Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, Ireland
Tel:
+353 1 631 3333/3308
Locall: 1890 201 616
Fax: +353 1 631 3268
Web: http://www.entemp.ie
E-mail:
employmentpermits@entemp.ie
IRISH NATURALISATION AND IMMIGRATION SERVICE
13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland
Tel:
+353 1 616 7700
Locall: 1890 551 500
Web: http://www.inis.gov.ie/
E-mail:
immigration_mail@justice.ie
Can I work as a physiotherapist while I am waiting for my qualifications to be
recognisd?
No, you cannot work as a physiotherapist in the public health system and certain parts of the
private health system without your physiotherapy qualifications being recognised.

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Frequently Asked Question

Can I work as a physiotherapy assistant while waiting for my qualifications to be

recognised?
Yes, at present there is no qualification requirement to work as a physiotherapy assistant in
the Republic of Ireland. However, if you are a holder of a non-EEA passport you will need
to have the necessary work permit. For further information refer to the following websites:
http://www.entemp.ie or http://www.citizensinformation.ie
Doctors and nurses dont seem to have trouble with migration and qualification
recognition. Why is the physiotherapy process different?
Doctors and nurses are covered by different directives (sectoral directives), which allow for
automatic recognition within agreed protocols. Physiotherapy is covered under the general
directives. Within the general directives each applicant is individually assessed for
qualification equivalence. It has advantages as it allows each country determine the standard
required to suit its own health service.
My country of training and my nationality are different. How does this affect the
ISCP process of qualifications recognition?
It is your country of training not your nationality that is relevant to the ISCP recognition
process when assessing your qualifications for equivalence. You will need to be recognised as
a physiotherapist in the country where you received your qualifications.
I want to work in Ireland but my English is not so good?
Language assessment is currently not part of the application process within the existing
directives. However, the EU Commission has stated that community nationals wishing to
pursue their profession in another member state under directive 2005/36/EC should have
a knowledge of languages necessary for practicing the profession in the host member state.
It is important if you are working in the Irish Health Service that your standard of English is
adequate to practise safely. Depending on your level you may need to consider a fulltime
language course.
The recommended level of English language knowledge is spoken English at least equivalent
to International English Language Testing (IELTS) 7.0 with no element below 6.5 or
TOEFL (paper test) 600 / TOEFL (electronic) 250.
I am a medical doctor with an additional qualification in Physiotherapy/Physical
Medicine. Can I work in Ireland as a physiotherapist?
Physiotherapy professionals in Ireland are autonomous practitioners. The mechanism for
qualification recognition administrated by the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists is
solely for physiotherapists. You are advised to contact the Irish Medical Council for further
advice.

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Frequently Asked Question

The ISCP has already evaluated a classmate from my school, who was successfully
processed, yet I am asked to submit all my documents. Why can the ISCP not
consider the documents submitted by my classmate as a reference?
The general system of qualifications recognition does not provide for automatic recognition
of professional qualifications obtained in another Member State. You must submit a
personal application. Your application will be considered individually by the ISCP.
Also, it is the experience of the ISCP assessors that in most countries physiotherapy students
have many elective placements. Thus, the educational background of two students from the
same programme may not be the same. Furthermore, marks sheets, post-graduate work
experience and postgraduate qualifications may be reviewed and considered as part of the
evaluation process.
What if the school I attended no longer exists and I cannot obtain the
documentation?
Extraordinary circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis. However, the ISCP will
require information from your school to assess your qualifications. Useful contacts to assist
you in obtaining the required information are the competent authority, the school
accrediting body or the physiotherapy association in the country where the school was
located.
What if the school that I attended does not provide information and documents in
English?
If the school does not provide the transcript, physiotherapy qualification certificate or
Section 2 of your application form in English you will need to get all three translated into
English. All English translations must be from a certified translator.
The format of the application form cannot be changed during the translation process. If the
format of the application form is changed it will not be accepted.
Where does the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists send the results of the
qualification recognition process?
Results will be sent to the address as specified on your application form. If your address
changes, you will need to send in a signed letter giving your new address.
I have a representative in Ireland. What kind of information would the ISCP provide
to my representative?
Queries that you may have can be directed through your representative. However, all written
documentation will be sent directly to you, the applicant, not your representative.
If you wish to have queries directed through your representative, you must provide the ISCP
with a letter that has been signed by yourself. However, all written documentation will be
sent directly to you and a copy will be sent to your representative.
Can I start the recognition process before my physiotherapy training is complete?
No. You will need to have successfully passed your final examinations and obtained your
physiotherapy qualifications before the recognition process can begin. The Irish Society of
Chartered Physiotherapists can only commence the assessment process when all the
information is submitted. You can start the process of gathering the information. However,
do not submit your application for recognition until it is complete.
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Frequently Asked Question

