Overseas Trained Perfusionist (OTP) Pathway
Frequently Asked Questions
The Overseas Trained Perfusionist (OTP) pathway provides a pathway for perfusionists who completed their initial perfusion education and clinical training outside Australia or New Zealand to demonstrate equivalence with the standards required by the Australian and New Zealand College of Perfusionists (ANZCP).
The pathway is designed for already qualified and clinically experienced overseas perfusionists.
It is not an alternative entry-level training pathway for recent graduates who have not yet established independent post-certification practice. Applicants must demonstrate at least 36 months of current overseas certification and at least 150 qualifying cardiopulmonary bypass cases as the primary perfusionist in the immediately preceding 36 months.
The pathway has three phases:
Phase 1 – Eligibility and Documentation
Phase 2 – Clinical Skills Assessment
Phase 3 – OTP Board Examinations.
Important: This FAQ provides general guidance only. The current ANZCP Overseas Trained Perfusionist Policy, Certification Policy, Examination Policy and associated standards take precedence. Eligibility is determined by the ANZBP following formal assessment of the applicant’s individual documentation.
Understanding the OTP Pathway
An Overseas Trained Perfusionist, or OTP, is a clinical perfusionist who completed their initial perfusion education and training outside Australia or New Zealand.
The OTP pathway allows eligible overseas-trained clinicians to demonstrate that they meet ANZCP standards despite the ANZBP not having had direct oversight of their original education and clinical training.
The pathway is intended for already qualified perfusionists with established independent clinical practice overseas.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate current certification or equivalent professional authorisation, good standing, recent independent CPB practice and appropriate academic preparation.
The current minimum clinical threshold includes at least 150 CPB cases performed as the primary perfusionist during the 36 months immediately before application, with at least 50 cases per year, excluding cases performed while the applicant was a trainee or not yet certified.
A newly qualified perfusionist will not yet meet the current OTP eligibility requirements.
Applicants must demonstrate that they have held their overseas certification for a minimum of 36 months, and the required clinical case log excludes cases performed while the applicant was a trainee or was not yet certified.
The pathway is therefore intended to assess established overseas practitioners rather than provide the initial transition from perfusion student to independent clinician.
No.
Local trainees complete their perfusion education and work-integrated clinical training under direct ANZBP oversight and, when all requirements are met, may receive CCP (ANZ) certification.
Overseas-trained practitioners complete an equivalency pathway examining their prior education, clinical practice and demonstrated competence and, when successful, receive OTP (ANZ) certification.
Both represent ANZCP certification, but they identify different pathways to certification.
CCP (ANZ) identifies someone who completed the ANZBP-accredited local training pathway under ANZBP oversight.
OTP (ANZ) identifies someone whose initial training occurred overseas and who subsequently demonstrated equivalence through the OTP pathway.
OTP certification does not mean that ANZBP has retrospectively accredited or endorsed the applicant’s original overseas training program.
There is no automatic conversion from OTP (ANZ) to CCP (ANZ).
Under the current policy, an overseas-trained perfusionist wishing to obtain CCP (ANZ) status would need to enter and successfully complete the ANZBP-accredited local training pathway.
Employment in Australia and New Zealand
A formal Australian or New Zealand employment offer is listed as a Phase 2 requirement, rather than as the central eligibility threshold for Phase 1.
To undertake the clinical component of Phase 2, the candidate must secure formal employment as a clinical perfusionist at a recognised Australian or New Zealand perfusion hospital with the required ANZBP-approved supervision.
However, applicants should think carefully about timing because the policy completion clock begins once Phase 1 eligibility is confirmed and the candidate is allocated to a category.
The OTP policy does not prevent applicants from applying for employment.
Employment recruitment and OTP eligibility are separate processes, however, and Phase 1 approval does not guarantee that an employer will offer a position.
No.
Phase 1 confirms eligibility to continue through the pathway.
OTP (ANZ) certification is only awarded after successful completion of all required phases, including the Phase 3 OTP Board Examination
No.
Applicants are responsible for securing their own employment.
ANZCP/ANZBP assesses professional recognition and certification; it does not allocate overseas applicants to hospitals.
No. Professional recognition, immigration status and employment eligibility are separate matters.
Applicants must independently meet the immigration, visa and employment requirements applicable to the country and employer in which they intend to work.
Visa sponsorship is an employment matter for individual hospitals or health services, not part of the ANZBP OTP certification process.
Category A and Category B
After successful Phase 1 assessment, applicants are allocated to one of two pathways.
Category A applies to candidates holding current certification from an ANZBP Recognised Competent Authority.
Category B applies to all other eligible overseas-trained perfusionists.
Under the current policy they are:
- American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) – United States
- Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion (CSCP) – Canada
- Society of Clinical Perfusion Scientists (SCPS) – United Kingdom
The candidate must hold current certification from the relevant authority.
Not necessarily.
Category A is based on holding current certification from the specified Recognised Competent Authority, not simply having studied or worked in that country.
No. Extensive experience does not itself convert a candidate from Category B to Category A.
Category allocation is determined by whether the candidate holds current certification from one of the Recognised Competent Authorities identified in the policy.
Experience remains highly relevant to overall eligibility and competency assessment.
No.
Category A candidates still complete local supervised practice, competency assessments, professional references, direct ANZBP case observations and the Phase 3 OTP Board Examination. An entrance examination may also be required on a case-by-case basis.
The principal educational difference is that the recognised academic program is optional for Category A candidates.
Category B candidates must enrol in and successfully complete the recognised academic program — currently the Monash University Master of Cardiovascular Perfusion Entry Level 2 pathway — before progressing to Phase 3.
Category A candidates may undertake that program if they wish, but it is not mandatory under the current OTP policy.
No. A candidate progressing through the OTP pathway remains on the OTP certification pathway.
Successful completion of EP2 forms part of the equivalency process for Category B; successful completion of all OTP requirements leads to OTP (ANZ) certification.
Only if you complete th ANZBP Training Pathway that includes the completion of all ANZBP requirements, including 200 supervised cases, and Monash EP1 Academic Program, will you be eligible for CCP (ANZ)
Academic Qualifications
This depends importantly on when you were first certified by your overseas certifying body.
If first certified before 30 June 2024, the current policy requires a qualification at or above AQF Level 7 — Bachelor degree or greater — in a perfusion-related domain.
If first certified on or after 1 July 2024, the policy requires a qualification at or above AQF Level 9 — Master’s degree or greater — in a perfusion-related domain. Bachelor degree documentation and transcripts must also be supplied.
Yes, your complete academic record should be provided.
For applicants first certified on or after 1 July 2024, the key requirement is an AQF Level 9 or greater qualification in a perfusion-related domain, together with Bachelor degree documentation and transcripts.
Whether an individual qualification meets the required level and domain is determined through the ANZBP assessment process.
The ANZBP assesses academic eligibility and may require official external confirmation of AQF equivalence or educational competency equivalence.
Where such an external assessment is required, the applicant is responsible for the associated cost.
For Category B, academic qualifications are also subject to minimum academic standards, because candidates must demonstrate eligibility for the applicable educational pathway
Overseas Certification and Professional Standing
Your official good-standing evidence must demonstrate that you have held the relevant overseas certification for a minimum of 36 months.
The overseas certifying body must confirm that you:
- currently hold certification;
- have held it for at least 36 months;
- remain in good standing;
- meet applicable competence, CPD and recency-of-practice requirements; and
- are not subject to known conduct, ethical or legal matters relevant to certification.
The supporting letter must be dated within six months of application.
Where no Overseas Certifying Body exists and there is therefore no formal perfusion certification, the ANZBP may assess an official letter from the relevant Ministry of Health in place of the normal certification and good-standing evidence.
This does not mean eligibility is automatic; the evidence is assessed individually.
Clinical Experience and Case Requirements
For Phase 1, the current policy requires at least:
150 cardiopulmonary bypass cases performed as the primary perfusionist during the 36 months immediately before application, with a minimum of 50 cases per year.
The policy specifically excludes cases performed while the applicant was:
- a trainee; or
- otherwise not yet certified.
The required cases must therefore represent post-certification practice as the primary perfusionist.
The documentation must clearly identify that your role in the procedure was the primary perfusionist.
It must also identify the procedure date and case type.
