COVID-19 updates for November registration renewal

News

28 Aug 2020

National Boards have provided COVID-19 pandemic related updates for practitioners due to renew their registration by 30 November 2020.

Registration renewal for 13 professions opens in October

Health practitioners across 13 professions are due to renew their registration with their National Board by 30 November 2020. We know this is a difficult time and we have made changes to renewal to support you during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Look out for an email from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) in October providing access to online renewal.

Registration is vital during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ahpra and National Boards are working with government, health services and others to support health practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sincerely thank you for your continuing commitment and professionalism. We have adapted our regulatory approach to support you in these exceptional circumstances. Your registration fees go directly to funding this work and regulating for safety in your profession.

COVID-19 financial hardship payment plan available

A payment plan is available for health practitioners experiencing genuine financial hardship due to COVID-19. If you meet the criteria, you will be eligible to pay half your registration fee now and make a second payment in the first half of 2021.

The payment plan has been developed in response to the exceptional circumstances that the COVID-19 pandemic presents. When making decisions about financial hardship applications, Ahpra and National Boards will consider the financial sustainability of the National Scheme to continue to protect the public balanced with the circumstances of individual applicants and access to the workforce.

How to apply for the financial hardship payment plan

Please note, you’ll need to complete the financial hardship form and wait to hear the outcome prior to renewing your registration – we can’t consider an application for the financial hardship payment plan if you have already renewed.

Information on the financial hardship payment plan and how to apply will be published on your Board’s registration renewal FAQ page when renewal opens:

What if I can’t meet the CPD requirements for this registration period because of COVID-19?

We encourage you to continue to do continuing professional development (CPD) that is relevant to your scope of practice and your current work environment. However, we understand that some health practitioners may have trouble meeting the CPD requirements during this challenging time.

You should answer all renewal questions honestly and accurately. Ahpra and National Boards will not take action if you declare that you could not meet the CPD requirements for the 2020 registration period as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Check your details are up to date

Prior to renewal opening, please check your contact details held by Ahpra are up to date. Use the secure online services for health practitioners on the Ahpra website. Go to Login at the top right of the home page, enter your user ID, password and date of birth to log in and follow the prompts to update your contact details.

If you do not have your user ID, complete an online enquiry form and select the category ‘Online Services – Practitioner’. Ahpra will contact you. If you’ve forgotten your password it can be updated using the Reset your password function. You must have previously had an email address registered with Ahpra to be able to use this function.

For more information

Lodge an online enquiry form
For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 03 9285 3010 (overseas callers)
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