English language skills

Registration standard

Registration standards define the requirements that applicants or registrants need to meet to be registered.

Further information

The following additional documents have been developed to supplement the registration standard by providing further information to optometrists regarding the Optometry Board’s expectations and requirements. These documents should be read in conjunction with the standard.

Do you meet the English language standards skills?

The new standard introduces additional pathways for applicants to demonstrate evidence of their English language skills. Diagrams of how these work are included in the English language skills pathways document listed below.

Approved English language test providers

If you are required to sit an English language test, please refer to either of the following approved provider's websites for more information:

• International English Language Testing System - (IELTS)
• Occupational English test - OET
• Test of English as a foreign language internet-based test - TOEFL iBT
• Pearson test of English academic - PTE Academic

Consultation process for the English language skills standard

These new standards were developed after a review of the existing standards, which included a public consultation. The consultation report provides a summary of responses, rationale for any changes and sets out the proposed way forward, including areas where further work in planned. The report, as well as the letter from Ministerial Council approving the new standards is available on the AHPRA website.

Retired version

The previous version of the registration standard is no longer in effect.

Note: If a practitioner is selected for audit, they will be audited against the registration standard that was in effect during the audit period, or as otherwise specified. For more information on audits refer to the audit page.