English Language FAQs

If you continue to renew your registration each year you must continue to comply with any conditions on your registration. If you have evidence that you now meet the English language skills registration standard, you can apply to have the conditions removed. Since 18 March 2025, this evidence has been assessed against the Board’s English language skills registration standard.

Your registration may lapse if you do not renew it or if you do not meet other registration standards, such as the recency of practice registration standard. In these circumstances, you will need to reapply for registration, however your English language skills will be assessed against the new English language registration standard.

Yes. You may apply any time through the Ahpra online portal for an English language condition to be removed if you have a new English language test result demonstrating that you now meet the English language standard.

The tests used by the National Boards to determine English language competence align closely with the English language requirements for skilled migration visas used by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). The scores required to demonstrate English language competence for each test are specified in the standard. Each test is slightly different, however the scores required to meet the standard have been benchmarked so they are set at equivalent levels across all the tests. It is not easier to achieve the required scores on one test, compared with any of the others.

Chinese medicine registrants and practitioners seeking to remove English language conditions on their registration can sit any of the English language tests detailed in the English language skills registration standard.

In choosing which test to sit, you will need to do your own research and decide on which test is the most suitable or convenient for you. Links to the tests are published on the English language skills page on the Ahpra website.

If required by the conditions on your registration, you must use a suitable language interpreter to help you communicate safely and effectively with patients.

This condition only applies when you and your patient do not share a common language. In these cases, a suitable interpreter must be used. A suitable interpreter is an adult who:

• has experience in health interpreting
• is agreed to by both the patient and the practitioner
• is considered by both the patient and the practitioner to be competent in communicating in their respective languages, and
• agrees not to compromise privacy and confidentiality.

The Chinese Medicine Board (the Board) will not direct you to use a specific interpreter. However, the Board may inquire into the arrangements you have in place if a complaint is made about you which may relate to your English language skills.

In selecting an interpreter, you should choose someone who can communicate effectively with your patient in their language, based on your professional judgment. Your primary consideration must be the safety and wellbeing of your patients.

If the patient agrees, it may be appropriate for a friend or family member of the patient to act as an interpreter.

Information about interpreter services is available from the DHA. The DHA Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National can be contacted on 131 450, or via their website.

If required by the conditions on your registration, a person who has sufficient English language skills to communicate swiftly and effectively in English with emergency services must be present on the premises at all times when treatments are undertaken.

No.

Even if there are conditions on your registration, you may still be able to treat English-speaking patients. If you are confident that you and your patient share a common language, you may do so without an interpreter.

A common language is one in which you:

• can competently communicate for the purpose of practising Chinese medicine
• reasonably believe that the patient can competently communicate, and
• reasonably believe that effective two-way communication is possible (whether by speaking and/or otherwise communicating, for example reading and writing.

If you do not share a common language, a suitable interpreter must be used. A suitable interpreter is an adult who:

• has experience in health interpreting
• is agreed to by both the patient and the practitioner
• is considered by both the patient and the practitioner to be competent in communicating in their respective languages, and
• agrees not to compromise privacy and confidentiality.

The interpreter may be someone that the patient provides, for example, a family member or friend provided all the above points are met or someone from a professional interpreter service. You are accountable for your practice and need to make a sincere, professional judgment about the adequacy of your arrangements to protect the safety and wellbeing of your patients.

If a complaint is made about you which may relate to these conditions or to your English language skills in general, you may be asked by the Board to justify your arrangements.

Information about interpreter services is available from the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (DoHA). The DoHA’s Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National can be contacted on 131 450, or via their website.

The conditions state that there should always be a person on the premises who has sufficient English language proficiency to communicate swiftly and effectively with an emergency service. If you are not confident of your ability to communicate effectively in English with emergency services, another person with adequate English to communicate with emergency services must be present on the premises when treatment is undertaken.

You need to exercise your own professional judgement in deciding whether your ability to communicate in English, in the circumstances of an emergency, is sufficient to communicate with an emergency service. Your primary consideration should be the safety and wellbeing of your patients, for which you are accountable. The Board cannot give you detailed instructions on how you can individually comply with this requirement.

The Board may inquire into the arrangements you have in place in your practice. This may occur if a notification is made about you, or as part of an audit.