Dear Hedi

Hopefully I can clarify the situation. The information I'm using is from the
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)information paper, PA10 Working in
the United Kingdom. My initial reply was a general response for all
physiotherapists from around the world wanting to work in the UK.
However, in answer to the comments in your email, I will only address the
situation for European Union citizens. 

Nationals of Member States of the EU
Nationals of member states of the European Union do not need a work permit
in order to work in the UK, but if they want to work in the NHS they (as
with UK nationals) must be state registered.
 
State registration
In order to work in the UK National Health Service all physiotherapists are
required by law to be state registered (SRP). This is achieved by applying
to the Council For Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM). The
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy can't assist physiotherapists becoming
state registered as this is dealt with by the CPSM - an entirely separate
body. This is the same for UK nationals.

Your application to the CPSM will be treated as an application to the
Designated Authority for recognition of qualification under the EC Directive
(89/48/EEC). It is hoped for minimal delay for this recognition. Those EU
physiotherapists with qualifications equivalent to the UK BSc degree will be
automatically eligible for State Registration.

If you are a national of a member state of the EU and you want to work
privately in the UK as a physiotherapist you can, with no further forms to
complete. But you won't be state registered. The word physiotherapist is not
yet a protected title in the UK. 

I hope this answers your thoughts. As I said my original answer was
considering all potential physiotherapists wanting to work in the UK, not
just EU citizens.

Yours

Ralph Hammond 
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy  



-----Original Message-----
From: Hedi Binder [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 29 June 1999 20:42
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: More clarity on my question



Ralph,

recently at the WCPT General Meeting and the WCPT-Congress in Yokohama there
have been talks about reciprocity of Diplomas. Isn't there a First Directive
from the EC (UK being a member of the EU) in which reciprocity and
acknowledgement of Diplomas is guaranteed?

Why, if there are European directives, does a member of another EU country
need to have his/her former school director fill out an application form,
which is  a staple of 40 pages ?

>In order to work as a chartered physiotherapists in the UK, all overseas
>trained physiotherapists have to contact the state registration body: the
>Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM). Their >phone
number is 0171 582 0866. Address is Park House, 184 >Kennington Park Road,
London
>SE11 4BU.
>
>The applicant must complete an application form. Each application is
>considered on an individual basis.


There is a First Directive for acknowledgement of Diplomas in Member States
of the EU !
The individual look on each applicant's education is actually a
discriminiation and a violation of EU Law.
A member of any EU country has a right to work in the UK !

>The CPSM will either accept the training (and experience) of the >overseaes
trained physiotherapist, or suggest a route that wil lead to >acceptance to
work as a chartered physiotherapist.

That is against European Law !
If the Diploma of a EU Member State is conform with the First Directive for
the acknowledgement of Diplomas, that means if the PT Diploma has been
acquired in an approved PT School or PT Academy, CPSM has no right to
further ask for filling out application forms or force the applicant to
further education.

Please tell me if my view is wrong.

Hedwig Binder, PT
Association of Austrian Physiotherapists OPV
Koestlergasse 1/29
A-1060 Vienna
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