Bridging courses for overseas-trained professionals

What are bridging courses for overseas-trained professionals?
 

You are doing a bridging course for overseas-trained professionals if you are undertaking higher education studies that will enable you to meet specific academic or professional requirements for entry to a professional occupation in Australia. These requirements must be specified in an assessment statement.

You may be able to receive FEE-HELP if you are undertaking a bridging course for overseas-trained professionals. These courses must not:

• lead to a higher education award, or
• exceed the equivalent of one year of full-time study.

See: Full fees & FEE-HELP

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What is the assessment statement?

An assessment statement is a written statement which:

• lists the studies, examinations and/or tuition and training programmes that you need to undertake successfully to meet the requirements for entry to your profession
• is issued by an assessing body for a listed professional occupation.

Your assessment statement will specify a pathway for you to qualify for entry into your profession in Australia. It may specify that you should undertake:

• individual subject units from existing university courses recommended by the relevant assessing authority 
• courses to prepare you to sit professional examinations required for recognition of your overseas qualifications in Australia; or
• tuition and training programmes.

It is not necessary to be enrolled in what is normally regarded as a "course" to be undertaking a bridging course for overseas-trained professionals.

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Courses that are not bridging courses for overseas-trained professionals

You are not undertaking a bridging course for overseas-trained professionals if the subjects, units, courses of instruction, tuition or training programmes:

• provide a qualification beyond basic entry level to your profession
• lead to a higher education award, such as a postgraduate degree
• provide training for an occupation that is not a listed occupation, or 
• are general English language training courses.

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Cost of bridging courses & FEE-HELP

The tuition fees for a bridging course for an overseas-trained professional are set by your provider.

FEE-HELP provides a loan to eligible overseas-trained professionals to help them pay these tuition fees.

You will eligible for a FEE-HELP loan, if:

• you are enrolled in a bridging course for overseas-trained professionals course with an eligible provider; and
• you are:
  • an Australian citizen, or
  • the holder of a permanent visa who will be resident in Australia for the duration of your course; and
• you meet the other FEE-HELP eligibility requirements.

For full details on fees & FEE-HELP see also: Full fees & FEE-HELP

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If your course is a bridging course for overseas-trained professionals, and you are eligible for FEE-HELP, you should obtain a Request for FEE-HELP assistance form from your provider.

See also:

• FEE-HELP: Eligibility
• Applying

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Changes to BOTPLS

On 1 January 2005, the Bridging for Overseas-Trained Professionals Loan Scheme (BOTPLS) was replaced by FEE-HELP. The FEE-HELP eligibility criteria for bridging courses for overseas-trained professionals (BOTP) are the same as under BOTPLS, except that the FEE-HELP limit applies.

See Full fees & FEE-HELP for the FEE-HELP limit.

See also: Pre-2005 BOTPLS students

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Further assistance on recognition of professional qualifications

If you are an overseas-trained professional and would like further information on matters relating to the recognition of your professional qualifications, you should contact Australian Skills Recognition Information (ASRI)  through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. ASRI provides information on how to get an assessment of occupational qualifications, skills or experiences that you have gained overseas.

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