CPD Requirements for Chiropractors in Australia: Complete 2026 Guide

Every chiropractor registered in Australia needs 25 hours of CPD per year. That is the Chiropractic Board of Australia minimum. Not 25 hours of whatever you fancy. The Board has specific rules about what counts, how it breaks down, and what you need to prove if you get audited.

Get it wrong and you risk conditions on your registration. Get it very wrong and you could face a Board inquiry. Neither is a good use of your time.

This guide covers the full CPD framework for chiropractors, including the formal and informal split, first aid requirements, record keeping, and how to handle an audit without breaking a sweat.

How many CPD hours do chiropractors need per year?

The Chiropractic Board of Australia requires 25 hours of CPD per registration year. Your registration year runs from 1 December to 30 November. Not the calendar year, not the financial year. December to November.

Here is the breakdown:

| Requirement | Hours per year | |---|---| | Total CPD | 25 hours | | Formal learning (minimum) | 8 hours | | Informal learning (maximum) | 17 hours | | First aid (within triennium) | Current certificate required |

A few key points:

Hours cannot be carried over. If you do 35 hours this year, you still need 25 next year. No banking.
Part-year registrants get pro-rata requirements. If you register partway through the year, your hours reduce proportionally. The Board calculates this based on the number of complete months remaining in the registration period.
All CPD must be relevant to your practice. A course on paediatric chiropractic technique counts. A course on underwater basket weaving does not. The relevance test is simple: does this activity maintain, improve, or extend the knowledge and skills you use in chiropractic practice?

The Board has been consistent on this number for several years. Unlike some other professions that shifted requirements under the revised AHPRA CPD framework, chiropractors have stayed at 25 hours annually. For a comparison of CPD hours across all AHPRA-registered professions, see our CPD hours by profession guide.

What is formal vs informal learning?

This is where chiropractors most commonly trip up. The Board draws a clear line between formal and informal CPD, and you need a minimum of 8 hours in the formal category.

Formal learning (minimum 8 hours)

Formal learning means structured, organised educational activities with defined learning outcomes. The Board expects these to be delivered by a recognised provider and to have some form of assessment or measurable learning outcome.

Examples of formal learning:

Accredited courses and seminars. Face-to-face or online courses with structured content, learning objectives, and a certificate of completion.
University postgraduate study. Enrolment in a postgraduate chiropractic or health sciences programme.
Accredited conference sessions. Attendance at conferences where the scientific programme has been formally accredited. Social events and trade exhibits do not count.
Structured online learning modules. E-learning from accredited providers with quizzes, assessments, or reflective components. AHCRA's CPD courses are designed to meet this standard.
Board-approved workshops. Practical skills workshops with documented learning outcomes and attendance records.

The test for formal learning: was it structured, did it have defined learning outcomes, and can you prove you completed it?

Informal learning (up to 17 hours)

Informal learning is self-directed. You choose the activity, set the pace, and document your own outcomes. The Board gives you more flexibility here, but that flexibility comes with a documentation responsibility.

Examples of informal learning:

Peer review and case discussions. Discussing clinical cases with colleagues in a structured way. Document the date, participants, topics, and what you took away from it.
Journal reading and literature review. Reading peer-reviewed articles relevant to your practice. Keep a log of what you read and how it applies.
Clinical audits. Reviewing your own clinical outcomes against evidence-based benchmarks. Write up your findings.
Professional mentoring. Being mentored or mentoring another practitioner. Both count, provided you document the sessions.
Self-directed online research. Reviewing clinical guidelines, technique papers, or evidence summaries relevant to your scope.
Practice-based reflection. Structured reflection on clinical experiences, patient outcomes, or practice challenges. The key word is "structured". Thinking in the shower does not count. Written reflection with documented insights does.

The Board does not set a maximum for informal learning beyond the implied cap of 17 hours (25 total minus 8 formal minimum). You could do 8 formal and 17 informal, or 25 formal and zero informal. The floor applies to formal learning only.

What is the first aid requirement?

Chiropractors must hold a current first aid certificate at all times during their registration. This is separate from your 25 CPD hours, though you can count the time spent completing or renewing your first aid certificate as CPD.

