FAQ: End of grandparenting

The end of grandparenting for paramedic registration means that after 1 December 2021 applicants for registration can no longer rely on their past history practising the profession or lower level qualifications to be qualified as a registered paramedic.

To be eligible for general registration you need to be both qualified and suitable to hold registration. The suitability requirements for registration will not change, but from 1 December 2021 you will need one of the following to be qualified for registration:

• an approved or accepted qualification, or
• a qualification that is substantially equivalent to an approved qualification or based on similar competencies, or
• a relevant qualification and have successfully completed the paramedicine competency assessment required by the Board, or
• have been previously registered as a paramedic in Australia under the National Law.

Paramedics who have current registration to practise as a paramedic in New Zealand may apply for registration under the provisions of the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act.

Approved qualifications

Paramedicine programmes of study that are assessed monitored and accredited by the Paramedicine Accreditation Committee against the paramedicine accreditation standards and then approved by the Board are approved programs of study. These programs provide approved qualifications for general registration as a paramedic.

Accepted qualifications

The following qualifications issued by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales, are qualifications for general registration in paramedicine, as set out in s312 of the National Law:

• a Diploma of Paramedical Science
• a Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) or an Advanced Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance)
• a Diploma in Paramedical Science (Pre-Hospital Care) or an Advanced Diploma Paramedical Sciences (Pre-Hospital care).

The Board has determined that a substantially equivalent qualification is a qualification that demonstrates all of the following features:

• it was recognised by a registration or licencing body in paramedicine in the country where it was obtained, or it allowed an applicant to practise as a paramedic in that country when it was obtained
• it was subject to quality assurance and recognised or accredited by a body external to the education provider and the quality assurance was based on published accreditation standards for paramedic education. Those standards must include all the following
  • contemporary approaches to education
  • institutional resources (staffing and facilities)
  • evidence based in contemporary practise
  • clinical placements including on the job paramedic experience under supervision across a range of healthcare and community settings, and
  • medication management that addresses the same and effective use of medicines.

  The published process for reviewing education programs and providers against these accreditation standards must include the following:

  • an assessment conducted by an individual or team with appropriate expertise in education and in paramedic practice
  • regular review of the program(s) of studies such as annual reporting or cyclical accreditation.
• the academic level of the qualification must be at least comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree.

The Board has determined that a relevant qualification is a qualification that demonstrates all the following features:

• it was recognised by a registration or licencing body in paramedicine in the country where it was obtained, or it allowed an applicant to practise as a paramedic in that country when it was obtained
• the program of study covered the following:
  • evidence-based and contemporary paramedicine practice
  • clinical placements including on the job paramedic experience under supervision across a range of healthcare and community settings, and
  • medication management that addresses safe and effective use of medicine(s).
• the academic level of the qualification must be at least comparable to an Australian Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree.

Prior to 1 December 2021 you would be able to seek to be qualified for general registration under the grandparenting provisions. After 1 December 2021 if you don’t have a qualification, or your qualification doesn’t meet any of these options, you may be required to upgrade your qualification.

Soon the Board will be establishing a process for candidates seeking to be qualified for general registration by holding a substantially equivalent or relevant qualification to apply to have their qualifications reviewed prior to them making an application for registration.

Further information will be published on the Board’s website once this process is available.

Any complete application received before 1 December 2021 will be considered under the grandparenting provisions. Once an application is received, it may take some time for the application to be fully assessed and a decision made.

If your application for general registration has been refused by the Board, there may be circumstances in which you may be eligible for a refund. Further information regarding refunds can be found on the Ahpra website.

The Board’s webpage titled ‘Prepare to apply: eligibility for registration' details the ways that you can show that you are qualified and suitable for registration.

If this information does not definitively answer your questions about whether you are qualified for general registration, then you should submit an application for general registration and have your individual circumstances reviewed as part of that process.

The National Law restricts the use of protected titles. This means that it is an offence for someone to knowingly or recklessly take, use or claim to be a protected title to make someone believe that they are registered. Paramedic is a protected title under the National Law and only registered paramedics may use that title.

If you are not registered and do not use the title paramedic or otherwise claim to be qualified to practise as a paramedic, you can work in another role e.g. Medic or Ambulance Officer without requiring to be registered. Information about who needs to be registered can be found on the Check if you need to register webpage.

The Board understands that there are many reasons why someone may not be able to complete all of the registration requirements before 1 December 2021. The Board is prepared to allow people the necessary time and flexibility to fulfil the requirements, but it is important that practitioners have a plan and intentions to complete those requirements in a reasonable time. Practitioners who have concerns that they cannot or will not be able to fulfil the requirements of the Board at a reasonable time in the future should contact their Compliance or Registration Officer and seek advice about their options.