CPD Changes 2026: APC Retiring Standards, PSA Taking Over

If you've been tracking pharmacy regulatory news, you might have seen that the Australian Pharmacy Council is making changes to CPD accreditation. Here's what's actually happening.

What's Changing?

The Australian Pharmacy Council is retiring its CPD accreditation activities and the Accreditation Standards for CPD Activities (2013).

According to APC CEO Bronwyn Clark: "The Pharmacy Board of Australia does not mandate the need for CPD to be accredited by a third party."

This means the APC will no longer accredit CPD programs or activities.

Key Dates

• December 31, 2025: APC's three CPD accrediting partners stop accrediting new activities
• December 12, 2025: PSA's new CPD Standards come into effect
• December 31, 2026: Accredited programs can display APC logos until this date
• January 5, 2026: PSA application forms and provider handbook available

Why Is This Happening?

The APC acknowledges that pharmacy practice has evolved significantly since the 2013 standards were developed. The profession has expanded into new scope areas across different practice settings.

Rather than update its standards, the APC has decided to step back entirely from CPD accreditation, focusing instead on its core work: accrediting degree programs, intern training programs, and specialist pharmacist education.

Who's Taking Over?

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has launched new CPD accreditation standards effective December 12, 2025.

According to PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim, these standards "will give pharmacists the confidence that the CPD they access is of high quality."

What Does This Mean for Pharmacists?

If You're Currently Enrolled in APC-Accredited CPD

Your current programs remain valid until their individual accreditation expiry dates. You don't need to do anything immediately.

For Future CPD

Look for programs accredited under the PSA Accredited CPD framework. From January 2026, providers can apply for PSA accreditation.

For Registration Requirements

This change doesn't affect your CPD registration requirements. The Pharmacy Board still requires you to complete CPD – it just doesn't require that CPD to be third-party accredited.

You can still complete non-accredited CPD activities. The key is that your CPD is relevant, documented, and demonstrates ongoing competence.

For CPD Providers

If you provide CPD programs, you'll need to transition to PSA accreditation. Key dates:

• January 5, 2026: PSA application forms become available
• Contact: CPDaccreditation@psa.org.au

The Bigger Picture

The Pharmacy Board's CPD requirements focus on outcomes – can you demonstrate ongoing competence? – rather than inputs like accreditation status.

This change gives pharmacists more flexibility in how they meet CPD requirements, while still providing an accreditation pathway for those who want quality assurance.

What You Should Do

1. Check your current CPD – if you're enrolled in APC-accredited programs, note their expiry dates
2. Keep documenting – continue recording all CPD activities regardless of accreditation status
3. Watch for PSA updates – their new framework is the main accreditation pathway going forward
4. Focus on relevance – choose CPD that genuinely develops your practice, accredited or not

Questions?

For PSA CPD accreditation:

• Email: CPDaccreditation@psa.org.au
• Phone: 1300 369 772 (Monday-Friday, business hours)

For general CPD requirements, check the Pharmacy Board of Australia website.

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