Financial assistance

for the recognition of overseas

Architect
Chiropractor
Dentist

professional qualifications
Dietitian
General Medical Practitioner
Medical Scientist

in Australia
Medical Specialist
Nurse
Occupational Therapist
Optometrist
Pharmacist
Physiotherapist
Podiatrist
Radiographer
Veterinarian

Ask Centrelink if you

are eligible to apply

The Assessment Subsidy for Overseas

Trained Professionals program (ASDOT)
 Financial support for
overseas-trained professionals
The Assessment Subsidy For Overseas Trained Professionals (ASDOT)

Assessment Subsidy for Overseas English tests covered by ASDOT

Trained Professionals (ASDOT) ƒƒ Occupational English Test (OET).

ASDOT assists financially disadvantaged, overseas ƒƒ International English Language Testing System
trained professionals. It provides financial assistance (IELTS) test, Academic version only.
to cover the cost of assessments and/or examinations
ASDOT assistance covers one English test only -
which must be passed to qualify for employment in
the OET or the IELTS test.
certain professions in Australia.

ASDOT is administered by Australian Education How to apply

International (AEI) and Centrelink.
Eligibility requirements
Funding is available to applicants who can meet all
of the ASDOT eligibility requirements at the time the
application for ASDOT assistance is made. These
requirements are:
1. you are an Australian citizen, Australian Permanent
Resident or New Zealand citizen living in Australia
AND
2. you hold or are named on a valid Centrelink
concession card (Health Care Card or Pensioner
Concession Card only) OR you meet all of the
requirements for the Centrelink Alternative Means
Test EXCLUDING the requirement to serve a 104
week newly arrived residents waiting period.
Before applying for ASDOT assistance, you should first
contact the relevant assessing authority for advice on
assessments/examinations (contact details are listed on
the next page).
Professions covered by ASDOT
ƒƒ Architect
1. G
 o to a Centrelink Customer Service Centre and
request an ASDOT 929 application form.
2. Show Centrelink:
ƒƒyour current Australian passport OR your permanent
residency visa OR your current New Zealand
passport AND
ƒƒyour valid Centrelink Concession Card (Health Care
Card or Pensioner Concession Card only) OR proof
that you meet the Centrelink Alternative Means Test
EXCLUDING the requirement to serve a 104 week
newly arrived residents waiting period.
Centrelink can explain the Centrelink Alternative
Means Test to you.
3. S
 ubmit your completed ASDOT 929 application form
to Centrelink.
Centrelink will send your completed application form to
AEI for assessment.
You can only receive funding for the same type or stage
of examination once.

ƒƒ Chiropractor

ƒƒ Dentist

ƒƒ Dietitian

ƒƒ General Medical Practitioner

ƒƒ Medical Scientist

ƒƒ Medical Specialist

ƒƒ Nurse

ƒƒ Occupational Therapist

ƒƒ Optometrist

ƒƒ Pharmacist

ƒƒ Physiotherapist

ƒƒ Podiatrist

ƒƒ Radiographer

ƒƒ Veterinarian
ASDOT assistance can be used for assessments and examinations listed in the table below.

Assessing Authority Approved Assessments or Examinations

Architects Accreditation Council of Australia ƒƒ Final Assessment (Review of Academic Equivalence)
www.aaca.org.au ƒƒ Architectural Practice Examination
Tel + 61 2 6230 0506

The Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia ƒƒ Competency Based Assessment which includes:
www.ccea.com.au - Written Basic Competency
Tel + 61 7 5467 9736 - Written Clinical Competency
- Practical Clinical Competency

Australian Dental Council ƒƒ Preliminary Examination (MCQ)

www.dentalcouncil.net.au ƒƒ Final Examination (Clinical)
Tel + 61 3 9415 1638

Dietitians Association of Australia ƒƒ DAA Examination, including:

www.daa.asn.au - Written Examination (Case Studies)
Tel + 61 2 6163 5200 - Oral Examination

Australian Medical Council ƒƒ Multiple Choice Examination (MCQ)

www.amc.org.au ƒƒ Clinical Examination
Tel + 61 2 6270 9777

Australian Institute of Medical Scientists ƒƒ Professional Examination

www.aims.org.au
Tel + 61 7 3876 2988

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council or There are no specific nursing or midwifery examinations, but overseas trained nurses can apply
state and territory Nursing Regulatory Authorities for ASDOT for the OET or the IELTS test in order to meet English language requirements
www.anmc.org.au
Tel + 61 2 6257 7960

