Final-year students urged to apply for registration online now

16 Nov 2015

Final-year students who will soon complete an approved program of study can go online now to apply for registration before they graduate.

Graduates need to be registered as an optometrist with the Optometry Board of Australia (the Board) before they start practising.

The online graduate application service on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) website smooths the path from study to work by enabling final-year students to apply for registration four to six weeks before completing their course.

All applicants are required to return supporting documents to AHPRA by mail to complete their application. It is important that this is done as soon as possible after applying online - see Next Steps Checklist. Certain applicants will need to apply for an international criminal history check (ICHC) before submitting their application for registration.

Graduates from all approved programs of study can apply for general registration and endorsement for scheduled medicines in one online or paper application form. There is no additional endorsement fee payable as the application is made at the same time.

Graduates of approved programs of study must meet the Optometry Board of Australia’s registration requirements to be a registered optometrist. Registration standards that relate to the new graduate are: 

• criminal history 
• English language skills, and 
• professional indemnity insurance.

There are six simple steps to registration for graduates:

1. Students apply for registration four to six weeks before completing their program at Graduate applications on the AHPRA website. 
2. Applicants fill out an online application (if eligible) or download an application form. 
3. Applicants send supporting documents to AHPRA by mail to complete the application. 
4. Education providers advise AHPRA when applicants are eligible to graduate. 
5. AHPRA finalises assessment, confirms registration, publishes new graduates’ names on the national register of practitioners and sends out registration certificates. 
6. New graduates registered with the National Board are eligible to start work as soon as their name is published on the national register.

For more information

• Go to Graduate applications on the AHPRA website for FAQ and links to more information 
• For registration enquiries or difficulties in accessing the online application form: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) 
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200