National Boards set fees for 2020–2021

18 Sep 2020

National Boards for the 16 regulated health professions and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) have announced annual registration fees for 2020–2021.

Fees for two National Boards have reduced (Chinese Medicine and Chiropractic).

Fees for five National Board (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice, Osteopathy, Paramedicine, Podiatry and Psychology) have been frozen to remain the same as last year. Eight National Boards (Dental, Medical, Medical Radiation Practice, Nursing and Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy) have increased fees by indexation (up to 3%).

Registration fees fund the work of National Boards in partnership with Ahpra to keep the public safe by:

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

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

This year, all National Boards have supported practitioners through the COVID-19 pandemic by offering a renewal fee payment plan for those experiencing financial hardship. Information about the payment plan can be found on the COVID-19 updates page of the Ahpra website.

Ahpra Chief Executive Officer Martin Fletcher highlighted the significant role of all health practitioners in response to the biggest public health challenge of our lives.

‘2020 has shown us all how much we rely on health practitioners to keep us safe. Frontline health practitioners are playing a vital role in treating and containing COVID-19 and we are all sincerely grateful for your commitment, professionalism and for the care you provide, he said.

‘Registration fees fully cover the costs of the National Scheme¹ and the work to regulate each of the 16 professions. Ahpra works closely with National Boards to make sure the fees set allow us to carry out our duties to ensure the community has access to a safe health workforce across all registered professions’.

In most cases, the annual fees cover the registration period from 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021. The fees schedule for each profession is published on National Board websites. 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 frozen its registration fees for 2020–2021 at $154. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2020.
• The Chinese Medicine Board of Australia has reduced its registration fee for 2020–2021 to $492. This is a reduction on last year’s fee of 15%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.
• The Chiropractic Board of Australia has reduced its registration fee for 2020–2021 to $530. This is a reduction on last year’s fee of 6.4%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.
• The Dental Board of Australia has set registration fee for 2020–2021 at $701 for dentists and specialists, $623 for dental prosthetists and $346 for dental hygienists and therapists. This limits the increase to indexation of 3%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.
• The Medical Board of Australia has set its registration fee for 2020–2021 at $811, limiting the increase to indexation at 3%. The annual renewal fee is effective from 1 August 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021.
• The Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia has set its registration fee for 2020–2021 at $197, limiting the increase to indexation at 3.0%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.
• The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has set registration fees for 2020–2021 at $180, limiting the increase to indexation at 3%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022.
• The Occupational Therapy Board of Australia has set registration fee for 2020–2021 at $116, limiting the increase to indexation at 2.5%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.
• The Optometry Board of Australia has set registration fees for 2020–2021 to $317 limiting the increase to indexation at 3%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.
• The Osteopathy Board of Australia has frozen its registration fees for 2020–2021 at $376. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.
• The Paramedicine Board of Australia has frozen its registration fees for 2020–2021 to $282. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.
• The Pharmacy Board of Australia has set its annual renewal of general registration fee for 2020–2021 at $420, limiting the increase to indexation at 3.0%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.
• The Physiotherapy Board of Australia has set its registration fee for 2020–2021 at $148, limiting the increase to indexation at 2.5%. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.
• The Podiatry Board of Australia has frozen its registration fee for 2020–2021 at $378. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.
• The Psychology Board of Australia has frozen its registration fee for 2020–2021 at $486. The annual renewal fee will apply from 18 September 2020 and for most practitioners covers the registration period of 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021.

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).

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