Registration

Unconditional Registration

Full unconditional registration is available to applicants who hold a qualification acceptable to the Board.

Applicants are required to comply with the following requirements:

Apply in person at the office of the Board.

Complete the application form.

Produce the original or certified photocopy of their degree in occupational therapy.

Be suitably identified, either by a signed driver’s licence or passport.

Ensure a current Certificate of Good Standing from their current registering authority, if applicable, has been forwarded directly to the Board.

Pay the prescribed fees:.

	Application for Registration Fee		$84.00
	Practising Fee		$84.00
	Total		$168.00

A National Police Clearance (obtained through a post office). This must be no older than four years.

Professional Indemnity Insurance
Prior to commencing practising, the applicant is required to provide the Board with evidence of Professional Indemnity insurance. Depending on where employment is gained, applicants may be covered under the umbrella of an employer in which case a letter from the employer confirming the cover can be provided. If the employer does not provide suitable cover, then the applicant is required to obtain their own insurance of no less than A$5 million.

If the applicant is a member of the HSU (click here for to view the HSU website), evidence of the cover provided through this union is also acceptable.

Providing all documentation is acceptable, an interim receipt will be issued, and following approval at a meeting of the Board, a Certificate of Registration will be issued and forwarded by Certified Mail.

Conditional/Provisional Registration

This form of registration is provided to occupational therapists who are not eligible for unconditional registration, but have undertaken a desktop assessment by the Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Board (COTRB) and are required to undertake a supervised practice audit before being awarded a Certificate of Practical Completion.

After the COTRB advises an applicant must undertake a practice audit, they must obtain a position where a suitably qualified occupational therapist will draw up a practice plan, to be approved by the COTRB, before registration will be considered.

After the COTRB approves a practice plan, an administering agent will be appointed (in Western Australia this is the Registration Board) to oversee the supervision process, and the Board will be provided with details of the approved practice plan. Please visit the assessment section of the COTRB website at www.cotrb.com.au to obtain information for candidates and supervisors.

Requirements are:

Provide the Board with a certified copy of the assessment conducted by the COTRB, advising that a practice audit is required.

Apply in person at the office of the Board.

Complete the application form.

Produce the original or certified photocopy of their degree in occupational therapy.

Be suitably identified, either by a signed driver’s licence or passport.

Produce a current Certificate of Good Standing from their current registering authority.

Pay the prescribed fees, currently:.

	Initial Registration Fee		$84.00
	Practising Fee		$84.00
			$168.00

A National Police Clearance (obtained through a post office). This must be no older than four years.

Professional Indemnity Insurance
Prior to commencing practising, the applicant is required to provide the Board with evidence of Professional Indemnity insurance. Depending on where employment is gained, applicants may be covered under the umbrella of an employer in which case a letter from the employer confirming the cover can be provided. If the employer does not provide suitable cover, then the applicant is required to obtain their own insurance of no less than A$5 million.

If the applicant is a member of the HSU (click here for HSU website), evidence of the cover provided through this union is also acceptable.

Mutual Recognition Agreement/Trans-Tasman Arrangement

A person who holds current registration in one State or Territory of Australia is entitled to apply for registration in another State.

If a person is registered in New Zealand and holds a current Annual Practising Certificate, they are eligible to apply for registration in WA via the Trans-Tasman Arrangement.

Applications can be processed either in person or through the mail. If a person makes a written request, an application form is forwarded, giving instructions on the requirements. If applications are processed through the mail, all copied documentation my bear original certification by a person authorised to sign statutory declarations.

The requirements for this form of registration are:

1.	Provide a Certificate of Good Standing from the State where registration is current. This should be forwarded directly via mail to this registration board.
2.	Complete the application form.
3.	Provide a current National Police Clearance (no older than four years).
4.	Produce a certified copy of their degree in occupational therapy.
5.	Pay the current annual practising fee: Initial Registration Fee $84.00 Practising Fee $84.00 TOTAL $168.00 When an application is lodged with the Board, a request for confirmation of registration is forwarded to the appropriate Board. When satisfactory confirmation is received, the application is accepted, and the applicant permitted to commence practising. Voluntary Removal from the Register If an applicant does not intend to practise in Western Australia for an extended period of time, they may consider withdrawing their name voluntarily from the Register. Restoration to the Register following penalty withdrawal If a person's name has been removed from the Register for non-payment of fees, the requirements for restoration are as follows:

1.	Apply IN PERSON at the office of the Board to complete the appropriate documentation.
2.	Be suitably identified, either by a signed driver’s licence or current passport.
3.	Pay the prescribed restoration fee ($49.00) plus the practising fee for the current year, plus for each year since their removal from the Register.
4.	If they have been practising out of the State, ensure a current Certificate of Good Standing issued by their most recent registering authority is forwarded directly to the Board.
5.	If they have not been practising anywhere else since their withdrawal from the Register, or have been practising occupational therapy in a region where registration is not required, the Board requires a statutory declaration giving these details, and stating that they are unaware of any actions that may have been or are pending against them.
6.	A current National Police Clearance (no older than four years) is required. This may be obtained through a post office.

Following restoration to the Register, applicants are issued with a new Certificate of Registration, however they retain the same registration number.

Fees:
	Restoration Fee		$49.00

Current Practising Fee plus the practising fee for each year since removal from the Register as follows:

..	1981 and 1982	..	$15.00
	1983		$20.00
	1984 to 1986		$25.00
	1987 to 1997		$35.00
	to 30 April 2009		$60.00

From 1 May 2009 $84.00

Re-registration following voluntary withdrawal from the Register

Applicants whose names have been removed voluntarily from the Register are required to adhere to the same requirements as above for unconditional registration.

Following re-registration to the Register, applicants are issued with a new Certificate of Registration, however they retain the same registration number.

Fees:
	Application Fee	$84.00
	Practising Fee	$84.00
		$168.00

Change of Name

An occupational therapist can make application to change their name on the Register by complying with the following requirements:

1.	Produce the original or certified photocopy of a marriage certificate or deed poll document.
2.	Pay the prescribed fee of $15.00.

Following a change of name on the Register, applicants are issued with a new Certificate of Registration, however they retain the same registration number.

Certificate of Good Standing

Certificates of Good Standing are issued nationally and internationally by registration boards to provide evidence that an occupational therapist within their legislative domain has not been guilty of an offence in accordance with their Act, and that no actions are pending against them. A cost of $15 applies for provision of this document.

The purpose of the Board requiring applicants to provide a Certificate of Good Standing at the time of their initial application for registration, re-registration or restoration of their name to the Register, is to ensure they are not the subject of any formal investigation by registration boards in other areas of Australia or the rest of the world.

If an occupational therapist is unable to provide the Board with evidence they are in good standing with their current registration board, then the Board may exercise its right and refuse registration in Western Australia.

Occupational therapists who propose to travel overseas or interstate will also find they will be required to produce evidence of their good standing in Western Australia before being considered for registration by another registration board.

If the occupational therapist intends remaining overseas/interstate for an extended period of time, they should give consideration to removing their name voluntarily from the Register.

Criminal Record Screening

To assist in the protection of members of the public, the criminal screening process applies to:

All currently registered occupational therapists.
Occupational therapists applying for re-registration or restoration to the Register.
New applicants for registration.

A National Police Clearance, obtained through a post office, is the accepted form of criminal record screening. Registered occupational therapists are required to update this every four years.

http://www.police.wa.gov.au/OurServices/PoliceChecks/NationalPoliceCertificates/tabid/1339/Default.aspx