Allied health professional recognition

Eligibility for recognition as an allied health professional

To access Medicare benefits, you must meet the eligibility requirements as set out in the Health Insurance (Allied Health Services) Determination 2014.

There are specific criteria for different types of allied health professionals. You must meet the requirements from the determination as well as specific criteria relevant to you.

Specific criteria for allied health professionals

Find your field below to see the specific criteria you must meet to be eligible for Medicare benefits.

Health Workers in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

You must have either:

• a Certificate III in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care from a registered training organisation (RTO)
• a Certificate III in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health from an RTO before 1 July 2012
• another certificate an RTO says is equivalent to or higher than the above qualifications.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners

You must hold current general or limited registration with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) supports this national board.

Audiologists

You must be either:

• an Accredited Audiologist with Audiology Australia
• a Full/Ordinary Member or Fellow Audiologist of the Australian College of Audiology with a certificate of recognition of competency as both a hearing rehabilitation specialist, and a diagnostic rehabilitation specialist.

Chiropractors

You must hold current general or limited registration with the Chiropractic Board of Australia. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) supports this national board.

Diabetes educators

You must be a Credentialed Diabetes Educator with certification from the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA).

Dieticians

You must be a current Accredited Practising Dietitian with certification from the Dietitians Association of Australia.

Exercise physiologists

You must be a current Accredited Exercise Physiologist with certification from Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA).

Mental health nurses

You must be a credentialed mental health nurse with certification from the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN).

Mental Health Nurse trained in PSC

Nurses can train in non-directive pregnancy support counselling (PSC). This is a specialised form of counselling for either:

• a pregnant person
• someone who has been pregnant in the past 12 months.

To have your training recognised, you must:

• be a credentialed mental health nurse as certified by ACHMN
• be certified by ACMHN as appropriately trained in non-directive pregnancy support counselling.

Occupational therapists

You must hold current general or limited registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) supports this national board.

Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS)

To be eligible to provide FPS you must:

• hold current general or limited registration as an occupational therapist (as above)
• be accredited by Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) as qualified to provide FPS.

Orthoptists

You must:

• hold current registration with the Australian Orthoptic Board and have a Certificate of Currency
• be a member of Orthoptics Australia.

Osteopath

You must hold current general or limited registration with the Osteopathy Board of Australia. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) supports this national board.

Physiotherapists

You must hold current general or limited registration with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) supports this national board.

Podiatrists

You must hold current general or limited registration with the Podiatry Board of Australia. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) supports this national board.

Psychologists

You must hold general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) supports this national board.

Clinical psychologists

You must:

• hold general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia
• be endorsed by the Board in Clinical Practice.

Psychologists trained in pregnancy support counselling (PSC)

You must have the following to be eligible to provide PSC:

• hold general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia
• have a PSC certificate of completion from the Australian Psychological Society (APS).

Social workers

To provide mental health services or FPS under Medicare, you must be a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and either:

• certified by AASW as meeting the standards for mental health set out in Practice Standards for Mental Health Social Workers 2014
• certified by AASW, before 1 July 2018 without later revocation, as meeting the standards for mental health set out in Practice Standards for Mental Health Social Workers.

Social Worker trained in non-directive PSC

You must be:

• a member of AASW
• certified as appropriately trained in non-directive PSC by the Australian Psychological Society or the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.

You must also be either:

• certified by AASW as meeting the standards for mental health set out in Practice Standards for Mental Health Social Workers 2014
• certified by AASW, prior to 1 July 2018 without later revocation, as meeting the standards for mental health set out Practice Standards for Mental Health Social Workers
• certified by the AASW as an Accredited Social Worker.

Speech pathologists

You must be a certified practising member of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA). Other types of memberships with SPA aren’t eligible for registration with Medicare.

Claim Medicare benefits as an allied health professional

If you meet the recognition criteria, you can apply for a Medicare provider number.

You’ll need a separate provider number for each location where you practice.

Read more about Medicare benefits for health professionals.

Removing recognition

We’ll remove your recognition if the registering body tells us you no longer meet Medicare eligibility requirements.

You can also write to us to tell us to stop recognising you for Medicare purposes. This can be an email or a letter and must include your:

• provider number
• full name
• date of birth.

You must send the request yourself. No one can send it on your behalf.