Use specialist and endorsement titles only when held
Ahpra advertising guidelines Specialist 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.
Advertising guidelines Specialist titles
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.
Only a practitioner holding specialist registration in a recognised specialty may use the specialist title or present as qualified to practise as a specialist, and only one holding an endorsement may use the related title or claim to be qualified for it. This applies in business names and every other advertising, and an unlawful claim can also raise a health, performance or conduct concern for the Board.
- Register check of each practitioner's registration type, specialty and endorsements against the Ahpra public register before use in advertising
- Business name and signage review against protected specialist titles
- Clinic name containing a specialist title while some practitioners hold only general registration
- Endorsement claimed after it lapsed
| Ref | Held (yes, partly, no, not applicable) | Where it is kept | Owner | Last reviewed | Next review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist titles |
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
- Review functionsControl review functions you run and know where responsibility sits
- Specialist wordingAvoid 'specialist' wording without specialist registration and do not overstate a specialty
- Checking advertisingCheck all advertising regularly and read it for overall impression
- TestimonialsDo not use testimonials or purported testimonials in advertising
- QualificationsDescribe qualifications, experience and memberships accurately
- Title descriptorsAdd descriptive terms to a protected title only where they do not overstate skill or imply a specialty
- Position titlesUse employment position titles only within their employment context
- Unnecessary useDo not encourage indiscriminate or unnecessary use of services
- 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