The standards all paramedics will need to meet for registration have been released

17 May 2018

New national registration standards for paramedics take effect today in readiness for the national registration of all paramedics.

Paramedicine Board of Australia Chair, Associate Professor Stephen Gough ASM said, ‘I urge all paramedics across Australia to visit the Board’s website and read the registration standards, as they will apply to all paramedics, regardless of where they work.’

When paramedicine becomes a regulated profession under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (National Scheme) later this year, the title ‘paramedic’ will become a protected title under the National Law. This means that only people who are registered with the National Board will be able to lawfully call themselves a paramedic.

To register, paramedics must demonstrate that they meet the five mandatory registration standards:

• continuing professional development
• criminal history
• English language skills
• professional indemnity insurance arrangements, and
• recency of practice.

The National Board has also released a time-limited grandparenting registration standard, which temporarily provides a path to registration for current paramedics who don’t have an approved or accepted qualification, but can demonstrate their competency via other training, qualification and/or experience.

Associate Professor Gough said, ‘The registration standards were developed following extensive consultation with the paramedicine profession and the public. They are an important part of how we keep the public safe and set the minimum requirements for competent and safe practise of paramedicine in Australia.

‘If you’re a paramedic, take this early chance to familiarise yourself with the standards. Remember, it’s important that you take the necessary steps to meet the new national standards to be registered to practise in late 2018’, he said.

• To view the registration standards please visit the Board’s website.
• Or, to stay in touch with Board and AHPRA by signing up for the Paramedicine e-News update – this will help you receive the latest news as it becomes available, to help make the transition into the National Scheme as easy and as smooth as possible.

The standards were approved by Health Ministers at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council meeting held on 13 April 2018.

National registration for paramedics is expected to open later in the year, at a date determined by Health Ministers.

What is the National Scheme?

AHPRA works in partnership with the National Boards to implement the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (National Scheme). The National Scheme aims to protect the public by ensuring only suitably trained and qualified practitioners are registered. It also facilitates workforce mobility across Australia, the provision of high-quality education and training of health practitioners and rigorous assessment of overseas trained practitioners.

Guided by a nationally consistent National Law, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the National Boards work to regulate the health professions in the public interest. This includes registering practitioners who are suitably trained and qualified to provide safe healthcare and investigating concerns about registered health practitioners.

For more information

Sign up to receive the latest updates on our progress towards implementing the national regulation of paramedics.

Visit our page on the implementation project outlining key dates and next steps until paramedics become regulated under the National Scheme.

Lodge an online enquiry form.

For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 8708 9001 (overseas callers).

For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200.

¹ The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory.