National Boards set fees for 2019-2020

19 Sep 2019

National Boards for the 16 regulated professions and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) have announced annual registration fees for 2019-2020.

Fees for four National Boards (Chinese medicine, chiropractic, osteopathy and podiatry) have been frozen to remain the same as last year and 11 National Boards (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Health Practice, dental, medical, medical radiation practice, nursing and midwifery, occupational therapy, optometry, paramedicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy and psychology) have increased fees by indexation (up to 3%).

Registration fees are published annually and fund the work of National Boards in partnership with AHPRA to keep the public safe by:

• supporting national registration to ensure only qualified, competent health practitioners can practise in Australia
• developing evidence-based and practice-tested standards, codes and guidelines
• investigating concerns raised about registered health practitioners, and
• approving accredited programs of study that lead to registration and endorsement.

Regulation of health practitioners in Australia is entirely funded by fees from registered practitioners, with no funding from governments.

AHPRA Chief Executive Officer Martin Fletcher said the 2019-2020 fees are intended to make sure regulation can respond to the increase in activity seen across the National Scheme¹.

‘With over 744,000 practitioners registered and a significant increase in notifications, we work with each National Board to set fees that allow us to meet the expectations of the public and practitioners,’ Mr Fletcher said.

‘Registration fees fully cover all costs involved in regulating each of the 16 professions included in the National Scheme. AHPRA works closely with National Boards to make sure the fees set allow us to carry out our duties and together protect the public,’ he said.

In most cases, the annual fees apply from 1 December 2019. The fees schedule for each profession is published on National Board websites, including the fee arrangements for practitioners whose principal place of practice is New South Wales (NSW). Any variation to the fees payable by NSW practitioners is announced by the Health Professional Council Authority (HPCA) in NSW and detailed in the published fee schedule.

The fees are:

• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Health Practice Board of Australia has set registration fees for 2019-2020 at $154. This limits the increase to indexation of 2.5%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

• The Chinese Medicine Board of Australia has frozen its registration fee for 2019-2020 at $579. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

• The Chiropractic Board of Australia has frozen its registration fee for 2019-2020 at $566. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

• The Dental Board of Australia has set registration fee for 2019-2020 at $681 for dentists and specialists, $605 for dental prosthetists and $336 for dental hygienists and therapists. This limits the increase to indexation of 2.7%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

• The Medical Board of Australia has set its registration fee for 2019-2020 at $787, limiting the increase to indexation at 3%. The annual renewal fee is effective from 1 August 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020.

• The Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia has set its registration fee for 2019-2020 at $191, limiting the increase to indexation at 3.0%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

• The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has set registration fees for 2019-2020 at $175, limiting the increase to indexation at 3%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2021.

• The Occupational Therapy Board of Australia has set registration fee for 2019-2020 at $113, limiting the increase to indexation at 2.5%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

• The Optometry Board of Australia has set registration fees for 2019-2020 to $308 limiting the increase to indexation at 2.5%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

• The Osteopathy Board of Australia has frozen its registration fees for 2019-2020 at $376. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

• The Paramedicine Board of Australia has set registration fees for 2019-2020 to $282 limiting the increase to indexation at 2.5%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

• The Pharmacy Board of Australia has set its annual renewal of general registration fee for 2019-2020 at $408, limiting the increase to indexation at 3.0%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

• The Physiotherapy Board of Australia has set its registration fee for 2019-2020 at $144, limiting the increase to indexation at 2.9%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

• The Podiatry Board of Australia has frozen its registration fee for 2019-2020 at $378. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

• The Psychology Board of Australia has set its registration fee for 2019-2020 at $486, limiting the increase to indexation at 2.5%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 16 September 2019 and covers the registration period for most practitioners of 1 December 2019 to 30 November 2020.

For more information

• Lodge an online enquiry.
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 8708 9001 (overseas callers).

¹ National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme).