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Download a PDF copy of Who needs to be registered under the National Law? FAQ and fact sheet (109 KB,PDF).
This fact sheet provides guidance about who needs to be registered as a chiropractor under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory (the National Law). It also provides guidance about non-practising registration.
In their registration standards, National Boards currently use a broad definition of “practice” that covers both clinical and non-clinical work. Practice is defined as:
‘any role, whether remunerated or not, in which the individual uses their skills and knowledge as a health practitioner in their profession. For the purposes of this registration standard, practice is not restricted to the provision of direct clinical care. It also includes working in a direct nonclinical relationship with clients, working in management, administration, education, research, advisory, regulatory or policy development roles, and any other roles that impact on safe, effective delivery of services in the profession and/or use their professional skills.’
The National Law describes several categories of registration. These categories include:
Each individual practitioner will need to decide whether they should be registered. The following information is provided to assist practitioners to make that decision.
1Manipulation of the cervical spine means moving the joints of the cervical spine beyond a person’s usual physiological range of motion using a high velocity, low amplitude thrust.
As the primary principle of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme is the protection of the public, chiropractors should be registered if they have direct clinical contact with patients, provide treatment or opinion about individuals or undertake manipulation of the cervical spine.
For roles beyond direct clinical contact practitioners should be registered when:
Do course presenters and/or attendees from overseas need to be registered?
Yes, if they are:
No, if:
This type of registration is open to individuals who are not practising as defined by the Board’s definition (described above). It allows a person to remain on the register and to continue to use the protected title ’chiropractor’. Anyone with non-practising registration must not provide chiropractic treatment or opinion about an individual.
Individuals with this type of registration remain subject to the Board’s jurisdiction in relation to their professional conduct. They are not required 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.
Chiropractors who are not sure if they require registration may still wish to apply for an appropriate form of registration. Applications for registration should be made at least eight weeks in advance of any requirement to be registered so that the application can be considered by the Board before the intended event.
More information on chiropractic registration in Australia is available from the website of the Chiropractic Board of Australia at www.chiropracticboard.gov.au.
If you require further assistance to help you decide whether or not you need to be registered, consult your employer, professional indemnity insurer or other legal adviser.