If your local terminology differs, your employer or certifying body should ensure that your documentation clearly demonstrates your role.
Lifetime experience alone does not establish the current recency requirement.
You must still demonstrate the required minimum of 150 primary-perfusionist CPB cases in the immediately preceding 36 months, including at least 50 per year
The eligibility threshold is specifically expressed as cardiopulmonary bypass cases.
ECMO experience may demonstrate valuable additional scope and should appropriately appear in your professional history, but it does not substitute for the required CPB case volume.
The case record must be deidentified and either:
- on official hospital documentation and signed by the Head of the Department of Perfusion; or
- on Overseas Certifying Body documentation and verified by that body.
It must identify the date, case type and your role as primary perfusionist
English Language Requirements
Unless an applicable exemption applies, candidates must demonstrate the current AHPRA English Language Skills Standard before progressing to Phase 2.
As of 2026, tertiary qualifications obtained in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States as recognised-country qualifications for this purpose.
The policy adopts the current AHPRA English Language Skills Standard.
AHPRA currently recognises IELTS Academic, OET, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT as acceptable tests.
If you are required to provide an English Language Test result, the test must meet the current AHPRA English Language Skills Standard, including its requirements for test validity and timing
Applicants must meet the current NASRHP English Language Skills Standard applicable at the time of application.
Do not assume that a high overall result compensates for failing to meet an individual component requirement.
Applicants should check the current standard before applying.
Phase 1 - Eligibility and Documentation
Applicants should be ready to provide evidence including:
- relevant tertiary qualifications and transcripts;
- current overseas certification or equivalent evidence;
- recent good-standing confirmation;
- qualifying clinical case log;
- English-language evidence where required;
- professional references;
- Mandatory Declarations;
- signed acknowledgement of the OTP Policy; and
- the applicable Phase 1 fee.
Documents requiring certification must meet ANZCP certified-copy requirements.
Professional attestation letters must be dated within six months of the application.
The usual requirement is:
- a senior surgeon from your overseas cardiac surgery unit; and
- the Head of Department of Perfusion from your overseas unit.
They must attest to your competence, fitness for practice and relevant professional standing.
If a Head Of Unit:
At Phase 1, a Head of Unit applicant provides a current CV and letters from two suitable referees, including at least one referee from the applicant’s overseas employer/surgeon relationship.
The policy also specifies alternative local references during Phase 2.
Documents not in English must be supplied both:
- in the original language; and
- translated into English in accordance with the ANZCP Translated Documents Policy.
Certified copies must also be provided where required.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that applications are complete.
The Board is not obliged to continue chasing incomplete applications. An application remaining incomplete may be closed and require a new application.
Yes. It is mandatory once the documentation indicates that the minimum thresholds are met.
The interview explores:
- your scope and nature of practice;
- typical case mix and responsibilities;
- professionalism;
- ethical awareness and insight;
- clinical communication and English-language competence; and
- suitability to progress within the Australian and New Zealand perfusion context.
Patient safety and local professional standards are central considerations
ANZBP may:
- approve progression and allocate Category A or B;
- request additional documentation;
- require an entrance examination;
- require remedial steps such as additional English testing or targeted education; or
- find the applicant ineligible to progress at that time
Phase 2 – Local Clinical Skills Assessment
Both categories undertake a substantial local competency assessment.
This includes:
- formal Australian or New Zealand employment;
- approved supervision;
- at least 50 local supervised CPB cases;
- 10 formal competency assessments;
- local professional references;
- at least two cases directly observed by an ANZBP-nominated representative;
- a structured interview following the observed cases; and
- an entrance examination if required by ANZBP.
Category B candidates additionally complete the mandatory recognised academic program
A minimum of 50 local supervised cases must be completed with ANZBP-approved Lead and/or Clinical Supervisors.
The overseas logbook demonstrates previous experience and recency.
The local supervised cases allow ANZBP-approved supervisors to directly assess how you perform within the Australian or New Zealand clinical environment and against ANZCP Competency Standards.
The two requirements therefore serve different purposes.
Ten of the 50 local supervised cases require formal ANZBP competency assessment documentation completed by the Lead Supervisor using the approved template.
At least two cases are directly observed by an ANZBP-nominated representative.
