Registration standard: Endorsement of registration for acupuncture for registered medical practitioners

Effective date: 1 July 2022 

Summary

This registration standard sets out the Medical Board of Australia’s minimum requirements for granting endorsement of registration for acupuncture to medical practitioners with general and/or specialist registration.

Medical practitioners who wish to use the title ‘acupuncturist’ must either have their registration endorsed for acupuncture by the Medical Board of Australia or be registered by the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia.

Background

The National Law provides for the endorsement of registration for acupuncture for registered health practitioners. It is a breach of the National Law for a person to take or use the title ‘acupuncturist’ if that person is not registered by the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia or if their registration has not been endorsed by one of the National Health Practitioner Boards.

Section 97 of the the National Law states:

1. A National Board may endorse the registration of a registered health practitioner registered by the Board as being qualified to practise as an acupuncturist if the practitioner —
1. holds either of the following qualifications relevant to the endorsement —
   1. an approved qualification;
   2. another qualification that, in the Board’s opinion, is substantially equivalent to, or based on similar competencies to, an approved qualification; and
2. complies with an approved registration standard relevant to the endorsement.
2. An endorsement under subsection (1) must state —
1. that the registered health practitioner is entitled to use the title ‘acupuncturist’; and
2. any conditions applicable to the practice of acupuncture by the registered health practitioner.

Medical practitioners with general and/or specialist registration can apply for endorsement of registration for acupuncture if they have been awarded a qualification approved by the Medical Board of Australia (the Board). The Board publishes a list of approved programs of study for the purposes of registration and for endorsement of registration for acupuncture available at www.medicalboard.gov.au.

Does this standard apply to me?

This standard applies to medical practitioners: 

1. who hold general and/or specialist registration, and
2. who hold a Board approved qualification in acupuncture, or
3. who previously held endorsement of registration for acupuncture granted by the Board under the National Law.

This standard does not apply to registered medical students or medical practitioners who hold limited registration, provisional registration or non-practising registration.

What must I do?

When you apply for endorsement of your registration

To meet this registration standard, you must:

1. hold general and/or specialist registration as a medical practitioner, and
2. provide evidence of having been awarded an approved qualification for endorsement of registration for acupuncture, or
3. provide evidence of previously holding endorsement of registration for acupuncture granted by the Board under the National Law, and
4. meet the Board’s registration standard for recency of practice, specifically in relation to the practice of acupuncture, and
5. provide a curriculum vitae, specifically in relation to the practice of acupuncture, that meets the standard format that has been approved by the Board or Ahpra.

If you have been awarded an approved qualification for acupuncture in the 12 months prior to applying for endorsement of registration, you are deemed to meet the Board’s recency of practice registration standard. 

During the registration and endorsement period

Recency of practice

You must comply with the Board’s registration standard for recency of practice available at www.medicalboard.gov.au.

Meeting the Board’s minimum requirements for recency of practice doesn’t automatically satisfy your professional and ethical responsibilities to ensure that you recognise and work within the limits of your competence and maintain adequate knowledge and skills to provide safe and effective care.

Continuing professional development

You must comply with the Board’s registration standard for continuing professional development (CPD) available at www.medicalboard.gov.au

If you are engaged in any form of practice you are required to participate regularly in CPD that is relevant to your scope of practice to maintain professional currency, and support you to maintain, improve and broaden your knowledge, expertise and competence, and develop the personal and professional qualities required throughout your professional life.

This means that if your scope of practice includes acupuncture, your CPD must include activities related to acupuncture to ensure that you deliver appropriate and safe care.

At renewal of registration

An application for renewal of registration will be taken to be an application for renewal of the endorsement.

Are there exemptions to this standard?

There are no exemptions to this standard.

What happens if I don’t meet this standard?

The National Law establishes possible consequences if you don’t meet this standard, including that:

1. the Board can impose a condition or conditions on your endorsement or can refuse your application for endorsement or renewal of endorsement if you don’t meet a requirement in an approved registration standard for the profession (sections 99, 100, 101, 102 and 103 of the National Law), and
2. registration standards, codes or guidelines may be used in disciplinary proceedings against you as evidence of what constitutes appropriate professional conduct or practice for the health profession (section 41 of the National Law).

Authority

This registration standard was approved by the Ministerial Council on 3 December 2021.

Registration standards are developed under section 38 of the National Law and are subject to wide-ranging consultation.

Definitions

Approved qualification for endorsement of registration for acupuncture means a program of study accredited by the Australian Medical Council and approved by the Board as providing a qualification for the purposes of endorsement. The Board publishes a list of approved programs of study for endorsement of registration for acupuncture at www.medicalboard.gov.au.

National Law means the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory.

Continuing professional development is the means by which members of the profession maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge, expertise and competence, and develop the personal and professional qualities required throughout their professional lives.