Overseas educated dietitians – assessment stage

Working as a Dietitian in Australia

Although at this time there are no legal requirements for registration of dietitians in Australia, the vast majority of employers expect employees to be eligible to become DAA members with dietetic qualifications and join the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) program. The APD Program is administered by DAA as a means of self-regulation by the profession, in order to obtain and maintain high levels of professional practice.

A number of state/territory governments include eligibility for APD status in their selection criteria for employment as a dietitian. Current APD status is required for a Medicare or Department of Veterans Affairs provider number and for provider status with many private health insurers.

As an overseas-educated dietitian, employers will therefore usually require you to have completed the recognition procedures that enable you to apply for membership of the APD Program.  (This may not apply if you meet the requirements to be eligible for mutual recognition).

Recognition procedures

The recognition procedure involves three stages. You must clear each stage to progress to the next.

Stage 1: Desktop Review.
This includes assessment of the following to determine eligibility to sit the written and oral examinations in dietetics:

  • Recognition as a dietitian in country of training
  • Tertiary dietetic qualifications (including review of curriculum/supervised practical placement) [see sample australian dietetic program outline]
  • Language proficiency
  • Currency of dietetic practice

Stage 2: Written examination.

Stage 3: Oral examination.

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The purpose of the examinations is to assess the competence of overseas-educated dietitians to practise dietetics in Australia. The examinations are based on the National Competency Standards for Entry Level Dietitians in Australia. Dietitians who pass both the written and oral examinations will be eligible to join the APD program.

Check that you meet the criteria for an Assessment of Eligibility to sit the DAA Examinations in Dietetics.

Assessment of Eligibility to sit the DAA Examinations in Dietetics (overseas qualified dietitians)

Apply online for an Assessment of Eligibility to sit the DAA Examinations in Dietetics. A separate application form and fee will be required for the examination/s. This form will be made available to eligible candidates who successfully pass Stage 1- Assessment of Eligibility.

Please see these sections:

The standards and processes for assessment and recognition of dietetic qualifications are established and maintained by the Australian Dietetics Council (ADC), which ensures DAA is delivering an efficient, effective and equitable dietetic skills assessment service that supports the operations of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Skilled Migration Programs.