The representative assesses performance against the ANZCP Competency Standards and provides a written report.
Following the observations, the candidate undertakes a structured interview covering areas such as clinical reasoning, decision-making, risk recognition, escalation, communication, teamwork, complication management and reflective practice
The ANZBP may provide recommendations to the employer and Lead Supervisor and require further supervised cases or development before Phase 2 can be considered complete.
If the Phase 2 assessment confirms that the candidate meets the required competency standards, ANZBP may provide documentation supporting provisional unsupervised practice while the candidate completes the Phase 3 examination requirement.
This does not mean that OTP (ANZ) certification has already been awarded.
Phase 3 - OTP Board Examination
Yes.
Phase 3 is mandatory for both Category A and Category B candidates.
ANZBP must confirm that you have:
- successfully completed Phase 1;
- fully completed the applicable Phase 2 requirements; and
- paid the required Phase 3 examination fee.
Eligibility is confirmed in writing.
Under the current Examination Policy, the OTP equivalency examination includes:
- a Clinical Applications Short Answer Examination — 10 questions over 3 hours; and
- a Clinical Applications Viva Voce Examination — 6 x oral clinical application questions, with 15 minutes per question.
From January 2027, the examination standard is a 70% written pass mark and 5 of 6 viva questions
Examinations are ordinarily offered twice per year, with dates published by ANZBP.
A candidate who fails one or more components must resit all examination components at a future scheduled sitting
Under the current Examination Policy, OTP candidates may be permitted a maximum of three attempts in total.
Further progression after an unsuccessful attempt is determined by ANZBP and may involve further education, supervised clinical practice, entry into the local training pathway or, where the required standard cannot be demonstrated, cessation of the equivalency pathway.
Costs and Policy Timelines
Candidates are responsible for costs associated with the OTP pathway, which may include:
- Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 ANZCP fees;
- resubmission fees;
- external qualification-equivalence or verification costs;
- English-language testing;
- document certification and translation;
- university tuition for the academic program where required; and
- other costs associated with meeting pathway requirements.
The OTP pathway is intended to be completed within the timeframe applying to the candidate’s category:
- Category A: Phase 2 and presentation for the Phase 3 examination within approximately 12 months, or at the next scheduled ANZCP examination round.
- Category B: Phase 2 and Phase 3 within approximately 21–24 months, depending on commencement of the recognised academic program and examination scheduling.
Where a candidate does not progress within these timeframes, ANZBP may consider the individual circumstances and require a revised plan and timeframe. It may also require additional supervised practice or updated competency assessments before allowing progression to continue.
A revised timeframe should therefore not be assumed to be automatic. Candidates should plan to complete the pathway within the published timeframe wherever possible
Because OTP assessment is based partly on current evidence of clinical practice and competency.
The OTP Policy specifically states that the pathway is time-limited to ensure:
- recency of practice;
- continued alignment with ANZCP Competency Standards; and
- timely completion of certification.
If a substantial period has passed since your original eligibility assessment, ANZBP may no longer be able to rely on the original clinical evidence and competency assessments as sufficiently current.
Depending on the circumstances, the Board may require updated assessments or additional supervised practice. It may also cancel the application, in which case the applicant must reapply under the OTP Policy in force at that time and pay the applicable fees.
Reapplication ensures that eligibility, recent clinical practice, professional standing and competency are assessed against the standards current at that time.
As the pathway has not progressed within the required timeframe, the candidate is required to reapply under the then-current OTP Policy and pay the applicable fees.
Because the pathway is designed around current evidence, the candidate may need to provide updated documentation demonstrating matters such as:
- current overseas certification and good standing;
- recent clinical practice;
- current case-log requirements;
- professional references;
- English-language requirements where applicable; and
- any other eligibility requirements contained in the policy in effect at the time of reapplication.
The requirements applying to a new application may therefore differ from those that applied when the original application commenced.
Candidates should contact ANZBP as early as possible if significant circumstances may prevent them from progressing within the expected timeframe.
The policy allows ANZBP to respond to delayed progression by requiring a revised plan and timeframe and/or updated supervised practice and competency assessment.
For examination deferrals specifically, the policy requires exceptional circumstances supported by documentation.
