Frequently asked questions about qualification assessment and registration

After we assess your qualification portfolio, you will receive an outcome notice. This notice will explain the outcome of the qualification assessment. If we assess you as qualified for general registration, this notice will give you instructions on how to apply for general registration.

We will then review your application for registration to ensure you meet the requirements for general registration as a podiatrist. This includes the Board’s Registration Standards.

To be considered qualified, you must pass the National Podiatry Examination.

The exam is not yet available but is expected to be launched from mid-2026.

We aim to inform you of the outcome of your qualification portfolio assessment once it is complete. This process can take longer if we need to request more information from you, your education provider, or the relevant international regulator. If the assessment is expected to take more than 28 days, or if we require further details from you, we will contact you directly.

If your qualification as a podiatrist is recognised through the recognised qualification pathway, you will be on a fast-track pathway and we will not need to assess your qualifications.

If we need to assess your international qualification portfolio, the process will take more time. The length of time depends on the complexity of the assessment. We do a thorough assessment of all portfolios. It is not possible to fast-track these assessments. To avoid delays, ensure that you provide and we can verify all the required documents. For details of the qualification assessment process, see the Assessment of international qualifications page.

The Podiatry Board conducts skills assessments for skilled migration. The Department of Home Affairs will accept evidence that you hold general registration as a podiatrist with the Podiatry Board as a suitable skills assessment for migration purposes.

For details, see the Skills assessment for migration page.

Yes, you should provide information about all your formal, completed qualifications in podiatry. We will review these when deciding if you are qualified for general registration.

Yes. You have a few options on when and how you apply.

You can apply to have your qualifications assessed for Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines at the same time as you apply for assessment of your podiatry qualifications.

Alternatively, you can apply for endorsement after you have been granted general registration as a podiatrist and/or podiatric surgeon.

We will assess your qualification(s) relating to prescribing medicines using the Board’s Assessment Criteria for Scheduled Medicines endorsement. Refer to the Board’s Endorsement for scheduled medicines page for further information.

When you apply for qualification portfolio assessment, the application form gives you the option to have your portfolio assessed for qualification as a podiatrist, or as a specialist, or both.

Once you are registered, if you hold specialist registration but you do not hold general registration as a podiatrist, your scope of practice will align with the type of registration you hold.

Most podiatric surgeons complete more than one qualification to qualify as podiatric surgeons. However, it is possible that one qualification would cover both podiatry and podiatric surgery. However, we will consider your individual circumstances when we assess your qualifications. If you are considering registration as a specialist podiatric surgeon you should read the qualification requirements very carefully. The specialty has substantial and specific education, experience and training requirements to ensure that specialists meet the Professional Capabilities for Podiatric Surgeons.

For information on the requirements for specialist registration, see the Internationally qualified podiatric surgeons page.