_______________________________________________________________________
Can I submit the documents that I have to start the recognition process?
No. The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists will only accept your application when it
is complete. If you submit an incomplete application or individual documents they will be
sent back to you.
I have just qualified and have not yet been issued with my qualification certificate.
Do I have to wait for this before I can commence with recognition of my
qualifications?
If you are a recent graduate and have not yet been issued with your qualification certificate,
you may provide a letter from your educational institution confirming that you have
successfully completed your course. You are required to send a certified copy of your degree
as soon as it has been issued. Please note that a transcript is not sufficient evidence of
qualification.
Can I submit and collect documents in person?
Applications can be submitted by post or can be left at the main reception on level 1. No
applications ca be accepted directly to the office nor is there an option for applicants to
make an appointment to meet with the IQWG administrator or office to discuss their
application or to submit an application by hand. A request can be made through our CEO
and an appointment may be offered under exceptional circumstances.
Contact details:
Ph.: 00-353-1-402-2353
or
00-353-1-402-2148
I submitted certificates a number of years ago, can I get them back?
Yes, you can get them back, however once a decision on your application is made files are
sent to storage so a retrieval fee will apply Please note your recognition application form is
the property of the ISCP and will not be returned.
Do translations need to be certified/notarised?
ALL documents not in English must be translated and certified to be a true translation by a
certified translator.
Can I submit by e-mail or fax?
No. The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists does not accept applications through email or fax.
I applied for recognition of my physiotherapy qualifications a few years ago and did
not complete the process. Can the previous documents I provided be used?
If you applied and did not submit the additional verification or information required by the
IQGW within the requested time frame your application was discontinued and your file was
closed. You will need to submit a newly completed application including application fee.
If I want to become a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists
what do I do?
If your physiotherapy qualifications have been successfully recognised, you are now eligible
for membership to the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. You will receive an
information pack from the ISCP acknowledging that you have been successful in you
application to have your qualifications recognised and explaining how you can become a
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Frequently Asked Question

member. The membership year runs from July 1st to June 30th. Please contact the ISCP office
for current rates of subscriptions.
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I have been asked to provide an employment reference from my current/previous
employer for proof of clinical practice. Is there a form for these letters?
Yes, the employer form is Section 5 of the ISCP Application Form for the Recognition of
Physiotherapy Qualifications. Employment letters should be submitted in English explaining
the areas of practice and dates you worked in each area or translated into English by a
certified translator, in the same format as the original.
Does it matter what country my employment letter comes from? Should they come
from the country of origin/education?
No. Employment letters can come from anywhere in the world as long as they are written in
English or translated into English by a certified translator, in the same format as the original.
Where do employers send the letters?
The employers return the reference to you and you submit it with your completed
application. The letter must be signed, stamped, dated and sealed in an envelope with the
referees signature over the seal.
I am working as a volunteer Physiotherapist do I need to supply a reference.
Yes, you need to supply a reference from a supervisor or manager where you are currently
volunteering. This needs to be filled in to section 5 of the application form and submitted in
a sealed envelope to the ISCP office.
I have just qualified; do I have to fill out Section 3 Post-Qualifying Clinical
Experience, Section 4 Continuing Professional Development and Section 5
Reference Form?
No, recent graduates do not have to fill out Section 3, Section 4 and Section 5. However,
you must please state on the relevant sections not applicable.
Please note section 3 must be completed if you have qualified over 3month when submitting
your application.
I have not worked in physiotherapy in recent times or have worked outside the field
of physiotherapy for a period of time since qualifying. Do I need to fill in Section 3
Post Qualifying Clinical Experience?
If you have gaps in your physiotherapy clinical work experience you will need to explain
these gaps. Please list all places of employment since you qualified in chronological order,
starting with the most recent, even if you have not been employed as a physiotherapist. All
periods of unemployment must also be put down on the form.
Who can fill out Section 5 Reference Form?
You will need to submit two references, one of which must be your current or most recent
physiotherapy manager, and one of which must be a physiotherapist who directly supervised
your physiotherapy practice.

Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists

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Frequently Asked Question

What should I submit as evidence of recognition that my qualifications entitled me

to practice as a physiotherapist in the country in which my qualifications were
obtained?
Evidence of recognition of your physiotherapy qualifications in the country that the
qualification was obtained.
Acceptable evidence:
Certified copy of current membership card or membership certificate from your
current physiotherapy Registration Authority in your country of education
or
Certified copy of current membership card or membership certificate from the
Professional Body in your country of education
or
Letter of eligibility from the Professional Body if physiotherapy registration or
Professional Body membership is not compulsory in your country of education or
you are no longer a member.
or
Letter of eligibility from the Professional Body in your country of education if you are
a new graduate and have not yet joined.
or
A letter stating entitlement to practice as a physiotherapist from the Competent
Authority in the country in which you obtained your physiotherapy qualification.
Details of EU competent authorities and registrations authorities can be found on the
following website:
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/qualifications/regprof/regprofs/dsp_regprofs.cfm?pr
ofId=1250
Worldwide details of Physiotherapy Professional Bodies and regulatory/competent
authorities can be found on the following websites:
http://www.healthregulation.org/public/hrw.nsf/Home?OpenForm
or
The World Confederation of Physical Therapists Website:
http://www.wcpt.org
I applied to the ISCP qualifications recognition section and have not received any
notification in relation to the status of my application?
A letter will be sent to the applicant within one month of receipt of application. Please
ensure that the address given on the application is correct. If you have not received any
information after one month of submitting your documents, we suggest that you contact the
office.
Will I still be considered if my applicant form is not complete?
The assessment for recognition of qualifications will not commence until your form is
completed. If there is a section of your application form not completed or if documentation
is missing, you will receive a letter outlining these omissions and areas for additional
verification within one month of your initial submission. Please ensure that the ISCP
Application Form for the Recognition of Physiotherapy Qualifications is completed before
submitting it to prevent unnecessary delays.
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Frequently Asked Question

What types of clinical practise are accepted?

The assessors will review gaps in education and training. Knowledge acquired in your post
graduate clinical experience will be reviewed to see if it can address any of these
gaps/differences in your physiotherapy education.
How many requests for qualification recognition does the ISCP receive a year?
The ISCP receives over 2000 enquires a year and has approximately 200 formal applications
per annum for qualification recognition.
What is an inactive file?
If your application required further verification and you did not supply this information
within four months of the requested date, then your file becomes inactive and is closed.
After this time, if you wish to pursue your application again you will be required to submit a
new application and a new application fee will apply.
What are the options if my physiotherapy qualifications are not considered
equivalent?
If your qualifications are not considered equivalent to an Irish graduate then a compensatory
measure can be applied. You have the choice between two compensation mechanisms: - To complete a period of adaptation successfully
or
- To pass an aptitude test.
For further information on period of adaptation & aptitude tests, please refer to:
Compensatory Measures tab on our website: www.iscp.ie
If I fail the aptitude test can I still consider a period of adaptation or vice versa?
Normally if you choose the aptitude test and are not successful you cannot revert to a period
of adaptation or vice versa. Normally once you make this choice and have commenced the
process you cannot change. If applicants wish to change from one to another they must
receive approval from the IQWG.
Can I re-apply if my education and qualifications are not considered equivalent?
Yes, only if you have acquired additional experience, qualifications or additional information
and supporting documents that were not submitted with your initial application. A new
application form and application fee will need to be submitted. We will not return any
section of your initial application. It remains the property of the ISCP.
If my qualifications are not considered substantially equivalent would the ISCP
identify the shortfalls?
Yes, the ISCP will inform you of the area/s of your shortfall. The ISCP will also identify the
options available to you, including length of period of adaptation, area of study for aptitude
test and additional academic education if required to compensate for the shortfalls in your
physiotherapy education.
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Frequently Asked Question

How can I find a hospital willing to provide me with a period of adaptation?

Currently periods of adaptation are difficult to source. We would recommend that you write
to the sites requesting a period of adaptation. We recommend that you include a copy of the
ISCP decision letter and a copy of your CV when you submit your request to the hospital.
What happens if the shortfalls in my physiotherapy education and training are very
large?
Those applicants with large shortfalls in their physiotherapy education and training may
contact any of the ISCP accredited training Colleges to obtain information on the
registration process and procedure if they wish to pursue university-level physiotherapy
education in Ireland.
Does the ISCP have an appeals process?
Yes. You may appeal against the unfavourable decision. Notice of your appeal must be
submitted within 30 working days of the date of your decision letter with an Appeal Fee of
100. Appeals received outside this time period will not be considered.
Please review the website for further information or details of the appeals process.
NB: From the 1st August 2009 all credit card payments will incur a charge of 2.5% per transaction.
Please note there is no extra charge for laser card transactions.

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Disclaimer:
The contents of these pages are intended to enhance information for physiotherapists who have acquired qualifications outside the
Republic of Ireland. While every effort is made in the preparation of the material for publication, no responsibility is accepted by the
Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists for any errors, omissions or misleading statements on these pages or any site to which
they are connected. Although every effort is made to ensure the reliability of listed sites these cannot be taken as an endorsement of
these sites.
Copyright:
The material featured on this site is subject to copyright. The material may be downloaded to file or printer for personal use only.
Where this material is being issued to others the source and copyright does not extend to any material on this site, which is the
property of a third party. Authorisation to reproduce such material must be obtained from the copyright holders concerned.

Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists

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