What Is a CPD Audit?

To feel confident you can pass one, it helps first to understand what a CPD audit is, how it works, and how to prepare.

What Is a CPD Audit?

A CPD audit is an official check to verify that you’ve met the mandatory registration standards set by your National Board, specifically the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) standard.

According to the NMBA:

“Audits are an important part of how National Boards and Ahpra can better protect the public. They help ensure that nurses and midwives meet the mandatory registration standards and provide important assurance to the community and the National Boards.”

Why Are CPD Audits Important?

Healthcare practice is constantly evolving. Every year, new risks, treatments, technologies, standards, and evidence emerge. CPD audits ensure that health practitioners keep their knowledge and skills current to continue providing safe, high-quality care.

Audits:

• Verify that your CPD was completed as declared
• Support public safety and trust
• Encourage strong documentation habits
  

How Will I Know If I’m Being Audited?

Audits are conducted randomly throughout the year across all professions and Boards. If selected, you’ll receive an audit notice in the mail from Ahpra. The letter will outline which registration standard(s) you’re being audited on and provide a checklist of documentation required.

The audit period typically covers your CPD activities from 1 June to 31 May of the previous registration year.

What Standards Can Be Audited?

Your audit may cover one or more of these four core registration standards:

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Recency of Practice
• Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) arrangements
• Criminal History

You’ll need to provide evidence that matches the declarations made in your annual renewal statement, which you confirmed as “true and correct.”

How Do I Prepare for an Audit?

To pass a CPD audit, you must be able to show:

• You completed the required CPD hours
• You had a documented learning plan
• Your learning was relevant to your context of practice
• Each activity included a reflection that links it to a learning need and impact on professional practice

While attaching a certificate can help demonstrate that you completed a CPD activity, a certificate alone is insufficient to meet CPD requirements.​

Tip: Use Ausmed's CPD App to keep everything in one place and generate an audit-ready report with a single click.

What Happens If You’re Non-Compliant?

If you cannot provide evidence that supports your declarations, the National Board may:

• Request further information.
• Add conditions to your registration.
• Refuse to renew your registration.
• Take disciplinary action if false or misleading declarations were made.

Make CPD Audit-Ready Simple

With Ausmed, you can:

• Track hours, reflections, and goals.
• Store all evidence in one place.
• Generate an audit-ready report instantly.

Start now at ausmed.com.au