Council of Occupational Therapists Registration Boards ƒƒ Stage II - Practice Audit

(Australia & New Zealand)
www.cotrb.saboards.com.au
Tel + 61 8 8443 9375

The Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand ƒƒ Competency in Optometry Examination, including:
www.ocanz.org - Written (Part 1 and Part 2)
Tel + 61 3 9663 2733 - Clinical (Part 1 and Part 2)

Australian Pharmacy Council ƒƒ STREAM A

www.pharmacycouncil.org.au - Stage I Examination
Tel + 61 2 6247 5088 - National Forensics, Ethics and Calculations Examination
- Stage II Examination

ƒƒ STREAM B
- Competency Assessment of Overseas Pharmacists Examination
- National Forensics, Ethics and Calculations Examination & Oral Examination

Australian Physiotherapy Council ƒƒ Written Examination

www.physiocouncil.com.au ƒƒ Clinical Examination
Tel + 61 2 6262 6029

Australasian Podiatry Council ƒƒ Stage I Examination (MCQ)

www.apodc.com.au ƒƒ Stage II Examination (Practical and Oral)
Tel + 61 3 9416 3111

Australian Institute of Radiography There are no specific radiography examinations, but overseas trained radiographers can apply
www.air.asn.au for ASDOT for the OET or the IELTS test in order to meet English language requirements
Tel + 61 3 9419 3336

Australasian Veterinary Boards Council ƒƒ National Veterinary Exam, including:

www.avbc.asn.au - Preliminary Examination (MCQ)
Tel + 61 3 9620 7844 - Final Clinical Examination

The OET Centre Occupational English Test (seek advice from the assessing authority for your profession
www.occupationalenglishtest.org regarding English testing requirements)
Tel + 61 3 9825 3800

IELTS Australia International English Language Testing System test, Academic version only (not the General
www.ielts.org Training version) (seek advice from the assessing authority for your profession regarding English
testing requirements)
 ASDOT assistance can be used for assessments and examinations by the Specialist Medical Colleges listed in
the table below.

Medical Specialist
Applicants must have a referral letter from the Australian Medical Council (AMC) to the Specialist Medical
College (with the exception of applicants applying directly to the Royal Australia College of General
Practitioners, who do not require an AMC referral letter) in order to apply for ASDOT assistance for the
following types of assessments:
ƒƒ initial assessment and interview with Specialist Medical Colleges
ƒƒ Stage I (Written Examination)
ƒƒ Stage II (Clinical Examination)
ASDOT assistance will only pay for either the AMC OR the RACGP assessment pathway.
Australasian Chapter of www.racp.edu.au The Royal Australasian www.racp.edu.au
Palliative Medicine Tel + 61 2 6232 4433 College of Physicians Tel + 61 2 9256 5444
The Royal Australasian
College of Physicians
Australasian College for www.acem.org.au Royal Australasian www.surgeons.org
Emergency Medicine Tel + 61 3 9320 0444 College of Surgeons Tel + 61 3 9249 1200
Australasian College of www.dermcoll.asn.au Royal Australian and www.ranzcog.edu.au
Dermatologists Tel 1300 361 821 New Zealand College Tel + 61 3 9417 1699
of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists
Australasian Faculty of www.afom.racp.edu.au Royal Australian and www.ranzco.edu
Occupational Medicine Tel + 61 2 8247 6220 New Zealand College Tel + 61 2 9690 1001
of Ophthalmologists
Australasian Faculty of www.afphm.racp.edu.au Royal Australian and www.ranzcp.org
Public Health Medicine Tel + 61 2 8247 6223 New Zealand College Tel 1800 337 448
of Psychiatrists
Australasian Faculty of www.afrm.racp.edu.au The Royal www.ranzcr.edu.au
Rehabilitation Medicine Tel + 61 2 8247 6216 Australian and New Tel + 61 2 9268 9777
Zealand College of
Radiologists
Australian and New Zealand www.anzca.edu.au Royal Australian www.racgp.org.au
College of Anaesthetists Tel + 61 3 9510 6299 College of General Tel 1800 331 626
(including the Faculty of Practitioners
Pain Medicine)
Joint Faculty of Intensive www.anzca.edu.au/jficm Royal College of www.rcpa.edu.au
Care Medicine Tel + 61 3 9530 2861 Pathologists of Tel + 61 2 8356 5858
Australasia
Royal Australasian College www.racma.edu.au
of Medical Administrators Tel + 61 3 9824 4699

How ASDOT payments work Applying for a reimbursement

ƒƒ AEI assesses all ASDOT 929 application forms
sent by Centrelink.
ƒƒ If your ASDOT application is approved, you will be
notified by mail and sent an Agreement to Pay.
ƒƒ You must send the Agreement to Pay to the
assessing authority for your assessment/
examination. The assessing authority will accept
this as payment for your examination.
You may also apply for ASDOT to reimburse you
for the cost of assessments/examinations up to 12
months after the date of the assessment/examination.
You must have met the eligibility requirements at
the time you made the payment and enrolled for the
examination. If your application for reimbursement is
approved, you will be given instructions on how the
reimbursement will be made to you by AEI.

