Allied health professionals are key members of the healthcare teams in our hospitals, clinics, step-down care facilities (like nursing homes), and in the social services sector (like the EIPIC centres and Special Schools). The allied health professions include Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Radiotherapists and Radiographers.

QUALIFYING EXAMINATIONS FOR PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, RADIATION THERAPISTS, AND RADIOGRAPHERS

Qualifying examinations (QEs) will be held from October 2006 for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in the above professions who wish to practice in Singapore and who do not possess the necessary professional qualifications.

The examinations will be conducted by the School of Health Sciences, Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore. All applications for the qualifying examinations and payment of examination fees should be made directly to Nanyang Polytechnic at least one month before the date of the examinations. Applications for the examinations will not be accepted without endorsement from the candidate's employer.

A soft copy of the QE application form can be accessed at http://www.nyp.edu.sg/SHS/pdfs/QualifyingExam_AppForm.pdf.

The first qualifying examinations will be held in October 2006, with subsequent examinations conducted once every three months. For more information on the details of the MOH Qualifying Examinations, please email to moh_hpp@moh.gov.sg or visit the Nanyang Polytechnic website at http://www.nyp.edu.sg/SHS/shs.html.

RADIOGRAPHERS / RADIOTHERAPISTS

Foreign-trained radiographers and radiotherapists are required to be registered at the outset of employment with the Centre for Radiation Protection (CRP) for a period of one year, within which they are presently required to pass the CRP examination to renew their R1 registration. With the implementation of the qualifying examinations (QE) in October 2006, all new applicants for work pass will be granted CRP registration status if they pass the QE.

EMPLOYMENT OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON S-PASS OR EMPLOYMENT PASS

As of 1st October 2006, all foreign allied health professionals are to be employed on the S-Pass or Employment Pass (EP) only as skilled foreign manpower.

All current work permit (WP) holders for the above four professions are required to convert to S-Pass or EP latest by their next WP renewal. The employers have to make an application to MOM for the conversion of WP to S-Pass / EP for their current therapists. The professional credentials and qualifications of these therapists would be evaluated as part of this application. Applicants who do not possess the necessary professional qualifications would be required to pass the QE to qualify to continue their practice as therapists locally. All applications will still be subject to the processing criteria of the respective pass that employer is applying.

We advise employers to submit S-Pass / EP applications for therapists currently employed on work permit as early as possible, and preferably before their work permit renewal to ensure ample time for their respective employees to register and pass the QE should they be required to do so for the S-Pass / EP application.

Information on S-Pass application can be accessed at the following link:

http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/work_pass/s_pass.html

Information on employment pass application can be accessed at the following link:

http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/work_pass/employment_pass.html

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Allied Health Professionals

Q1. I am currently practicing as an allied health professional in another country. However, I would like to work in Singapore. How do I know if my professional qualifications meet Singapore's requisite standards?

Q2. I was informed that the Ministry of Health was implementing qualifying examinations for foreign allied health professionals. Do the qualifying examinations apply to all allied health professions?

Qualifying Examinations and Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Radiation Therapists, and Radiographers

Q3. I already have a job offer in Singapore. How do I apply for the qualifying examinations?

Q4. What is the format of the qualifying examinations?

Q5. What will I be assessed on in the qualifying examinations?

Q6. Will I be able to sit for the examinations again if I do not pass the first time?

Q7. Are there examination fees payable?

Q8. When are the qualifying examinations conducted?

Foreign Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Radiation Therapists, and Radiographers already working in Singapore

Q9. I am already working in Singapore as an allied health professional. Will I have to sit for the qualifying examinations?

Q10. I am currently already employed locally as an allied health professional in one of the 4 identified allied health profession, and am interested to sit for the qualifying examinations. How can I apply for the qualifying examinations?

Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Radiation Therapists and Radiographers who are members of local allied health associations in Singapore

Q11. I am currently a member of an allied health professional association in Singapore but am not working in Singapore. Do I need to sit for the qualifying examinations if I have a job offer in Singapore lined up?

Q12. I do not have a job offer, but am currently a member of a local allied health professional association. Can I apply to sit for the QE?

Therapy Aides and Assistants

Q13. I have a job offer to work as a therapy aide / assistant in Singapore. Do I have to sit for the qualifying examinations?

Q14. I am currently already employed as a therapy aide / assistant. Do I have to sit for the qualifying examinations if I am to be re-designated as a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist?

