FAQs: Physio regulations and compliance

The governmental bodies responsible for regulating physiotherapy in Australia:

• Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra): the national overarching regulator for all registered health professions
• Physiotherapy Board of Australia (PBA): operates under Ahpra as the profession-specific regulatory authority for physiotherapists.

Together they implement the law under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) and ensure that registered health practitioners are suitably trained, qualified and safe to practice.

View more details on the Registration Standards for Physiotherapists on the PBA website.

The Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC) is responsible for accrediting physiotherapy education programs in Australia. The PBA delegates this role to the APC, which accredits university physiotherapy programs and sets and assesses the entry-level competency standards all graduates must meet.

In short, the APC handles accreditation (education and training standards), while Ahpra and the PBA handle regulation (registration and practice standards).

To legally practice as a physiotherapist in Australia, you must hold current registration with Ahpra (via the PBA) and maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII). Verify a physiotherapist's registration status via the public Ahpra register website.

Advertising of physiotherapy and other regulated health services is subject to several regulatory schemes.

Ahpra and the Physiotherapy Board of Australia administer the advertising requirements in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. These requirements apply to any person or business advertising a regulated health service, not only registered practitioners.

Under the National Law, advertising must not:

• be false, misleading or deceptive
• use clinical testimonials
• create an unreasonable expectation of beneficial treatment
• encourage the indiscriminate or unnecessary use of health services
• advertise a gift, discount or other inducement without clearly stating its terms and conditions.

See the Ahpra Advertising Hub or report potentially unlawful health advertising.

The ACCC and state or territory consumer protection agencies administer the Australian Consumer Law. Claims made in advertising, websites, social media, media statements and information provided by staff must be accurate, truthful and supported by reasonable grounds. The ACCC accepts reports about systemic consumer issues but does not resolve individual disputes. Read the ACCC guidance on false or misleading claims.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration regulates advertising of therapeutic goods, including medicines and medical devices. Its requirements may apply where advertising for a physiotherapy service also promotes a therapeutic good. See the TGA guidance on advertising health services involving therapeutic goods.

The protected titles for the profession include ‘physiotherapist’ and ‘physical therapist’. Other words or descriptions, including 'physio', must not be used in a way that could reasonably lead someone to believe that an unregistered person is registered or qualified to practise physiotherapy. See Ahpra’s guidance on titles in health advertising. Find out more on advertising Health Services.

The National Law and Ahpra’s advertising guidelines establish how and what registered practitioners may advertise.

Advertising in any medium must not mislead, offer inducements such as a gift or discount (unless the relevant terms and conditions are also included), use testimonials, create unreasonable expectations of beneficial treatment, or encourage the indiscriminate or unnecessary use of a service.

Only registered physiotherapists may use the title ‘physiotherapist’ or ‘physical therapist’. No advertising may cause a reasonable person to infer that someone is a physiotherapist if they are not. If you have concerns, refer to the question ‘What should I do if something doesn’t feel right?’.

Refer to Ahpra's website to gain a clear understanding of what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate advertising. If something doesn’t seem right, consider raising your concerns through one of the following approaches:

• Where possible first discuss the inaccurate advertising with the service provider or physiotherapist, as it may be an honest oversight or administrative error.
• If the Physiotherapist is a member of the APA, you can let us know about your concerns. The APA may contact the member to remind them of their obligations.
• If your concern constitutes inappropriate advertising as referenced on Ahpra's website, you may wish to discuss whether it is a matter they should investigate. Identify the appropriate Regulatory Body, based on the location where the physiotherapist is providing the services.