ASDOT funding cannot be used for

ƒƒ workshops or preparatory courses for assessments/examinations
ƒƒ preliminary eligibility assessments
ƒƒ membership fees for professional associations
ƒƒ educational assessments by AEI-NOOSR
ƒƒ assessments/examinations offered by assessing authorities not listed in this brochure
ƒƒ assessment/examinations not listed in this brochure
ƒƒ assessments/examinations not conducted in Australia
Frequently asked questions
Do I need original documents, or will you accept
copies?
Please take original documents to Centrelink to
support your application. ASDOT officers will accept
copies of documents that have been verified by
Centrelink. If you are applying for reimbursement,
you must provide the original receipt for your
assessment/examination payment.
Which concession cards are accepted?
The Centrelink Health Care Card and the Centrelink
Pensioner Concession Card are both acceptable. You
do not have to be the primary holder of the card, but
you must be named on a current card to be eligible.
What is the Alternative Means Test?
The Alternative Means Test is a method of assessing
low income status. It can be applied to overseas
trained professionals who are Permanent Residents
and wish to apply for ASDOT assistance. To meet the
ASDOT eligibility requirements using the Alternative
Means Test, you must prove to Centrelink that you
meet all of the requirements for the Centrelink low
income Health Care Card, excluding the requirement
to serve a waiting period of 104 weeks.
How long will it take to process
my application?
Please allow at least eight working days for your
ASDOT 929 application form to reach AEI after it has
been submitted at Centrelink. AEI tries to process all
complete applications within five working days. AEI
will contact you if additional information is required to
process your application.
How far in advance can I apply for ASDOT
funding?
You can apply for funding up to three months before
enrolments close for your examination. You must
meet all the eligibility requirements at the time
you apply.
What happens if I fail my examination? Do I have
to repay the money?
You do not have to repay the money. ASDOT does
not take examination success or failure into account.
However, funding will be granted for each type or
stage of examination ONCE ONLY.
I paid for and completed my examination five
months ago, can I still apply for reimbursement?
You can apply for ASDOT assistance for an approved
examination up to 12 months after enrolments
closed for the examination which you paid for and
completed. You must provide an original receipt of
evidence of payment and your examination results.
If your application for reimbursement is approved, you
will be given instructions on how the reimbursement
will be made to you by AEI.
I was approved to receive ASDOT funding for my
examination, but now I can’t sit it. Can I apply for
ASDOT again?
If you have been approved for ASDOT assistance
for an examination that you cannot complete (for
example, there are no places left for the next session
or the date is no longer convenient to you), you
should return your Agreement to Pay to AEI and
notify the ASDOT officer of the change in your plans.
You can apply for ASDOT assistance again if you
still meet the eligibility requirements at the time
you apply.
I used ASDOT to pay the cancellation fee for an
examination I couldn’t sit. Can I apply for ASDOT
again?
If a cancellation fee is paid by ASDOT, then you are
considered to have received assistance for that stage
or type of examination. You are not eligible for further
ASDOT assistance for that particular examination.
I used ASDOT funding for the OET, but now I
want to sit for the IELTS test. Can I get ASDOT
funding again?
Assistance can only be provided for ONE of the
approved tests for English language proficiency,
not both.
I passed two of the sections of my examination.
Now I have to re-sit the final section. Will I be
able to receive ASDOT assistance for the final
section?
ASDOT assistance is provided ONCE ONLY for each
type or stage of examination. If you have already
received funding for an examination, no further
funding can be provided even if you are only sitting
for part of the examination again.
Where can I get more information?
For more information about how to apply or the application process, please speak
to the staff at your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre.

If you have already applied and you require further assistance, please contact AEI.

AEI hotline: 1300 363 079

E-mail: asdot@deewr.gov.au

ASDOT information online

AEI
www.aei.gov.au

(go to Qualifications Recognition then select ASDOT)

Centrelink
www.centrelink.gov.au

ASDOT001.0806