Administration process for the Validation of qualifications for overseas trained Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapists who have qualified outside the Republic of Ireland must have their qualifications validated by the Department of Health and Children (DoHC), which is the competent authority in Ireland for the recognition of same. The Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI) carries out the assessments of an individual’s qualifications and makes its recommendations to the DoHC.

Since 2002 the administration process for the validation of overseas qualifications for Occupational Therapists (and Speech and Language Therapists and Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiographers) was carried out by the former Northern Area Health Board (NAHB) in Swords in County Dublin.

With the reform of the Health Service and the abolition of the Health Boards it was decided to locate this responsibility in the ‘Professional Education’ section of the National HR Directorate. With effect from 13th June 2007 the National Validation project was transferred to the latter where it is managed by Ms Eileen Walsh and the day-to-day administration of the process is the responsibility of Ms. Annette Lyons.

Their contact details are as follows:

Postal address -

Ms. Annette Lyons

National Validation Project
HR Directorate
Health Service Executive
Merlin Park
Galway City
County Galway
Ireland

Eileen Walsh - Senior Executive Officer
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Phone: +353 (0) 91 775317

Annette Lyons - Assistant Staff Officer
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Phone: +353 (0) 91 775094
Fax: 91 775863