CODE 1    Endorsement

An endorsement of registration recognises that a person has additional qualifications and expertise in an approved area of practice and /or for scheduled medicines. Examples include:

– Dental practitioner conscious sedation endorsement
– Medical practitioner acupuncture endorsement.

CODE 2     Condition

A National Board or an adjudication body can impose a condition on the registration of a practitioner or student, or on an endorsement of registration. A condition aims to restrict a practitioner’s practice in some way, to protect the public.

Current conditions which restrict a practitioner’s practice of the profession are published on the register of practitioners. When a National Board or adjudication body decides they are no longer required to ensure safe practice, they are removed and no longer published.

Examples of conditions include requiring the practitioner to:

– complete specified further education or training within a specified period
– undertake a specified period of supervised practice
– do, or refrain from doing, something in connection with the practitioner’s practice
– manage their practice in a specified way
– report to a specified person at specified times about the practitioner’s practice, or
– not employ, engage or recommend a specified person, or class of persons.

There may also be conditions related to a practitioner’s health (such as psychiatric care or drug screening). The details of health conditions are not usually published on the register of practitioners.

CODE 3     Notation

Records a limitation on the practice of a registrant. Used by National Boards to describe and explain the scope of a practitioner’s practice by noting the limitations on that practice. The notation does not change the practitioner’s scope of practice but may reflect the requirements of a registration standard.

Midwives that meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Eligible midwife registration standard requirements may apply for a notation that reflects an expanded scope of practice. This notation states: An eligible midwife competent to provide pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal care and qualified to provide the associated services and order diagnostic investigations required for midwifery practice, in accordance with relevant state or territory legislation. Eligible midwife, but NOT qualified to obtain endorsement under section 94 to prescribe Schedule 2, 3, 4 & 8 medicines required for midwifery practice in accordance with state and territory legislation.

CODE 4     Undertaking

National Boards can seek and accept an undertaking from a practitioner to limit the practitioner’s practice in some way if this is necessary to protect the public. The undertaking means the practitioner agrees to do, or to not do something in relation to their practice of the profession. Current undertakings which restrict a practitioner’s practice of the profession are published on the register of practitioners. When a National Board or adjudication body decides they are no longer required to ensure safe practice, they are revoked and are no longer published. Current undertakings which relate to a practitioner’s health are mentioned on the national register but details are not provided.

An undertaking is voluntary, whereas a condition is imposed on a practitioner’s registration.

CODE 5     Reprimand

A reprimand is a chastisement for conduct; a formal rebuke. Reprimands issued since the start of the National Scheme (1 July 2010 or 18 October 2010 in Western Australia) are published on the Registers of Practitioners.

CODE 6    Caution

A formal caution may be issued by a National Board or an adjudication body. A caution is intended to act as a deterrent so that the practitioner does not repeat the conduct. A caution is not usually recorded on the national register. However, a National Board can require a caution to be recorded on the register of practitioners.

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency 2016. Glossary. Viewed 10 June 2016, http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Support/Glossary.aspx.

Standards Australia 2014. AS 4846:2014 Person and provider identification in healthcare. Sydney: Standards Australia.