Limited registration for teaching or research FAQ

The intent of limited registration under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory (the National Law) is that an individual will be eligible for limited registration so long as they are not qualified for general registration.

Expressed another way, if a practitioner is qualified for general registration they will not be eligible for limited registration.

Optometrists applying for limited registration for teaching or research and their employers should seek advice from Medicare to see if they are able to access a provider number.

The registration standard applies to individuals applying for:

• limited registration for teaching or research, under section 69 of the National Law, or
• renewal of limited registration for teaching or research under Part 7 Division 9 of the National Law.

It allows overseas trained optometrists who have not completed an approved program of study, to fill a teaching or research position in Australia.

If an overseas trained optometrist wishes to take up employment with an education provider and/or research facility, they can apply for limited registration for teaching or research.

Before applying for registration, practitioners should review the Board’s advice on ‘When it is necessary to be registered as an optometrist?’ published under the Registration tab on the Board’s website.

Yes. In addition, the terms of your limited registration for teaching or research will be added as a notation on the Register of Optometrists and any practice outside those terms is not permitted.

If you are granted limited registration for teaching or research you will have the following notation on the public register:

Limited registration for teaching or research is granted under section 69 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act from <date> to <date> for the purpose of <description of teaching position and/or research role and supervision arrangements> at <location/s>. Private practice and practice outside these parameters is not permitted.

The Board has published an application form available under the Registration section of the Board’s website. You will be required to provide the following documents together with your completed application form:

• evidence of your identity that meets the requirements for registration as specified in the application form¹
• a written position description for approval by the Board
• verification (such as a letter) from your employer of the teaching or research position
• details of any supervised clinical practice which you will undertake as part of the arrangement in a signed supervision agreement and a draft supervised practice plan.

¹Published on the Forms page of the Board's website.

Under the National Law, the initial period of limited registration:

• can only be up to 12 months, and
• can only be renewed three times.

The Board will publish the period of limited registration that applies to each practitioner on the Register of Optometrists.

Limited registration for teaching or research will end after 30 days of the end of the teaching or research position for which limited registration was granted.

If there is a significant change in circumstances, such as a change in the employment position, the practitioner must submit a new application for limited registration for teaching or research.

However, if there are only minor changes, such as a change in the approved position description or a change in supervisor, the optometrist can contact the Board requesting a variation.