AOAC

Updated 07 Jan 2025

Description:

The Australasian Osteopathic Accreditation Council (AOAC) is an independent organisation to assess and accredit osteopathic education programs leading to eligibility for registration as an osteopath in Australia, and to assess the suitability of overseas qualified osteopaths to practice in Australia. The AOAC was known as ANZOC until July 2014 when a transition to the new name was made to better reflect our current area of operations. New Zealand accreditation is managed by the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand.

Criteria:

To proceed with a skills assessment you must answer YES to at least one of the following statements

1. You currently hold a current and full (unconditional) practicing certificate as an osteopath from the Osteopathy Board of Australia

2. You have completed a recognized, registrable, entry-level qualification in osteopathy at a university in Australia

If you answered NO to both of these questions you are required to complete an assessment for registration in Australia detailed in steps below.

The Australasian Osteopathic Accreditation Council (AOAC) is the body that assesses the suitability of overseas-qualified osteopaths to practice in Australia.

To be eligible for a skills assessment, applicants must either:

Hold a current and full (unconditional) practicing certificate as an osteopath from the Osteopathy Board of Australia, or
Have completed a recognized, registrable, entry-level qualification in osteopathy at an Australian university.

If an applicant meets neither of these criteria, they must complete the AOAC's assessment for registration in Australia, which involves the following stages:

Stage 1: Initial Assessment: Submission of the application form and all required documents, with the assessment taking up to 10 working days.
Stage 2: Written Examination: A three-hour exam on safe osteopathy practice and evidence-informed treatment and management, comprising multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and extended matching questions (EMQs). Examinations are held in March and September.
Stage 3: Online Practical Assessment: Candidates complete two simulated osteopathy patient consultations and answer related questions over 2 hours. This assessment requires reliable internet access.
Stage 4: Face-to-Face Practical Assessment: Conducted in Melbourne, Australia, this assessment focuses on safe and effective osteopathy practice and includes an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) with a simulated patient and consultations with actual patients. Limited registration is required for this stage.
Stage 5: Assessment (Open Book Examination (OBE): An online multiple-choice exam based on the "Information on the Practice of Osteopathy in Australia – A guide for graduates trained overseas".