The specifics:

The certificate must be current. Most first aid certificates are valid for three years, with the CPR component valid for one year. You need to keep both current.
The course must be from a registered training organisation (RTO). Check that your provider is listed on training.gov.au. A workplace first aid refresher that is not delivered by an RTO will not satisfy the Board.
Online-only first aid courses do not meet the standard. First aid requires a practical assessment component. You need to physically demonstrate CPR and other skills. An entirely online certificate will not be accepted by the Board.
You can count the hours toward CPD. A standard first aid course is typically 6 to 8 hours. A CPR refresher is around 2 to 3 hours. These hours count as CPD, and most practitioners classify them as formal learning.

Do not let your first aid certificate lapse. The Board checks this during audits, and an expired certificate is one of the easiest compliance failures to avoid.

What types of CPD activities count?

The Chiropractic Board does not publish an exhaustive list of approved activities. Instead, it sets broad categories and expects you to exercise professional judgement about relevance. Here is a practical breakdown.

| Activity type | Formal or informal | Typical hours | |---|---|---| | Accredited courses and seminars | Formal | 2 to 16 per course | | Conference attendance (scientific sessions) | Formal | 4 to 16 per event | | University postgraduate study | Formal | Varies | | Structured online learning | Formal | 1 to 8 per module | | First aid / CPR training | Formal | 2 to 8 | | Peer review and case discussions | Informal | 1 to 2 per session | | Journal reading | Informal | 0.5 to 2 per article | | Clinical audits | Informal | 2 to 6 per audit | | Mentoring (giving or receiving) | Informal | 1 to 2 per session | | Practice-based reflection | Informal | 0.5 to 1 per entry | | Research and publication | Either | Varies | | Teaching and examining | Either | Varies |

Research and teaching can straddle both categories depending on the structure. Presenting a formal lecture at a university? That is formal. Reading a colleague's draft paper and giving feedback? Informal.

The golden rule: if you would struggle to explain to an auditor why a particular activity improved your chiropractic practice, it probably should not be in your CPD log.

How should you keep records?

The Chiropractic Board requires you to maintain a CPD portfolio. This is not optional. You need records that could withstand an audit at any time during your registration period.

For each CPD activity, record the following:

Date and duration. When you did it and how long it took. Be specific. "March 2026" is not good enough. "14 March 2026, 2 hours" is.
Activity description. What the activity was, who delivered it, and what topics were covered.
Learning outcomes. What you learned and how it applies to your practice. This is the part most chiropractors skip, and the part auditors look at most closely.
Evidence. Certificates of completion, attendance records, conference programmes, journal article references, written reflections, clinical audit reports. Keep everything.
Formal or informal classification. Label each activity so you can quickly confirm you have met the 8-hour formal minimum.

Store your records digitally. Paper files get lost, coffee-stained, or thrown out during an office clean-up. A spreadsheet works. A dedicated CPD tracking tool works better. AHCRA's platform can help you stay organised and audit-ready without the admin headache.

Keep records for five years. The Board can request your CPD portfolio from current and past registration periods. Five years of tidy records is much better than a frantic email to every conference organiser you have ever met.

What happens during a CPD audit?

AHPRA conducts random CPD audits each year. If you are selected, you will receive a notice asking you to provide evidence that you have met your CPD requirements for the relevant period.

Here is what the audit process looks like:

You receive an audit notice. This comes from AHPRA, usually by email. You will have a set period to respond, typically 30 days.
You submit your CPD portfolio. Upload your records, certificates, reflections, and any other evidence through the AHPRA portal.
The Board reviews your submission. They check total hours, the formal/informal split, first aid currency, and whether activities are relevant to chiropractic practice.
Outcome. If your portfolio is in order, you will receive confirmation and that is that. If there are gaps, the Board may request further information, set conditions on your registration, or refer the matter for further action.

The audit itself is not punitive. It is a verification exercise. The Board is checking that you did what you declared on your registration renewal. If your records are accurate and complete, audits are straightforward.

Problems arise when practitioners have:

Declared meeting requirements on renewal but have not actually completed 25 hours
Insufficient formal learning hours (less than 8)
No evidence for claimed activities
An expired first aid certificate
Activities with no clear relevance to chiropractic practice

If you have been keeping proper records throughout the year, an audit should take you less than an hour to compile. If the thought of an audit fills you with dread, that is a sign your record keeping needs work.

What are the most common CPD mistakes?

After years of working with healthcare professionals on compliance, these are the patterns we see again and again.

1. Leaving it all to the last minute. Cramming 25 hours into November is technically possible. But auditors notice patterns, and a log full of activities in the final weeks of the registration year raises questions about the quality of your learning.

