Monday, 22 June 2026
Seeking feedback | AHPRA consultation on CPD and Recency of Practice
ASA is currently seeking member feedback to support its submission to AHPRA on the proposed changes to CPD and recency of practice registration requirements. The changes seek to provide greater consistency across the 15 National Boards.
Please email comments to policy@sonographers.org by 8 July 2026, using the subject line AHPRA CPD consultation.
The proposed changes would impact any sonographers currently registered under AHPRA and could impact all sonographers if the profession became regulated under AHPRA in the future.
The main change for AHPRA-registered sonographers would be a move from a 3-year CPD cycle to a 1-year cycle.
Key proposal details:
CPD
- 20 hours of CPD every year, incl. 5 hours of interactive CPD.
- CPD must contribute to maintaining and improving competence in current or future practice.
- An extra 10 hours are required if the profession involves additional technical/specific skills e.g. nurse practitioners, endorsement for scheduled medicines.
- If registered in more than one profession, practitioners must complete 20 hours of CPD relevant to each profession (but may count relevant CPD activities towards each)
- Practitioners must maintain a CPD portfolio, recording learning goals, activities and reflections.
Recency of Practice
- At least 150 hours of practice in the last year, or 450 hours of practice in last three years – required for each division of registration.
- Practice is not restricted to direct provision of care (it includes any role in which using skill / knowledge as a health practitioner)
- There is no mandated requirement if moving to a new area of practice, but rather reiteration of the current expectations that practitioners must ensure they have sufficient training and/or qualifications to achieve competency in the new area.
- The requirements do not apply to students or recent graduates applying for registration within one year of completing their qualification.
Key questions:
- Are the proposed requirements clear and workable in practice?
- Are there any gaps, or negative or unintended impacts for individuals or groups?
- Are the requirements appropriate – including for overseas practitioners applying for registration in Australia?
- What additional explanatory material or resources would help practitioners?
- Will the proposed requirements help support access to health services while maintaining public protection?
Full consultation details can be found on the AHPRA website (See: Review of the recency of practice and continuing professional development registration standards)