Recognition of International Qualifications - Spotlight on Compensation Measures

CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator responsible for regulating health and social care professionals. In Ireland, CORU is the competent authority empowered by the State to validate professional qualifications awarded outside of Ireland. Currently qualifications are recognised for the following professions:

• Dietitians
• Medical Scientists
• Occupational Therapists
• Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians
• Physiotherapists
• Podiatrists and Chiropodists
• Radiographers
• Radiation Therapists
• Social Workers
• Speech and Language Therapists

Validating international professional qualifications is a thorough and comprehensive process. This is to ensure everyone providing health and social care services in Ireland meets the standards for safe practice. It involves comparing the qualification with the standards of proficiency which are the threshold standards considered necessary to protect the public.

Spotlight on Compensation Measures

Each year, CORU recognises hundreds of applications, however, in some instances substantial gaps are found between an applicant’s professional qualification and lifelong learning, compared with the required Irish standards and requirements.  In such cases, candidates are given the opportunity to undertake compensation measures to address these substantial deficiencies.

If the relevant Registration Board identifies substantial deficits against the required standards of proficiency for that profession, they may be addressed through compensation measures. There are two compensation measure options to choose from: a Period of Adaptation (POA) or an Aptitude Test.

Period of Adaptation (POA)

A Period of Adaptation (POA) is a period of practice that is supervised by a fully qualified and registered member of the profession (it may also be accompanied by academic study).  The POA only addresses the substantial deficits identified in a professional qualification.  It can be up to a maximum duration of three years and must take place in Ireland.  Candidates are required to submit a formal POA proposal to CORU for approval prior to commencement of their POA.  When completed, an experienced assessor from the profession will assess if the POA has addressed the substantial deficits that were identified. They will then complete a report and will make a recommendation to the Registration Board. The Registration Board will take all information provided by the applicant and their supervisor as well as the assessors recommendation into consideration and will decide if the compensation measure has addressed the deficits. There is no fee required to undertake the POA.

Aptitude Test(AT)

The Aptitude Test (AT) comprises an assessment of professional knowledge that is tailored to each applicant and only tests areas noted as substantial deficits. An assessor or assessors from the profession will assess if the applicant has addressed the substantial deficits during the AT. They will then complete a report and will make a recommendation to the Registration Board. The Registration Board will take all information provided by the applicant and their supervisor as well as the assessor’s recommendation into consideration and will decide if the compensation measure has addressed the deficits.

Currently, the aptitude test fee is €500.

Applicants can repeat a compensation measure one further time if they fail the first attempt. The applicant can choose between an AT or POA for their repeat compensation measure, regardless of their first choice of compensation measure. If the applicant fails both attempts, the Registration Board will refuse recognition. Please note that applicants can reapply for recognition if they have since gained a qualification and/or experience that would address the substantial deficits in their original application.

Tips for Deciding Which Compensation Measure to Take

While CORU cannot advise on which option would be best, the following may be useful in making the decision:

• The POA may be suitable for a person to gain experience in an area or modality which they do not currently have experience.
• The AT may be suitable for a person to demonstrate that they do in fact have the experience in the areas listed as substantial deficits which the applicant could not demonstrate in the paper-based application.

For more information visit this section of the website on Compensation Measures.

If you are unsure about health and social care regulation, we are happy to help with any questions. You can contact us at info@CORU.ie