Practitioners on the sub-register can opt in to extend their registration

24 Aug 2022

Practitioners on the pandemic response sub-register who are currently practising can now opt in to extend their temporary registration so they can continue supporting the health system.

Key Points
20,755 practitioners are registered on the pandemic response sub-register (the sub-register) until 21 September 2022. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners, dental practitioners, diagnostic radiographers, medical practitioners, midwives, nurses, occupational therapists, optometrists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and psychologists can now opt in to extend their registration to 21 September 2023 or apply to transition to the main register for ongoing registration. Practitioners who do not contact the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) before their registration expires will no longer hold registration from 22 September 2022 that enables them to practise.

Key Points

20,755 practitioners are registered on the pandemic response sub-register (the sub-register) until 21 September 2022.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners, dental practitioners, diagnostic radiographers, medical practitioners, midwives, nurses, occupational therapists, optometrists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and psychologists can now opt in to extend their registration to 21 September 2023 or apply to transition to the main register for ongoing registration.
Practitioners who do not contact the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) before their registration expires will no longer hold registration from 22 September 2022 that enables them to practise.

Extending the registration of practitioners on the sub-register means they can keep supporting our health system as it continues to deal with increased healthcare demands. Ahpra is contacting all practitioners on the sub-register before their temporary registration expires on 21 September 2022 about the options available to stay registered which would take effect from 22 September 2022.

What practitioners must do by 21 September 2022

Practitioners on the sub-register, particularly those who are currently practising, must let Ahpra know before midnight (AEST) on 21 September 2022 if they want to:

opt in so their temporary registration is extended to expire at midnight on 21 September 2023, or
formally apply for registration on the main register (Register of practitioners) using a transition pathway.

Alternatively, practitioners can do nothing and allow their registration to expire.

Practitioners that do not contact Ahpra will no longer be registered to practise from 22 September 2022. Their name will be removed from the sub-register on 22 September, and they will need to apply for registration through the standard process.

If a practitioner had non-practising registration before being on the sub-register and doesn’t contact Ahpra, they will automatically return to non-practising registration on 22 September 2022.

Practitioners’ registration status from 22 September 2022

Practitioners who opt in to extend their temporary registration until midnight on 21 September 2023 will need to make specific declarations in order to practise and must opt in before their registration expires. A practitioner’s registration expiry date will be updated to 21 September 2023 if extension of their registration is approved.

Practitioners who choose to transition from the temporary sub-register to the main register can keep practising from 22 September 2022 but only if they have made an application using the transition pathway before 21 September 2022.

They can keep practising until they are advised about the outcome of their application. Once a practitioner has transitioned to the main register, their registration details will be updated, including their registration expiry date.

Background to the sub-register

Since the temporary pandemic response sub-register was established in April 2020, eligible practitioners have been added at different times to meet changing demands on the health system.

Practitioners included on the sub-register were initially given temporary registration for 12 months. However, registration has been extended for practitioners who have opted to stay on the sub-register after its closure date has been extended.

Some practitioners, instead of staying on the temporary sub-register, have let their registration expire or chosen to apply for registration on the main register.

More information

For more information go to:

Contact us

Media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200