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

Position descriptions showing the titles used; Check of external materials, profiles and email signatures for internal-only titles

Rules / Ahpra advertising guidelines

AdvertisingAhpra advertising guidelinesahpra-advertising-guidelines--position-titles-use-employment-position-titles-only-within

Requirement

Use employment position titles only within their employment context

Ahpra advertising guidelines Position titles, 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 Position titles

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.

Position titlesUse employment position titles only within their employment contextsource

Requirement, our statement of the clause

A position title is unlikely to count as advertising when used only inside employment, because it is recognised under an award, set by the employer in a position description or attached to a non-clinical role. It must be clear to the public that the title belongs to the position, and the practitioner must not carry it outside that role.

Evidence that typically shows this

Position descriptions showing the titles used
Check of external materials, profiles and email signatures for internal-only titles

Common gap to check

Internal title appearing on a public website or social media profile

Worksheet: what your practice holds, and where

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

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

MisleadingDo not publish false, misleading or deceptive advertising
QualificationsDescribe qualifications, experience and memberships accurately
Gifts and discountsState the terms and conditions of any gift, discount or inducement
Checking advertisingCheck all advertising regularly and read it for overall impression
ImagesUse images and before-and-after photographs that are genuine and comparable
Review functionsControl review functions you run and know where responsibility sits
ExpectationsDo not create an unreasonable expectation of beneficial treatment
Specialist titlesUse specialist and endorsement titles only when held
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