- The register lists every health practitioner registered to practise in Australia across 16 professions.
- It shows registration status and any conditions that limit what the practitioner can do.
- Ahpra also keeps separate lists of cancelled practitioners and of those who have formally agreed not to practise.
- Searches: about 74,000 a month for “ahpra register”; 14,800 for “ahpra registration check”.
What the register is
Ahpra says its register lists every health practitioner registered to practise in Australia, and that when a practitioner appears on it you know they are allowed to practise. It covers 16 professions, including nursing and medicine. The register shows each practitioner’s registration status and any conditions limiting what they can do. That is an unusual strength for a credential check: it is a public list kept by the regulator.
How to search
- Open the Ahpra site and go to the register of practitioners.
- Choose the health profession, and optionally the state or territory and the suburb or postcode.
- Enter the practitioner’s name or registration number. The registration number is the precise route if you have it.
- Read the result for status and conditions.
The name trap
Ahpra warns that sometimes practitioners have different names for registration to the name they may be commonly known by. That is the usual reason a genuine practitioner “cannot be found”: the register has a legal name and the clinic sign has a preferred one. It is also the reason a careful impostor can use a real practitioner’s name. If a search finds nothing, try other spellings, then ask the practitioner for their registration number and search by that.
Cancelled and non-practising lists
Ahpra maintains separate lists of cancelled practitioners and of practitioners who have formally agreed not to practise. It says those practitioners are not allowed to provide any services as health practitioners. It also publishes public statements and warnings about practitioners of concern. A person on one of these lists who is still advertising is a report to make.
What the register does not do
A register entry is evidence that a person with that name is registered. It is not proof that the person in front of you is that person. If the identity matters, as it does for an employer, match the name and registration number to identification you have sighted. In the 2025 case on the fake nurse page, the forged degree certificate passed the application stage; it was the register that showed the truth.
For employers and clients
| You have | Do this |
|---|---|
| A CV listing nursing registration | Search by name and registration number; confirm status and conditions |
| A degree certificate on paper | Treat it as a claim, not proof of registration; the register is the check |
| A name that returns no result | Ask for the registered name and number; try other spellings; call Ahpra on 1300 419 495 |
| A practitioner on the cancelled list | Do not engage; report to Ahpra |
Ahpra offers free interpreter services through TIS National for people who need help in another language.
When your details are thin
The register lets you search by profession, state or territory, suburb or postcode, and by name or registration number. If you know only a first name and a suburb, try the profession with the postcode; if you have a business card with a registration number, use the number. If a practitioner gives you no registration number when asked, that is itself information. Remember that a result shows what is on the register today, including any conditions, so read the conditions, not just the tick.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a nurse is registered in Australia?
Search the Ahpra public register by name or registration number and choose the profession. If they appear, they are allowed to practise, with any conditions shown.
Is the Ahpra register free?
Ahpra describes it as a public register anyone can search. We did not see a fee.
Why can I not find a practitioner I know is registered?
Ahpra says practitioners sometimes have different names for registration than the name they are commonly known by. Try the legal name or the registration number.
What does the register show?
Registration status and any conditions that limit what the practitioner can do, across 16 professions.
Who do I call about the register?
Ahpra, on 1300 419 495. It offers free interpreter services through TIS National.