Mental Health CPD Requirements by Role: Staying Registered and Current in Australia

You've updated your CV, polished your interview technique, and secured AHPRA registration. But one question keeps surfacing: what do I actually need to do for CPD to stay registered? The answer depends entirely on your role, and getting it wrong can mean more than just a compliance headache — it can affect your ability to practise, bill Medicare, or work under the NDIS.

Here’s a role-by-role breakdown of CPD requirements for mental health professionals in Australia.

AHPRA-Regulated Professions

If you're registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), you're required to complete CPD as a condition of annual renewal. The specifics vary by board.

Psychologists and Clinical Psychologists

The Psychology Board of Australia requires 30 hours of CPD per year, with a minimum of 10 hours in peer consultation. At least half of your CPD must be directly related to your area of practice. You also need to complete a minimum of one CPD activity per year that addresses cultural safety, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Your CPD log must be kept for five years. If you're a supervisor, you have additional CPD requirements for your supervision practice. For the full pathway into the profession, see how to become a psychologist in Australia.

Mental Health Nurses

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia requires 20 hours of CPD per year. For registered nurses working in mental health, at least 10 of those hours should be clinically relevant to your area. You also need to complete a minimum of five hours of CPD on cultural safety each registration period. Find out more about how to become a mental health nurse in Australia.

Occupational Therapists

The Occupational Therapy Board of Australia requires 30 hours of CPD over each three-year registration period. At least 15 hours must be in areas directly relevant to your practice. If you're a mental health OT, that means your CPD should focus on psychosocial interventions, NDIS frameworks, or trauma-informed care. Learn about the NDIS occupational therapist role.

Social Workers (AHPRA-registered)

Social workers registered under AHPRA's new National Scheme (from late 2024) must complete 30 hours of CPD per year, with at least 15 hours in direct social work practice. If you hold the Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) credential, you need an additional 10 hours of CPD per year specifically in mental health. Read about the AMHSW Medicare billing pathway.

Non-AHPRA Professions

Not all mental health roles fall under AHPRA. If you're a counsellor, family therapist, or AOD worker, your CPD requirements come from your professional association.

Counsellors (ACA or PACFA)

If you're a member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), you need 30 hours of CPD per year, with at least 10 hours in formal learning activities. PACFA requires 30 hours of CPD per three-year cycle, with a minimum of 15 hours in formal activities. Both require you to keep a CPD log and submit it if audited. See the ACA membership levels explained.

Family and Relationship Therapists

The Australian Association of Relationship Counsellors (AARC) requires 30 hours of CPD per year, with at least 15 hours in direct clinical work. If you're working at Relationships Australia, they typically provide in-house CPD. Read about working at Relationships Australia.

AOD Workers

There's no single CPD standard for AOD workers, but most employers expect you to hold a Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and complete annual CPD aligned with your role. The Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) recommends 20 hours per year. Check whether the Cert IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs is worth it.

Peer Workers and Lived Experience Roles

Peer support workers and lived experience roles are growing fast, but CPD requirements vary by employer. The National Mental Health Commission recommends 20 hours of CPD per year for peer workers, with a focus on self-care, boundaries, and trauma-informed practice. If you hold a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, your training provider may offer CPD modules. Learn about lived experience worker careers.

Behaviour Support Practitioners

If you're registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission as a behaviour support practitioner, you need to complete CPD that aligns with the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Capability Framework. The Commission doesn't set a fixed number of hours, but recommends at least 20 hours per year. Your CPD must cover restrictive practices, functional behaviour assessment, and person-centred planning. Understand the NDIS behaviour support registration levels.

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists registered with the Medical Board of Australia through AHPRA must complete 50 hours of CPD per year, with at least 25 hours in formal activities and 25 hours in clinical audit or peer review. The RANZCP runs its own CPD programme, which includes mandatory modules on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health. See the RANZCP pathway.

What Counts as CPD?

Across all roles, CPD generally falls into three categories:

• Formal learning: Workshops, conferences, university courses, online modules
• Informal learning: Reading journals, peer discussion groups, case reviews
• Practice reflection: Writing case notes, reviewing outcomes, receiving supervision

Most boards and associations require a mix of these. Keep a log with dates, hours, topic, and how it relates to your practice.

What Happens If You Don't Meet CPD Requirements?

For AHPRA-registered professionals, failing to meet CPD requirements can result in conditions on your registration, a fine, or in serious cases, suspension. For counsellors and AOD workers, your membership with your professional body can lapse, which may affect your insurance and employability.

The safest approach is to plan your CPD at the start of each year. Many employers offer in-house CPD or study leave. If you're in private practice, budget for CPD as a non-negotiable cost.

Stay registered, stay current.

Browse all mental health jobs in Australia to find employers who support your CPD goals. Or sign up for job alerts to get roles that match your profession straight to your inbox.

Sources

• Psychology Board of Australia: CPD Standard
• Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia: Registration Standards
• Occupational Therapy Board of Australia: CPD Guidelines
• AASW: AMHSW CPD Requirements
• Australian Counselling Association: CPD Policy
• PACFA: CPD Requirements
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: PBS Capability Framework
• RANZCP: CPD Program