2. Confusing formal and informal learning. Reading a journal article at home is informal. Attending an accredited online course with a quiz is formal. If you classify informal activities as formal, your audit will fail on the 8-hour minimum.

3. Not recording learning outcomes. "Attended XYZ conference" is not enough. What did you learn? How will you apply it? Two sentences is fine. Zero sentences is a problem.

4. Letting first aid lapse. It happens more often than you would think. Set a calendar reminder three months before your certificate expires. Book the renewal early. Do not rely on your memory.

5. No backup copies of certificates. Your course provider's website might not exist in three years. Download and save certificates immediately. Store them somewhere that is not a single hard drive that could fail.

6. Counting non-relevant activities. A practice management course counts. A wine appreciation evening does not, even if your colleague organised it and called it "networking CPD". The relevance test matters.

7. Not understanding the registration year. Your CPD year runs December to November. Not January to December. Mixing this up can leave you short at audit time.

Tips for staying on top of your CPD

Keeping compliant does not need to be painful. A bit of structure at the start of the year saves a lot of stress at the end.

Plan your year in January. Map out conferences, courses, and learning goals. Aim for 8 formal hours in the first half of the year so you are not scrambling later.
Log activities immediately. The longer you wait, the harder it is to remember details. Record each activity within a week of completing it.
Use a tracking tool. Spreadsheets work, but purpose-built tools are better. AHCRA's platform tracks hours, categories, and documentation in one place.
Mix your learning. Combine conferences, online courses, peer discussions, and self-directed study. Variety keeps things interesting and demonstrates breadth to auditors.
Check your first aid expiry. Put it in your calendar. Set two reminders. Book the renewal before the old one expires.
Review your portfolio quarterly. A five-minute check every three months catches gaps early. A five-minute check in November does not give you time to fix anything.
Keep digital copies of everything. Certificates, receipts, conference programmes, written reflections. Upload them as you go. Future you will be grateful.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do all 25 hours of CPD online?

Yes, provided the online activities meet the Board's standards. Formal online learning must come from an accredited provider and include defined learning outcomes and assessment. You still need a face-to-face component for first aid and CPR. But the bulk of your CPD can be completed online if the courses are legitimate. Browse AHCRA's accredited online courses for options that meet the formal learning requirement.

Do conference trade exhibitions count as CPD?

No. Only the scientific and educational sessions of a conference count toward your CPD hours. Visiting exhibitor stands, attending sponsored social events, or walking the trade floor do not qualify. Check the conference programme and only claim hours for sessions with genuine educational content.

What happens if I do not meet my CPD requirements?

At registration renewal, you are asked to declare that you have met your CPD obligations. If you declare that you have not, or if an audit reveals a shortfall, the Board can take action. This ranges from requiring you to make up the hours within a set timeframe, to placing conditions on your registration, to more serious regulatory action for repeat or significant non-compliance. It is not worth the risk. For more detail on consequences, see our guide on what happens if you don't meet AHPRA CPD requirements.

Does teaching count as CPD?

Yes. Teaching at an accredited institution, presenting at conferences, and examining students or candidates all count as CPD. The hours you claim should reflect your preparation and delivery time. Teaching is typically classified as formal learning if it is within a structured educational programme. Document the topic, audience, duration, and institution.

How far back can AHPRA audit my CPD records?

AHPRA can request CPD records from your current and previous registration periods. The Chiropractic Board recommends keeping records for at least five years. In practice, keeping everything from the last two full registration cycles covers you for most audit scenarios. Digital storage makes this easy. Do not delete old records.

Ready to simplify your CPD tracking?

Keeping on top of 25 hours of CPD, the formal/informal split, first aid currency, and audit-ready documentation is not difficult. It just requires a system.

AHCRA offers accredited CPD courses designed specifically for AHPRA-registered health professionals, including chiropractors. Each course meets the Chiropractic Board's formal learning standards and comes with certificates, documented learning outcomes, and records you can upload directly if audited.

Need help building a CPD plan that works for your practice? Get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.

Sources

Chiropractic Board of Australia. Registration standard: Continuing professional development. www.chiropracticboard.gov.au
AHPRA. CPD requirements for registered health practitioners. www.ahpra.gov.au
Chiropractic Australia (CA). CPD resources for members. www.chiropracticaustralia.org.au
AHPRA. Audit of continuing professional development. www.ahpra.gov.au