Non-practising registration

Non-practising registration is available under section 73 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (National Law) to individuals who hold or have held general registration as a paramedic under the National Law. Non-practising registration allows a person to remain on the register and to continue to use the protected title ‘paramedic’. Paramedics who hold non-practising registration must not practise the profession at all.

All registered and previously registered paramedics who wish to apply for non-practising registration can only apply through their Ahpra online services account.

As there is no refund of the general registration fee, paramedics should consider not applying for non-practising registration until later in the renewal cycle. Registered paramedics applying for non-practicing registration pay an application fee. Where a paramedic has previously held general registration and applies for non-practising registration, they also pay a reduced registration fee.

Non-practising registration must be renewed by 30 November each year.

Non-practising paramedics are not required to take any steps to meet the Board’s registration standards in relation to professional indemnity insurance, continuing professional development, or recency of practice, as these standards specifically exclude those with non-practising registration.

Paramedics with non-practising registration remain subject to the Paramedicine Board of Australia’s (the Board) jurisdiction in relation to their professional conduct. They also have the same obligations under the National Law with regard to mandatory reporting of notifiable conduct and notifying the Board of certain events required by the National Law (such as a change in criminal history).

Non-practising registration may be suitable for paramedics who:

• have retired from paramedic practice but wish to continue using the title ‘paramedic’
• are having a temporary absence from practice (for example, on parental leave)
• are not practising in Australia but are practising overseas, or
• are working in non-paramedic positions but intend to return to paramedic practice in the future.

Paramedics who take a break from practising the profession and intend to return to practice in the future should ensure they are familiar the recency of practice requirements for paramedics.

Re-applying for general registration

Paramedics who are looking to return to general registration after holding non-practising registration can only apply through their Ahpra online services account. The application will ask a number of disclosure questions and may require an application fee if the application is lodged within the renewal period.