Remote/Venue Rules & Retakes

Remote/Venue Rules & Retakes

Quick Answer: Sit the Written Assessment in person (Melbourne or Sydney) or remotely. Assessments run about four times a year. Late arrivals are not allowed. Remote candidates need two devices with cameras, WebLock on the computer, Google Meet on the secondary device, a Compatibility Test ~2 weeks prior, a private room alone, and two forms of ID (one photo, one with signature). Shared rules ban reading materials, reading aloud/writing/recording, food/drink, and headphones/caps/smart devices. Withdraw ≥2 days if ill and know the no-refund / no-show policy. Misconduct has zero tolerance; exams are recorded. Start time is 9am Melbourne/Sydney time (AEST/AEDT). If unsuccessful, wait 14 days after results, reapply via the Candidate Dashboard, and note that attempts are unlimited but charged each time.

Clinical knowledge cannot help if a preventable rules breach ends your sitting—or if you rebook incorrectly after a Fail. Treat this section as a compliance and retake checklist drawn from the Written Assessment Information Booklet 2026 and the APC Written Assessment webpage. Always re-check the current booklet before your booking—procedures can be updated—but these are the core official expectations described for 2026.

When and where the exam runs

• Assessments are held about four times a year
• Modes: remote invigilation and venues in Melbourne and Sydney
• All in-person and remote exams begin at 9am Melbourne or Sydney time
• Time zone is AEST/AEDT depending on daylight saving
• Convert carefully for your location (the Council points candidates to tools such as timeanddate.com)

If you live overseas, “9am Melbourne/Sydney” may be late evening or early morning for you. Plan sleep, childcare, and internet reliability around that clock—not your local casual estimate.

Booking and pathway gates (before any mode)

You book and manage applications through the Candidate Dashboard. Typical pathway gates before the Written Assessment include successful Eligibility Assessment and completion of Cultural Safety Training (CST) (plus any other requirements stated for your route). Do not assume you can skip dashboard steps or pay for a sitting without meeting published prerequisites.

In-person (venue) requirements

For an in-person sitting, the booklet requires you to:

• Familiarise yourself with venue, exam time, identification checks, and conduct of the assessment
• Understand that late arrivals will not be allowed to sit the exam
• Follow a supervisor who provides specific instructions for each session
• Note that instructions may vary by discipline at multi-exam venues—follow instructions for the Australian Physiotherapy Council Written Assessment
• At the end, follow supervisor instructions for finishing and leaving

Venue mindset

If anything about the venue email is unclear, resolve it before exam morning. Late discovery of parking, building access, or ID problems is a common non-clinical failure mode.

Remote exam requirements

Remote Written Assessment is a remotely supervised exam you take in your own personal location—if your technical and environmental setup meets requirements.

Devices and software (mandatory)

You need two devices:

1. A computer (exam delivery) with a camera
2. A mobile or tablet (secondary/proctoring view) with a camera

Install and prepare:

• WebLock on the computer (mandatory)
• Google Meet app on the secondary device (mandatory)

Work on setup weeks before the exam—not the night before.

Compatibility Test

You must complete a Compatibility Test before the remote exam, approximately two weeks prior. Treat it as a dress rehearsal:

• Same device pair
• Same network environment if possible
• Confirm camera angles, audio, and lock-down behaviour

Failing to complete the Compatibility Test as required is a preventable barrier to sitting.

Access and lateness

• Log in to the web link at the scheduled time
• Late arrivals will not be permitted (same principle as venue)
• Bring a small piece of paper and a pen to write down the test code from the proctor (booklet remote requirement)

Environment and identity (additional remote rules)

1. Present two forms of identification before the exam:
   • At least one with your photograph
   • At least one with your signature alongside your name
   • Acceptable examples listed by the Council include Australian and international passports, Australian driver’s licence, and/or Proof of Age card
2. Be alone in a private room with doors closed
3. Table should only have:
   • The computer used for the exam
   • The secondary device
4. Full exam time starts when you activate the exam using the provided link; if interrupted, time can be paused (per booklet)
5. You are responsible for uninterrupted power, adequate bandwidth, and reliable internet on both devices
6. If issues cannot be resolved by the proctor, contact EPEC Pty Ltd as directed in official materials

Remote setup checklist

• Computer camera works; secondary camera works
• WebLock installed and tested on computer
• Google Meet ready on secondary device
• Compatibility Test completed on schedule (~2 weeks prior)
• Private room booked; household members briefed to stay out
• Two IDs ready (photo + signature)
• Power + charger; backup connectivity plan if available
• Clean desk: only allowed devices
• Local time converted correctly to 9am Melbourne/Sydney start
• Paper and pen ready for proctor test code

Shared rules: in person and remote

The booklet lists rules that apply to both modes:

1. Reading materials are not permitted into the exam
2. You cannot read aloud, write, or record anything during the exam
3. Food and drink are not allowed during the exam
4. Do not bring or wear headphones, caps, earphones, scarves, bangles, or smart devices (smart watch, smart glasses, etc.)
5. Health and wellbeing are your responsibility. Withdraw at least 2 days prior if you are ill or facing extraordinary circumstances, and be aware of the Council’s no refund policy. If you do not attend and fail to submit a withdrawal request, you will not receive any refund—treated as a ‘no show’

Interpreting “no writing” with the remote paper/pen note

Remote candidates may use a small paper and pen to capture the proctor test code as instructed. That is an access/setup step. During the exam itself, the rule against writing/recording still applies—do not turn that scrap into notes, calculations sheets, or memory aids. Follow proctor and booklet instructions exactly if any clarification is given on the day.

Why these rules exist

Withdrawal, illness, and no-show economics

High-stakes days sometimes collide with illness. Official guidance:

• Manage health proactively
• If ill or in extraordinary circumstances, withdraw at least 2 days prior
• Know the no refund policy before you book and before you decide to “tough it out”
• No-show without withdrawal = no refund

This is not clinical content, but it is professional self-management—the same prioritisation skill the thresholds expect in practice. Sitting while severely unwell can also increase misconduct risk (looking away, needing items, bathroom urgency) and degrade performance across two full papers.

Misconduct policy: zero tolerance

The Council maintains zero tolerance toward misconduct, cheating, or unethical behaviour.

Operational points from the booklet:

• If the proctor suspects misconduct, you may be asked to provide a 360-degree view of your surroundings immediately
• All exams are recorded
• By participating, you consent to being recorded and acknowledge recordings may be used in future investigations
• Misconduct compromises assessment integrity and can have serious consequences for professional reputation

Behave as if every glance, device, and desk surface is visible—because remotely, it often is. In venues, supervisors and procedures serve the same integrity purpose.

Examples of behaviours to avoid (non-exhaustive):

• Second person in the room
• Phone use (except the authorised secondary device used as instructed for proctoring)
• Notes, textbooks, or second screens
• Attempting to capture or share questions
• Wearing restricted items that can conceal devices

When unsure whether something is allowed, remove it before the exam starts. Ambiguity is not a loophole.

Technical issues (remote)

You are responsible for power and internet. Still, technical failures happen:

• Work with the proctor first
• If unresolved, contact EPEC Pty Ltd as directed
• Know that if the exam is interrupted, time may be paused per booklet wording—do not self-terminate without instruction

Document what happened (times, error messages) for any official follow-up. Do not invent workarounds that look like misconduct (e.g. switching to an unauthorised device mid-exam without direction).

Retakes: wait period, fees, and rebooking

Unsuccessful candidates are not locked out of the pathway permanently, but they must follow published logistics:

Practical retake sequence

1. Receive emailed results (within 6 weeks of the sitting).
2. If Fail, calendar the 14-day wait from results release—not from exam day.
3. Diagnose weak areas across the three clinical domains and professional decision themes.
4. Rebuild a timed, case-based study plan (two-hour paper simulations).
5. After 14 days, reapply via the Candidate Dashboard for the next suitable sitting (remote or Melbourne/Sydney venue).
6. Budget for another full fee and complete any remote Compatibility Test again if required for a new remote booking.

Avoid myths such as “only two attempts allowed,” “one-year ban,” or “free retakes.” The published model is unlimited paid attempts with a 14-day post-results wait.

Putting it together: morning-of timeline (illustrative)

Exact local steps vary by mode and booking instructions, but a robust plan looks like:

Link to professional standards

Exam-day compliance is not separate from being an ethical practitioner. Competencies around legal/ethical standards and professional behaviours (Thresholds roles assessed in this exam) include honesty and integrity. A misconduct finding is not only an exam event—it can damage the professional narrative you are trying to build toward Ahpra registration.

Final rules and retake flashcard

• Start: 9am Melbourne/Sydney (AEST/AEDT); ~4 sittings/year
• Late: not allowed (venue or remote)
• Remote kit: 2 cameras, WebLock + Google Meet, Compatibility Test ~2 weeks out, alone private room, 2 IDs
• Banned during exam: notes, reading aloud, writing/recording (beyond authorised setup steps), food/drink, headphones/caps/smart devices
• Ill: withdraw ≥2 days; know no-refund; no-show without withdrawal = no refund
• Integrity: zero tolerance; exams recorded
• Retake: wait 14 days after results; unlimited attempts; fee each time; rebook via Candidate Dashboard

Read the booklet again the week of your exam. Then walk the checklist once more the night before. Rules mastery frees cognitive space for the case-based clinical decisions that actually determine your scaled score.