can one get a licence from the board with no experience?

[nhamatanda]

hi there
i wanted to ask you how important is it for the board of physiotherapy to have experience in order to get a licence? do you know about any physiotherapist that got the licence just after finishing the studies abroad???
my story is that my wife got a job offer and we are thinking of moving to NZ. the only problem is that im still a student (4 year degree), which means that by the time i will go to NZ i will have no experience what so ever (except for the one i got during the studies of course).
do you know by any chance if its possible to get the lisence even though you gained no experience, and start gaining it in NZ? i mean, students from NZ do that so its not like there are no precedents

thankes any how

[Fyzzio]

Hi,
the simple answer is "yes".
If your degree is very recent and similar to the NZ ones in regards to curriculum, evidence-based practice and higher levels of learning (i.e. a 4 year Bachelor of Science Honours degree from Ireland), then you can get registration without clinical experience.
Well, one of my former colleagues got in like that.
So, I presume, when you apply, they will check your degree programme and if that satisfies the Physiotherapy Board, then ... lucky you!
Cheers,
Fyzzio.