What evidence does an auditor or the regulator ask for under Advertising guidelines Comparisons?

Comparative claim file showing the data behind each comparison and its date; Price comparison working papers showing like-for-like services

Rules / Ahpra advertising guidelines

AdvertisingAhpra advertising guidelinesahpra-advertising-guidelines--comparisons-keep-comparative-claims-clear-accurate-and

Requirement

Keep comparative claims clear, accurate and supported

Ahpra advertising guidelines Comparisons, 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.

Clause

Advertising guidelines Comparisons

Regulator

Ahpra and the National Boards

Edition held

Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service, December 2020 edition, effective 14 December 2020

Checked current

6 October 2026, Ahpra advertising guidelines page read 6 October 2026: still the current edition

Who it applies to

Anyone advertising a regulated health service, including a practice owner who is not registered, for occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology services.

Every clause in the standards library

Ahpra advertising guidelines on the standards library

Under review, not in force

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.

ComparisonsKeep comparative claims clear, accurate and supportedsource

Requirement, our statement of the clause

Comparisons with other services, including outcomes, quality of care, professions, practitioner skill or experience and prices, must be clear, accurate, complete where relevant and supported by acceptable evidence, because incomplete comparisons mislead.

Evidence that typically shows this

Comparative claim file showing the data behind each comparison and its date
Price comparison working papers showing like-for-like services

Common gap to check

'Cheapest in town' claim with no price survey
Outcome comparison drawn from the clinic's own unaudited results

Worksheet: what your practice holds, and where

Ref	Held (yes, partly, no, not applicable)	Where it is kept	Owner	Last reviewed	Next review
Comparisons

Download the worksheet (CSV)Print the worksheet (A4)

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

Who advertisesIdentify who controls the advertising and take responsibility for it
Section 133Comply with section 133, the title protection provisions and the other laws that apply
Use of DrMake the profession clear when a non-medical practitioner uses 'Dr'
Evidence for claimsHold acceptable evidence for every effectiveness claim
ExpectationsDo not create an unreasonable expectation of beneficial treatment
ImagesUse images and before-and-after photographs that are genuine and comparable
Gifts and discountsState the terms and conditions of any gift, discount or inducement
MisleadingDo not publish false, misleading or deceptive 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 practice See the specimen practice