Employers of Allied Health Professionals

Q15. I would like to bring in foreign allied health professionals to provide allied health services in my organization. Where do I submit the S pass or employment pass application?

Qualifying Examinations and Foreign Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Radiation Therapists, and Radiographers

Q16. I was informed that the Ministry of Health was implementing qualifying examinations for foreign allied health professionals. Do the qualifying examinations apply to all allied health professions?

Q17. If my potential employee is required to sit for the qualifying examinations, what do I need to do?

Private non-medical establishments

Q18. I am currently operating a non-medical establishment e.g. Spa, wellness centre, and I need to hire AHPs e.g. dieticians, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, in the provision of services to my clients. Would qualifying exams apply to my potential employees if they are foreign-trained?

Allied Health Professionals

Q1. I am currently practicing as an allied health professional in another country. However, I would like to work in Singapore. How do I know if my professional qualifications meet Singapore's requisite standards?

Firstly, you have to be assessed by an employer in Singapore to have the necessary experience and skills, and offered a job in Singapore. Your employer would then make a work pass application to the Ministry of Manpower. Your professional credentials and qualification would be evaluated as part of the work pass application, and you will be subsequently advised through your employer on the outcomes of the work pass application.

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Q2. I was informed that the Ministry of Health was implementing qualifying examinations for foreign allied health professionals. Do the qualifying examinations apply to all allied health professions?

No. The qualifying examinations only apply to occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiation therapists and radiographers.

For other allied health professionals, the professional credentials and qualifications will also be assessed on submission of your work pass application by your employer to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Your employer will be subsequently informed on the outcome of the work pass application by MOM.

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Q3. I already have a job offer in Singapore. How do I apply for the qualifying examinations?

Your employer will submit a work pass application to the Ministry of Manpower. Your professional credentials and qualification would be evaluated as part of the work pass application, and you will be subsequently advised through your employer on the outcomes of the work pass application.

If you are required to sit for the QE, the application for the QE will have to be made directly to Nanyang Polytechnic, School of Health Sciences at least one month before the date of the examinations. Applications may be submitted by you or your employer with the endorsement of your employer.

For more information on the details of the MOH Qualifying Examinations, please email to moh_hpp@moh.gov.sg or visit the Nanyang Polytechnic website at http://www.nyp.edu.sg/SHS/shs.html

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Q4. What is the format of the qualifying examinations?

Details and format of the exams can be assessed at the Nanyang Polytechnic website.

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Q5. What will I be assessed on in the qualifying examinations?

The scope of the examinations is available at the Nanyang Polytechnic website.

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Q6. Will I be able to sit for the examinations again if I do not pass the first time?

Yes. All candidates are allowed a maximum of 2 attempts to pass the examinations.

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Q7. Are there examination fees payable?

Yes. There are examination fees payable to Nanyang Polytechnic. You will find more information on the examination fees on Nanyang Polytechnic's website.

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Q8. When are the qualifying examinations conducted?

You will find the examination dates at the Nanyang Polytechnic website.

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Q9. I am already working in Singapore as an allied health professional. Will I have to sit for the qualifying examinations?

The qualifying examinations apply to foreign allied health professionals who are applying to work in Singapore for the first time.

As of 1st October 2006, all allied health professionals will only be employed on S-pass or employment pass (EP). If you are currently holding a work permit (WP), you are required to convert your work permit to an S-pass / EP in order to continue to work as a physiotherapist or occupational therapist in Singapore latest by your next WP renewal. Your employer will be required to make an application to MOM for the conversion of your work permit to S-Pass or EP, and your credentials and qualifications would be evaluated as part of the application.

We advise for your S-Pass / EP application to be submitted by your employer as early as possible and preferably before your work permit renewal to ensure ample time for you to register and pass the QE should there be a need to do so for the S-Pass / EP application.

Information on S-Pass application can be accessed at the following link:http://www.mom.gov.sg/InformationOnSPass/

Information on employment pass application can be accessed at the following link:http://www.mom.gov.sg/InformationOnEmploymentPass/

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Q10. I am currently already employed locally as an allied health professional in one of the 4 identified allied health profession, and am interested to sit for the qualifying examinations. How can I apply for the qualifying examinations?

Unless you are renewing an existing work permit or converting it to an S-Pass / employment pass, you will not be eligible for the qualifying examinations.

