Check all advertising regularly and read it for overall impression
Ahpra advertising guidelines Checking advertising, stated plainly and cited to the edition held, with the evidence an auditor or the regulator asks for, the common gaps, and a free worksheet to fill in.
Advertising guidelines Checking advertising
Ahpra and the National Boards
Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service, December 2020 edition, effective 14 December 2020
6 October 2026, Ahpra advertising guidelines page read 6 October 2026: still the current edition
Anyone advertising a regulated health service, including a practice owner who is not registered, for occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology services.
The printed edition predates the higher penalties for advertising offences: up to 60,000 dollars for an individual and 120,000 dollars for a body corporate, in every jurisdiction from 1 July 2024. The guidelines will be updated when next reviewed.
An advertiser keeps all advertising under regular review, identifies when published material is advertising, sells services on their merits, is honest about the business and judges each piece by its overall impression on its likely audience, including how easily the audience can navigate and understand it.
- Advertising audit schedule with dated review of the website, social media pages and directory listings
- Review checklist recording audience, overall impression and any change made
- Old web pages and dormant social media posts never reviewed after the current edition took effect
- Individual sentences checked in isolation while the page as a whole misleads
| Ref | Held (yes, partly, no, not applicable) | Where it is kept | Owner | Last reviewed | Next review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checking advertising |
Completing this worksheet records what your practice holds and where. It does not make a practice compliant or ready for audit, and it is not legal advice.
Related requirements
Ahpra advertising guidelines
- QualificationsDescribe qualifications, experience and memberships accurately
- Review functionsControl review functions you run and know where responsibility sits
- Position titlesUse employment position titles only within their employment context
- Specialist titlesUse specialist and endorsement titles only when held
- MisleadingDo not publish false, misleading or deceptive advertising
- Specialist wordingAvoid 'specialist' wording without specialist registration and do not overstate a specialty
- Gifts and discountsState the terms and conditions of any gift, discount or inducement
- TestimonialsDo not use testimonials or purported testimonials in advertising
- Every page of this instrument
The same topic in other instruments (advertising)
- National Law s 113Protected titles only for persons registered in the profession
- National Law s 115Specialist titles only for specialist registrants
- National Law s 116No claims to be a registered health practitioner by unregistered persons
- National Law s 117No claims of registration in a profession or division not held
- Ahpra shared Code of conduct 8.5Advertising
- Psychology Board Code of conduct 8.7Advertising
See every requirement for your practiceSee the specimen practice