New Zealand "Physiotherapist"

[Sloth]

I'm looking to move to new zealand after my degree, but they call themselves Physio Therapists. I've tried looking up what it takes to become something like that, I couldn't find a thing, and I saw on a forum someone said they made 35-45k NZD. It seems as though there, the requirements are a lot lower to do such work as compared to in the states. Anyone have an idea of what you can do with a DPT in New Zealand??

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[Sloth]

upon futher investigation, you need a 4 year degree to practice physiotherapy there.

Now I guess my question would be, what do you think one could do with a Docorate Degree in Physical Therapy? I couldn't find any DPT equivalent jobs there...

 

[jblil]

I have lived and worked in 7 or 8 different countries, although not in a medical field. Typically, each country would require you to either have a local degree, or pass a test to ensure that you are adequately qualified. I think your best bet would be to contact an university in NZ and start from there; they surely have links to work permits, equivalency exams, etc. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[jesspt]

upon futher investigation, you need a 4 year degree to practice physiotherapy there.

Now I guess my question would be, what do you think one could do with a Docorate Degree in Physical Therapy? I couldn't find any DPT equivalent jobs there...

My guess is that you could be a physiotherapist. Are you anticipating another type of job available to you with a physical therapy degree?

 

[goyo1010]

I'm looking to move to new zealand after my degree, but they call themselves Physio Therapists. I've tried looking up what it takes to become something like that, I couldn't find a thing, and I saw on a forum someone said they made 35-45k NZD. It seems as though there, the requirements are a lot lower to do such work as compared to in the states. Anyone have an idea of what you can do with a DPT in New Zealand??

Physical therapists are also called physiotherapists, and physical therapy, physiotherapy. In the U.S., we call it physical therapy; however, in many other parts of the English-speaking world, it's physiotherapy. Physical Therapy, or physiotherapy in New Zealand is regulated by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand. There are currently two universities in New Zealand that have physiotherapy programs. To be a registered PT you need an Annual Practising Certificate (APC). You would practice as any other physiotherapist in New Zealand, even if you have a DPT from the U.S.

See:
***1. http://www.physioboard.org.nz/index.php?Registration-Overseas-QualifiedPhysiotherapists and
http://www.physioboard.org.nz/index.php?FrequentlyAskedQuestionsforRegistration-OverseasQualified
2. http://www.physiotherapy.org.nz/Category?Action=View&Category_id=274
3. http://www.physioboard.org.nz/index.php?AnnualPractisingCertificate
4. http://www.physioboard.org.nz/index.php?Education

35K-45K NZD ~ 29K-38K USD; however, keep in mind standard of living in New Zealand is very different from the U.S.

And yes, the requirements, at least education wise, are much less than in the U.S., as the regulating body only requires the completion of an undergraduate program in physiotherapy.

If you plan on getting your undergraduate degree from one of the New Zealand universities, that would be much simpler. If you will get your DPT here and move to practice in New Zealand or want to enter post-graduate work, you will still need to register with the New Zealand board and hold an APC...