Online renewal for health practitioners is now open

19 Oct 2020

Health practitioners across 13 professions are due to renew their general, specialist or non-practising registration by 30 November 2020.

Look out for an email from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) providing access to online renewal; the quickest and easiest way to renew.

The professions due to renew are: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners, Chinese medicine practitioners, chiropractors, dental practitioners, medical radiation practitioners, occupational therapists, optometrists, osteopaths, paramedics, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, podiatric surgeons and psychologists.

If you don’t renew on time

If you do not renew your registration by 30 November 2020, or within the following one-month late period, your registration will lapse. Your name will be removed from the national register and you will not be able to practise without making a new application for registration.

Supporting health practitioners during COVID-19

Ahpra and National Boards are working with government, health services and others to support health practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. We sincerely thank you for your continuing commitment and professionalism.

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.

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

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 is on your Board’s registration renewal FAQs page:

What’s different about registration this year?

Advertising declaration and audit

You will be required to complete a new declaration that your advertising complies with Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (National Law) advertising requirements.

This is part of a risk-based approach to enforcing the National Law’s advertising requirements and compliance by registered health practitioners who advertise their services and will include auditing of health practitioners to check advertising compliance.

Download your registration certificate and tax invoice

Paper certificates are no longer issued but you can print a registration certificate from your online services account after you’ve renewed. You can also download your tax receipt.

The online register of practitioners is updated every day making it the safest way for practitioners and employers to check registration status.

For more information

• For online enquiries visit www.ahpra.gov.au/enquiry.
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 9285 3010 (overseas callers).
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200