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Accreditation authorities

Accreditation authorities and the National Scheme

If the Accreditation Authority is an external council, the council works with the National Board to deliver specified accreditation functions under a formal agreement with Ahpra on the Board’s behalf. If the Accreditation Authority is a committee, the committee works with the National Board according to the committee’s terms of reference. Ahpra publishes the accreditation agreements and terms of reference.

National Boards work closely with their Accreditation Authorities to effectively implement the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme. Accreditation Authorities and National Boards have separate, but complementary functions under the National Law, which specifies these functions. For example, the National Law provides that an Accreditation Authority accredits a program of study and the relevant National Board approves the program of study for the purposes of registration.

The Accreditation Authority for each health profession is listed in the table below with information about the accreditation functions they perform. Information about the accreditation process is also available on each external authority’s website.

National Board Accreditation authority Functions undertaken under the National Law
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Accreditation Committee
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Chinese Medicine Board of Australia Chinese Medicine Accreditation Committee
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Chiropractic Board of Australia Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Assessing overseas assessing authorities
  • Assessing overseas qualified practitioners
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Dental Board of Australia Australian Dental Council
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards  
  • Assessing overseas qualified practitioners
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Medical Board of Australia Australian Medical Council
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Assessing overseas assessing authorities
  • Assessing overseas qualified practitioners
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia Medical Radiation Practice Accreditation Committee
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Committee (Assessment of overseas qualified nurses and midwives)
  • Assessing overseas qualified practitioners
Occupational Therapy Board of Australia Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Assessing overseas qualified practitioners
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Optometry Board of Australia Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Assessing overseas qualified practitioners
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Osteopathy Board of Australia Australasian Osteopathic Accreditation Council
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Assessing overseas assessing authorities
  • Assessing overseas qualified practitioners
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Paramedicine Board of Australia Paramedicine Accreditation Committee
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Pharmacy Board of Australia Australian Pharmacy Council
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Assessing overseas assessing authorities
  • Assessing overseas qualified practitioners
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Physiotherapy Board of Australia Australian Physiotherapy Council
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Assessing overseas qualified practitioners
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Podiatry Board of Australia Podiatry Accreditation Committee
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
Psychology Board of Australia Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
  • Development and review of accreditation standards
  • Assessing programs of study and education providers against the standards
  • Providing advice to board on accreditation functions
 
 
Page reviewed 4/11/2021