The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the organisation responsible for the implementation of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme across Australia. AHPRA works with 15 National Health Practitioner Boards in implementing the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme.
AHPRA and the National Boards regularly consult with advisory groups to gather feedback, information and advice on a wide range of issues. These principles are designed to shape thinking about regulatory decision-making in the National Scheme. They are endorsed by all the National Boards and the Agency Management Committee. These principles are designed to shape thinking about regulatory decision-making in the National Scheme. They are endorsed by all the National Boards and the Agency Management Committee.
Over the second half of 2019 AHPRA made changes to their documentation guidelines and process required to have these signed by authorised officer (witness), i.e. it may be required to provide certified copies of original documents in support of an application or for other purposes required by the National Law.
The AHPRA application form will outline which documents must be certified. For hard copy application forms, certified copies will only be accepted in hard copy by mail or in person (not by fax, email, etc). Photocopies of previously certified documents will not be accepted. For online application forms, certified copies of documents can be uploaded with your online application.
Any documents containing a photograph (e.g. a passport, driver’s licence, etc.) must be certified by an Authorised Officer with the statement ‘I certify that this is a true copy of the original and the photograph is a true likeness of the person presenting the document as sighted by me.’ or similar words as required by legislation by each state authority.
The most common requirement is ‘Proof of Identity’ for:
– applying for registration from within Australia
– applying for registration from outside Australia
– international medical graduates applying for limited, provisional or special registration.
To ensure that some certified copies are not being returned by AHPRA because they do not meet the wording required by AHPRA guidelines, or for some other reason. Research by Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices (Association) revealed that the wording used in the AHPRA guidelines was modelled on the NSW certification approach and was not consistent with the new Victorian legislation. It is important to check with the authority in your state to ensure that the required wording is obtained.
More details can be found by visiting AHPRA at: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/
