ASMIRT-FAQ

Updated 7 Nov 2019

How long will the application process take?
The assessment of an application may take up to 16 weeks. Practicing clinicians carry out the
assessment and therefore applications need to be forwarded to the individual assessors throughout Australia.
Applications are processed in the order of date received of all required documents. ASMIRT is
continuously receiving a large number of applications. It would be unfair to complete your application ahead of other applicants in the queue.
The initial process will be held up if all documentation is not present and further information is
requested. If further information is requested, attach a covering letter so that documents reach the appropriate department for processing.

What is the cost of assessment?
The cost of the assessment is AUD$883.00 if applying from overseas. If resident in Australia
(permanent or temporary), the assessment fee is AUD$970.00 which includes a total of AUD$88.18 Goods and Services tax (GST). Refer to the application form for methods of payment. Payment for the assessment must be included with the application.
Accepted forms of payment are bank cheque drawn in Australian dollars, MasterCard, Visa Card or
American Express.
• Provide the correct details for your credit card here including expiry date and CCV number.
• Inform your bank that there will be a transaction from the Australian Institute of Radiography to
ensure that payment goes through smoothly.
• If using direct debit card, check that there are sufficient funds to cover the payment.
Cheques must be made payable to the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy and drawn on an Australian Bank. Overseas currency is not accepted and do not send cash.
Pre-Approved applications ONLY – The fee for this assessment is AUD$278.00. Refer to the
application form for methods of payment. Payment for the assessment must be included with the
application. Accepted forms of payment are bank cheque drawn in Australian dollars, MasterCard, Visa Card or American Express. Cheques must be made payable to the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy and drawn on an Australian Bank. Overseas currency is not accepted. Please do not send cash. This is a non-refundable cost.

How many CPD documents are needed for the overseas application?
You will need to submit the last three years of CPD evidence. This will need to be more than a list of activities; it needs to have supporting documentary evidence such as certificates and/or letters.

How many years’ experience must I have before I can apply?
You need to have at least two years of clinical experience post qualification. This does not include any clinical time that was included as part of your degree program. If you submit all documentation to be assessed, and you have not reached the 2 years minimum
requirement, your application will be held until you reach the requirements, and further documentation is supplied from your employer detailing the dates of employment as the specified Imaging or Therapy practitioner at the hospital/centre and the hours of employment per week. The letter also needs to detail the work performed by applicant, including duties and responsibilities. A percentage breakdown of the different modalities undertaken in the department will need to be included.
If you have not undertaken the 2 year minimum post graduate clinical experience requirement, you are ineligible for a skills assessment letter.
Note: pre approved applicants from New Zealand must demonstrate a minimum of 1 year post graduate clinical experience.

If I have registration in another country, will I need to undertake an ASMIRT assessment?
Registration regulations differ from country to country. If you undertake the ASMIRT overseas assessment process, you will need to provide evidence of your registration in your country. It does not automatically qualify you for unconditional recognition. If you require Eligibility for ASMIRT Membership or a Skills Assessment for Immigration Purposes, then you will need to undertake an ASMIRT assessment.

How do I become a member of ASMIRT?
In order to be eligible for membership of ASMIRT you need to be eligible for a Validated Statement of Accreditation. This is issued on successful conclusion of an overseas qualification assessment.
Membership incorporates professional indemnity insurance with a unlimited run off cover which is a mandatory requirement for AHPRA. Please note that not all employers will hold the appropriate cover for you. This membership also entitles you to lodge CPD credits and ensure compliance with the AHPRA mandatory CPD requirements.

What is the difference between AHPRA Registration and ASMIRT?
AHPRA is the registration board only and deems whether practitioners are competent to be registered as a practitioner. They do not run programs of any sort, nor are a membership organisation. Diagnostic Radiographers/Medical Imaging Technologists and Radiation Therapists are required to be AHPRA registered before gaining employment in Australia. For further details contact:
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
www.ahpra.gov.au
http://www.medicalradiationpracticeboard.gov.au/
ASMIRT is a professional association and the peak body representing radiographers, radiation therapists and sonographers in Australia. We recognise undergraduate courses across Australia, set standards of competency in practice and encourage scholarship and continuing professional development. The overseas assessment process is not a registration process.

