Revised registration standards take effect from today

01 Dec 2015

Revised registration standards for continuing professional development and recency of practice take effect today.

The Chiropractic Board of Australia has previously published the contents of the revised standards and supporting materials to help chiropractors understand the new requirements.

The revised registration standards¹ now in effect are:

• Continuing professional development (CPD) 
• Recency of practice

The revised standards will apply to most applicants for initial registration, and applicants for renewal of registration from 1 October 2016. They do not apply to the current cycle of renewals.

Some of the requirements for CPD have changed in the new registration standard. These include:

• Changes to the what type of learning activities are considered to be Formal learning activities and how these activities should be assessed and recorded
• In addition to 25 hours CPD per year you must complete a first aid course every three years that includes CPR, management of anaphylaxis and use of an automatic defibrillator
• Practitioners who practice for less than 9 months may apply for a pro rata reduction in the required hours

Some of the requirements regarding recency of practice have changed. These include:

• Practice is now defined as clinical or non-clinical and you must maintain recency within the scope of your practice area
• You must have completed 450 hours of practice in the previous three years and have had no continuous absences from practice that are greater than two years; or you must have completed 150 hours of practice in the previous 12 months
• If you satisfy the requirements for recency of clinical practice you will automatically satisfy the requirements for recency in non-clinical practice

For more information on the changes made to these registration standards, see the Board’s news item.

The standards were revised after a scheduled review, which included public consultation. National Boards have previously published consultation reports providing a summary of the consultation processes, rationale for any changes and proposed way forward, including areas where further work is planned.

Please refer to AHPRA’s registration standards page for additional information and resources.

¹Registration standards define the requirements that applicants and registrants in the regulated professions need to meet to be registered.

For more information

• Lodge an online enquiry form
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 9275 9009 (overseas callers)
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200