No claims to be a registered health practitioner by unregistered persons
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law s 116, 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.
National Law s 116
Ahpra and the National Boards
The National Law as the Schedule to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 (Qld), Act No 45 of 2009, Queensland in-force version current as at 10 April 2026 (the host jurisdiction's text, which the other states and territories apply by their own Acts; New South Wales applies its own version with its own complaints scheme)
6 October 2026, our build record of the held copy: no later reprint listed on 30 September 2026
Anyone, registered or not, including a practice owner who is not a practitioner; for registered occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists and the practices that employ them.
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law on the standards library
A person who is not a registered health practitioner does not knowingly or recklessly use the title 'registered health practitioner', any title, name, initial, symbol or description indicating they are a health practitioner or are authorised or qualified to practise a health profession, claim or hold themselves out as registered under the Law, or claim to be qualified to practise as a health practitioner; and no person makes such claims about another unregistered person. Same maximum penalties as s 113.
- Role descriptions and titles for unregistered support staff (assistants, technicians, students) that avoid any suggestion of registration
- Patient-facing information explaining who in the team is and is not a registered practitioner
- Complaint or incident records of any holding-out concern and the correction made
- Unregistered assistants introduced to patients as 'the therapist' or 'the clinician'
- Post-nominals or 'Dr' used in a way that implies registration in a profession the person does not hold
| Ref | Held (yes, partly, no, not applicable) | Where it is kept | Owner | Last reviewed | Next review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s 116 |
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
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law
- s 115Specialist titles only for specialist registrants
- s 117No claims of registration in a profession or division not held
- s 113Protected titles only for persons registered in the profession
- s 118No claims of specialist registration by non-specialists
- ss 107 to 109Renew registration on time with a truthful annual statement
- s 119No claims about a type of registration, endorsement or specialty not held
- ss 83 and 83AComply with conditions and undertakings on registration
- s 120No holding out as registered without the conditions that apply
- Every page of this instrument
The same topic in other instruments (advertising)
- Ahpra shared Code of conduct 8.5Advertising
- Psychology Board Code of conduct 8.7Advertising
- Advertising guidelines Who advertisesIdentify who controls the advertising and take responsibility for it
- Advertising guidelines ComparisonsKeep comparative claims clear, accurate and supported
See every requirement for your practiceSee the specimen practice