Medical Board of Australia

The Medical Board of Australia regulates the country’s medical practitioners. Supported by AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), the Board registers doctors, sets professional and ethical standards, and investigates complaints to ensure the Australian public receives safe, competent, and high-quality medical care.

What does the Medical Board of Australia do?

The Medical Board of Australia is one of the 15 National Boards operating under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. Its primary objective is to safeguard the public by maintaining standards for medical registration and practice. The Board operates alongside AHPRA, which is responsible for the day-to-day administration of medical registration and compliance management. In simple terms, the Medical Board develops policies and makes key decisions, whereas AHPRA implements and administers them.

The Board’s core responsibilities include:

• Registering medical practitioners, including applications, renewals, suspensions, and cancellations in accordance with the national scheme.
• Establishing the regulatory standards that doctors must meet, including codes of conduct and registration requirements.
• Working alongside the Australian Medical Council to assess and maintain the quality of medical education and specialist training programs across Australia.
• Managing complaints and concerns relating to medical practitioners, including professional conduct, clinical standards, or health status.
• Monitoring practitioners who are practising under registration conditions, limitations, or formal undertakings.

How to check a doctor’s registration

Patients can confirm whether a doctor is authorised to practise medicine in Australia by searching the public AHPRA Register of Practitioners.

The register allows patients to check:

• Registration status 

• Registration type 

• Conditions or restrictions on registration (where applicable) 

• Specialist endorsements 

• Registration history and current standing 

Verifying a doctor’s registration provides an added level of confidence that the practitioner is legally permitted to practise medicine in Australia and complies with national registration standards. The AHPRA register is easily accessible to the public and updated regularly.

The Board’s guidelines on telehealth and automated prescribing

The Medical Board of Australia fully supports the appropriate use of telehealth and digital healthcare services. However, its prescribing standards make clear that direct, real-time consultations are essential for safe and appropriate prescribing.

The Board’s telehealth guidelines cover:

• Pre-consultation obligations: Verifying the patient’s identity, securing informed consent, and ensuring that the technology supports safe clinical care. 

• During the consultation: Delivering the same professional and clinical standards expected in an in-person appointment, including a thorough clinical assessment. 

• After the consultation: Recording relevant clinical information, referrals, and prescribed treatments. 

• International telehealth: Complying with professional and regulatory obligations when telehealth services involve participants located outside Australia. 

Medical Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only.