What has changed?
The 2024/25 annual registration fee is set at $565 for NSW registered pharmacists.
Who does it affect?
All NSW registered pharmacists are required to pay an annual registration via the Pharmacy Board of Australia.
When are fees due?
The annual registration fee will apply from 18 September 2024 and for the registration period of 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025.
Which agency do pharmacists pay their registration fee to?
Registered pharmacists pay an annual registration fee to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). The fee is payable from October 2024.
How are registration fees calculated?
The national registration fee for all NSW registered health professionals under the national scheme comprises of two components:
- a registration and accreditation component that is independently determined by Ahpra and the relevant National Board; and
- a complaints component that is decided by the relevant NSW Council.
The complaints component for NSW health practitioners is subject to approval by the NSW Minister for Health under section 26A of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW).
The complaints component is a cost recovery model and is not subsides by other health professions. For more information on the composition of the registration fees please refer to the Aphra website.
Why do NSW pharmacists pay a different amount?
NSW is a co-regulatory jurisdiction. The Council and the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) jointly assess and manage complaints about a pharmacist's conduct, health and/or performance. The Council also monitors pharmacist's compliance with conditions and any other restrictions on practice. In all other states and territories (except Queensland), this work is done by Ahpra with the Pharmacy Board of Australia (including state and territory boards of the Board).
Why has the complaints component increased this year?
Each year the Council is required to set the complaints component of the registration fee. In determining this fee, consideration is given to the overall costs associated with the Council’s regulatory work, while also ensuring that the Council has sufficient resources to act as an effective regulator to protect the public and maintain trust and confidence in the profession.
Consideration is also given to ensuring that appropriate investment in information technology, to support the work of the Council, is made. In FY2024/25, substantial investment is occurring, including replacing the Health Professional Councils Authority’s (HPCA) and Councils’ primary business system, the complaints and monitoring database, and designing and implementing a new system.
The current system was developed in the late 1990’s and has a limited ability to meet current and future service demand. A new system is necessary to better enable the HPCA to address a sustained growth in complaints, improve customer experience, enhance stakeholder access to information, and provide data management/analysis capabilities to support regulatory decision making to assist the Council in keeping the public safe.
All Councils have approved the investment in the new business system. A vendor has been engaged and the project commenced in April 2024 with support for all Councils on a shared basis, to ensure value for money for Councils.
How does the Council manage its costs?
The Council manages its costs as efficiently as possible. This includes setting an annual budget and regularly monitoring financial performance and ensuring it has appropriate levels of equity.
Do the fees paid by pharmacists fund the regulation of other professions?
No. There is no cross-subsidisation in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme. The registration fees of pharmacists only fund the regulation of the pharmacy profession in Australia. The Council publishes detailed financial information in its annual report about its income and expenditure, available online at pharmacycouncil.nsw.gov.au