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Q11. I am currently a member of an allied health professional association in Singapore but am not working in Singapore. Do I need to sit for the qualifying examinations if I have a job offer in Singapore lined up?

It depends on your qualification. If it is from schools approved by MOH, you need not take the exam. However, if your qualification is not from an approved school and you intend to work in Singapore, you will have to take the exam. Your professional credentials and qualification would be evaluated as part of the work pass application, and you will be subsequently advised through your employer on the outcomes of the work pass application.

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Q12. I do not have a job offer, but am currently a member of a local allied health professional association. Can I apply to sit for the QE?

No. You can only apply for the qualifying examinations if you already have a job offer to practice in Singapore. The application form has to be signed by your employer as well.

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Q13. I have a job offer to work as a therapy aide / assistant in Singapore. Do I have to sit for the qualifying examinations?

No. The examinations only apply to persons who have job offers to work as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiotherapists and radiographers.

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Q14. I am currently already employed as a therapy aide / assistant. Do I have to sit for the qualifying examinations if I am to be re-designated as a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist?

Yes. Therapy assistants / aides currently working in Singapore have to sit and pass the qualifying examinations if their professional qualifications are not from schools approved by MOH and are:

a) changing their work passes to work as physiotherapists or occupational therapists, or

b) re-designated to work as physiotherapists or occupational therapists.

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Employers of Allied Health Professionals

Q15. I would like to bring in foreign allied health professionals to provide allied health services in my organization. Where do I submit the S pass or employment pass application?

The work pass (S-Pass or EP) application must be submitted to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for assessment and processing. The professional credentials and qualification of your potential employee would be evaluated as part of the work pass application. You will be subsequently informed by MOM on the outcome of the work pass application.

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Q16. I was informed that the Ministry of Health was implementing qualifying examinations for foreign allied health professionals. Do the qualifying examinations apply to all allied health professions?

No. The qualifying examinations only apply to occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiation therapists and radiographers

a) who are applying to work in Singapore for the first time; and

b) who are converting their work permits to an S-pass / employment pass

c) who were previously allowed to work on work permits and are now applying to renew their work permits (WP).

As of 1st October 2006, all foreign allied health profesionals are to be employed on the S-Pass or Employment Pass (EP) only as they are considered healthcare professionals. All current WP holders working as physiotherapists and occupational therapists are required to convert to S-Pass or EP latest by their next WP renewal. The employers have to make an application to MOM for the conversion of WP to S-Pass / EP for their current therapists. The professional credentials and qualifications of these therapists would be evaluated as part of this application. Applicants without the necessary professional qualifications would be required to pass the QE to qualify to continue their practice as therapists locally. All applications will still be subject to the processing criteria of the respective pass that employer is applying.

We advised employers to submit S-Pass / EP application for therapists currently employed on work permit, as early as possible and preferably before their work permit renewal to ensure ample time for their respective employees to register and pass the QE should they be required to do so for the S-Pass / EP application.

Information on S-Pass application can be accessed at the following link: http://www.mom.gov.sg/InformationOnSPass/

Information on employment pass application can be accessed at the following link: http://www.mom.gov.sg/InformationOnEmploymentPass/

For the small categories of foreign allied health professionals for whom we do not have qualifying exams, their professional credentials and qualifications will be assessed on submission of the S-Pass/EP applications. You will subsequently be informed on the outcome of the work pass application by MOM.

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Q17. If my potential employee is required to sit for the qualifying examinations, what do I need to do?

The examinations will be conducted by the School of Health Sciences, Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore. All applications for the qualifying examinations and payment of examination fees should be made directly to Polytechnic at least one month before the date of the examinations.

You or your potential employee may apply to the School of Health Sciences, Nanyang Polytechnic for the examinations. However, applications made by your potential employee will not be accepted without your endorsement.

For more information on the details of the MOH Qualifying Examinations, please email to moh_hpp@moh.gov.sg or visit the Nanyang Polytechnic website at http://www.nyp.edu.sg/SHS/shs.html

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Q18. I am currently operating a non-medical establishment e.g. Spa, wellness centre, and I need to hire AHPs e.g. dieticians, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, in the provision of services to my clients. Would qualifying exams apply to my potential employees if they are foreign-trained?

Yes. The qualifications and credentials of all such professionals will be assessed when work pass applications are made with MOM to work as allied health professionals in Singapore, regardless of their place or sector of practice. MOM will inform employers of the outcome of the work pass applications.

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