Examples of circumstances recognised by the policy in relation to examination deferral include serious illness, bereavement and unforeseen major service disruption. Approval remains at the discretion of ANZBP.
Common Applicant Scenarios
No.
A recent graduate would not meet:
- the minimum 36 months of certification;
- the 36-month recency period;
- the minimum 150 post-certification primary CPB cases; and, if first certified on or after 1 July 2024,
- the AQF Level 9 perfusion-related academic requirement.
Training cases cannot be used to meet the post-certification case threshold.
Specialist experience does not replace the policy’s CPB case threshold.
You should only submit Phase 1 once you can demonstrate the required recent primary-perfusionist CPB caseload
Provided Phase 1 eligibility is otherwise satisfied, you would progress through Category B.
Experience level does not determine Category A status. Current certification from a Recognised Competent Authority does.
A non-perfusion Bachelor degree does not necessarily exclude an applicant if the required perfusion-related postgraduate qualification satisfies the current academic standard.
The current Phase 1 requirement is based on recent practice and specifies a minimum of 50 qualifying CPB cases per year during the immediately preceding 36 months.
The ANZBP will determine this on a case by case basis, and take into account recency of practice, or additional requirements.
The Category A pathway requires current certification from a Recognised Competent Authority.
Expired or historical certification should not be assumed to meet this requirement.
No.
Category A/B classification is based on the recognised certifying authority, not the number of years worked or cases performed.
If you do not hold current certification from a listed Recognised Competent Authority, you are assessed through the Category B pathway, provided you otherwise meet Phase 1 eligibility requirements.
General residence or employment in Australia or New Zealand is not the same as supervised clinical perfusion practice.
Phase 2 requires appropriate employment as a Clinical Perfusionist and the specified local supervised perfusion cases.
No.
The 36-month requirement relates to the period for which you have held your overseas professional certification, not the length of your university course, internship or clinical training.
Cases performed while you were a trainee or otherwise not yet certified are also excluded from the Phase 1 case requirement.
For further information:
We encourage prospective applicants to review the OTP Policy, eligibility checklist and FAQs on this page before contacting the ANZBP.
Many common eligibility questions — including those relating to qualification level, certification duration, clinical case numbers, Category A or B, English-language requirements and recent practice — are addressed in the published information.
Before contacting us
Please check whether you can answer yes to the following:
- ☐ I completed my initial perfusion education and training overseas.
- ☐ I currently hold the required overseas perfusion certification, professional authorisation or equivalent evidence.
- ☐ I have held that certification for at least 36 months.
- ☐ My certification is current and in good standing.
- ☐ I can demonstrate at least 150 qualifying cardiopulmonary bypass cases as the primary perfusionist during the immediately preceding 36 months.
- ☐ I have completed at least 50 qualifying CPB cases in each of those years.
- ☐ I have excluded cases undertaken while I was a trainee or before I became certified.
- ☐ My academic qualification appears to meet the requirement applicable to the date on which I was first certified.
- ☐ I can obtain official qualification documents, academic transcripts and certification evidence.
- ☐ I can obtain an appropriately verified clinical case log.
- ☐ I can obtain the required professional references.
- ☐ I meet the applicable English Language Skills requirements, or an appropriate exemption applies.
If you cannot currently meet one or more of the mandatory eligibility requirements, you may not yet be ready to submit a Phase 1 OTP application.
If you have read through all of these FAQ’s, and still have questions, you can contact the ANZBP at admin@anzcp.org
Providing the relevant information in your initial enquiry will help us understand your circumstances and reduce the need for follow-up correspondence.
Please include:
- Country of initial perfusion education
- Qualification title
- University or institution
- Year the qualification was completed
- Highest perfusion-related qualification
- Name of your overseas certifying or regulatory authority
- Date you were first formally certified or authorised to practise as a perfusionist
- Whether your certification is currently active and in good standing
- Total years of post-certification perfusion practice
- Number of primary-perfusionist CPB cases completed in each of the last three years
- Confirmation that these cases were completed after certification
- Current clinical role
- Current country of practice
- Whether you currently hold or have been offered perfusion employment in Australia or New Zealand
- The specific policy requirement you are seeking clarification about
Where relevant, briefly describe any unusual circumstances that are not addressed in the FAQs.