Why do I need to undertake the ASMIRT overseas assessment process?
The ASMIRT assesses your qualification for a few reasons. ASMIRT is gazetted by the Department of Immigration to review the course you have undertaken for suitablilty to practice in Australia. If successful in this process and you are at this professional standard, then you will be given a skills assessment letter to submit with your visa application. If your qualifications were gained outside Australia you will need to have them assessed by the ASMIRT Overseas Qualification Assessment Panel (OQAP). Overseas qualifications are not necessarily recognised as being equivalent to the Australian standard and therefore need to be assessed on an individual basis. Further details on the process of applying to have your qualifications assessed by OQAP can be found under the OQAP application section of the ASMIRT website.

What is meant by a Pre approved course?
Selected international programmes in Diagnostic Radiography/Medical Imaging Technology and
Radiation Therapy have been approved by ASMIRT, allowing graduates to obtain an accelerated
assessment of their eligibility for accreditation. Presently this includes those degree courses from New Zealand only. There are no other pre approved courses from any other country on this list.
An applicant via this Direct Application method must include certified* copies of the information
requested on the application form. They must have at least 1 year of clinical experience in their country of origin before applying. Applicants must demonstrate a proficiency in English and are required to provide evidence of understanding and fluency in English - click here for further information.

Do I need to undertake the ASMIRT overseas assessment process if I am a radiographer /radiation therapist?
ASMIRT assesses radiography and radiation therapy qualifications for two reasons:
• Eligibility for Membership
• Skills Assessment for Immigration Purposes
It is not mandatory to be assessed for registration (MRPBA) purposes; however some employers still like to see prospective employees hold a Validated Statement of Accreditation (VSOA) to demonstrate a professional standard. In order to participate in the ASMIRT's non member CPD program which some organisations partake in, you will need to hold a VSOA. You will also require this certificate in order to become a member of the Institute and to undertake any further certifications that the AIR run such as the MRI, CT and mammography certifications. A successful assessment will mean you are granted a Validated Statement of Accreditation that will then
enable you to apply for immigration through the skilled migration program.

Do I require licensing in addition to registration?
Diagnostic Radiographers/Medical Imaging Technologists and Radiation Therapists are registered with the MRPBA as a mandatory requirement in order to practice in Australia. You must be on the AHPRA registry in order to gain employment in Australia. To operate irradiating apparatus, you will need to be licensed in the different States of Australia that is separate to the AHPRA registration and ASMIRT process. Applicants should contact the relevant State and Territory regulating authority to enquire about the licensing requirements.

What is meant by certified copy?
(Note: This may also be referred to as a notarised copy)
Certified copy of a document means a copy authorised or stamped as being a true and correct copy of the original document by a person or agency recognised by the law of your country to do such. In Australia this would be, a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations or a person before whom a statutory declaration may be made e.g. accountant, lawyer, doctor, police officer.

Do I need to undertake the ASMIRT overseas assessment process if I am an overseas qualified sonographer?
The ASMIRT assessment process is undertaken on behalf of the Australasian Sonographers
Accreditation Registry (ASAR). The qualifications are assessed based on the benchmark set by this
organisation. In order to gain registration with the ASAR, it is a mandatory requirement that all overseas qualified practitioners undertake an assessment of their overseas qualifications.
Practitioners who have undertaken an Australian Program will be required to undertake this process an applicant should receive advice of the outcome w also. Applications involving pre-approved Australian ithin one month of receipt. Incomplete applications courses will be dealt with in a shorter timeline and that do not include all the required documentation may take considerably longer to assess. Sonographers are required to be registered before gaining employment in Australia. For further details contact:
Australasian Sonographers Accreditation Registry (ASAR)
Secretariat
P O Box 745
Castle Hill NSW 1765
Australia
tel. [phone]
fax. [phone]
email: [e-mail]
website: www.asar.com.au

I am a sonologist and wish to be able to practice ultrasound in Australia. Am I eligible?
Overseas doctors with ultrasound training have a different emphasis and scope of practice than
Australian sonographers. The post graduate program will need to be comparable to the academic and practical hours against the Australian standard. There needs to be sound information provided with regards to ultrasound topics covered. Overseas doctors are recommended to have their medical degree assessed.

I don’t have a degree level qualification. Can people undergo assessments without a degree level qualification but with significant experience in the field?
There are no guarantees of a successful outcome in your application. Assessments are reviewed and take into consideration both the clinical and academic aspects of practice and are measured against the Professional Practice Standards for radiography and radiation therapy and standards set by the Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry in the case of ultrasound. Note that qualifications obtained post 1995 must be of a degree standard.

