The Australian Pharmacy Council or APC has officially announced a latest change on 30 June 2025 in the way Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities will be accredited in Australia. The accrediting CPD activities will be ceased by APC from, 31 December 2025 and retire the Accreditation Standards for Continuing Professional Development Activities (2013). This is a move that mirrors the changing landscape of pharmacy practice and education in Australia.
Our motto at Elite Expertise is to keep pharmacists up to date on the latest changes and trends around the world. This is done to keep both aspiring and future pharmacists up to date on the most recent changes in the regulatory and ways to get more education. Let's talk about what this change means for pharmacy professionals and CPD providers in this blog. We'll also talk about how it fits in with the bigger changes happening in the pharmacy industry.
Why is APC Retiring CPD Accreditation?
The current CPD standards were introduced in 2013 and the APC has stated that the pharmacy profession has evolved significantly since then. With expanded scope of practice across various pharmacy settings—such as prescribing, aged care, and medication management—there is now a need to realign accreditation frameworks with these evolving roles.
Bronwyn Clark, the CEO of APC, said that this change brings the APC in line with national trends. She also said that the Pharmacy Board of Australia does not require third-party CPD accreditation. The Pharmacy Board is also getting ready to ask the public for their thoughts on new CPD Registration Standards, so this is a good time for the industry to change.
APC CPD Accreditation Update – Key Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Announcement Date | 30 June 2025 |
| What’s Changing? | APC will stop accrediting CPD activities and retire the 2013 CPD standards. |
| Effective From | CPD accreditation ends on 31 December 2025 |
| Reason for Change | Evolving pharmacy roles (e.g., prescribing, aged care, medicines management) require updated accreditation. |
| APC’s Position | Aligning with the Pharmacy Board of Australia, which doesn't require third-party CPD accreditation. |
| Transition Plan Partners | Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Advanced Pharmacy Australia Australasian College of Pharmacy |
| Transition Timeline | Accreditation continues until 31 Dec 2025 APC logos can be used until 31 Dec 2026 |
| For Current Participants | Existing CPD activities stay valid until their expiry dates Contact providers for specific details |
| What Pharmacists Should Do | Check expiry dates Contact education providers Watch for Pharmacy Board’s new CPD standards |
| APC’s Ongoing Roles | Pharmacy degree accreditation Intern training programs MMR, Aged Care, and Prescriber programs |
| Opportunity Ahead | Encourages innovation among CPD providers and supports growth in pharmacist roles |
| Elite Expertise’s Note | Continues to support pharmacists in KAPS, internships, and ongoing professional development in Australia |
What Happens Next?
Transition Plan in Place
To ensure a smooth transition, APC has developed a transition plan in collaboration with three key CPD accrediting organisations:
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA)
- Advanced Pharmacy Australia
- Australasian College of Pharmacy
Under the transition plan:
- CPD activities may continue to be accredited under the current APC standards until 31 December 2025.
- Accredited programs can continue using the APC logo on promotional material until 31 December 2026.
- The Accreditation Standards will remain on the APC website for reference.
What Does This Mean for the Future of Pharmacy Education?
This choice doesn't change the APC's main job, which is to approve pharmacy education programs like:
- • Pharmacy degree programs
- • Programs for training interns
- • Training for the Medicines Management Review (MMR)
- • Programs for pharmacists who work in aged care
- • Pharmacist Prescriber programs
This strategic move actually lets the APC focus even more on improving pharmacists' training in new areas, which helps the profession grow in Australia.
Final Thoughts from Elite Expertise
Elite Expertise helps pharmacists at every step of the way, from passing the OPRA exam to clearing the intern oral and written exams and registering as a pharmacist in Australia. As the world of CPD and professional development changes, it's important to stay up to date and be flexible.
This change gives CPD providers a chance to come up with new ideas, and it gives pharmacists a chance to learn in new ways that fit their growing roles.