Are you able to have a quick look at my credentials to see if I would be successful in my
application?
There is no capacity to undertake a quick pre review of your application prior to submission. This
assessment may result in a non-favourable outcome. It is recommended that you undertake your own research in the first instance to see if you meet the eligibility criteria prior to submitting for assessment.

What are my qualifications assessed against?
Diagnostic Radiography/Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy. Your application and qualifications will be assessed against the Australian standard at the time of
qualification. The Assessment Panel bases the assessment on equivalence with the Australian standard at the time of your qualification. Your post qualification experience and postgraduate education will also be taken into consideration. Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) should be forwarded with your application. The Assessment Panel requires that the post qualification experience should be equivalent to an average Australian Diagnostic Radiographer/Medical Imaging Technologist or Radiation Therapist who qualified at the same time. You must demonstrate at least two or more years in the last 5 years of good clinical experience. The minimum standard that your application would be expected to achieve is the ASMIRT's Professional Practice Standards (PPS) for the Accredited Practitioner. Diagnostic Radiographers/Medical Imaging Technologists should have some experience of
basic CT scanning. Radiation Therapists should demonstrate understanding of both treatment planning and delivery. The assessment is based on guidelines from the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEINOOSR), of the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). Your qualification will be compared to a qualification in either Diagnostic Radiography/Medical Imaging or Radiation Therapy. In Australia the disciplines are quite different entities and you can only qualify in one discipline. The following is a guide as to the Australian academic standard your qualification will be compared to:
• Up to 1972 (Certificate) - 3-4 years of part-time study with on-the-job training
• 1973-1985 (Associate Diploma) - 3 years equivalent fulltime study
• 1986-1994 (Diploma) - 3 years of fulltime study
• 1995 onwards (Degree) - 3 years of fulltime study and a Professional Development (PDY) year of
mentored clinical entrance into the profession. The Statement of Accreditation is issued to
Australian graduates on the completion of their PDY
Ultrasound
Ultrasound applications and qualifications will be assessed against the Australian standard at the time of qualification. The Assessment Panel bases the assessment on equivalence with the Australian standard at the time of your qualification. This equivalence is the minimum qualification criteria as set by the Australasian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR). The assessment is based on guidelines from the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEINOOSR), of the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).
Ultrasound qualifications will only be considered at a postgraduate level with an appropriate
undergraduate qualification in an associated Health Science - Radiography, Biomedical Science and Nursing etc. in short a course that has anatomy and related subjects in it.
Ultrasound applications must contain evidence of an appropriate volume and range of clinical
experience in the area of specialty.

When my qualifications are assessed what happens?
The assessment of your qualifications can take up to 16 weeks. The Assessment Panel only comes
together approximately twice per year for face-to-face meetings. All other activities of the Assessment Panel are done via mail or electronically through ASMIRT
The Assessment Panel members will assess all the paperwork provided by you and compare it to the Australian standard for the same period of time. They will compare the syllabus that is provided in your application to the Australian syllabus for the same time. They will compare subjects, topics covered under the subjects, the hours of instruction for each subject and topic, the clinical experience as part of the course and the type of clinical experience. They will look at your employment record and letters from employers to ensure your post qualification experience is of the required standard. Your evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) will be also examined.

What if I do not agree with the findings of the overseas panel?
Applicants are able to choose from two options:
1. Submit further documentation to support their application
2. Direct appeal with a three month period
A three-year period from the date of the rejection letter is allocated for applicants to reapply by
submitting further documentation in support of their application. No additional payment is required for a reassessment if further evidence is received within the three-year timeframe. After these 3 years, a new application fee applies. An applicant has the right of appeal against the findings and recommendations of the Overseas Qualification and Assessment Panel (OQAP). An appeal must be in writing and signed by the applicant. Emails and faxes will not be accepted. The letter must state clearly the grounds for the appeal and include supporting documentation. This documentation will be forwarded onto the ASMIRT Board of Directors for an independent review.
If an applicant chooses to undertake an appeal within three (3) months of the date of the Assessment Panel decision, and the Board of Directors upholds the decision of the panel, the file is closed. If the applicant wishes to apply again in the future, then a new application fee and a new application will need to be submitted. This will be considered as a new assessment.