AHPRA CPD Requirements for Pharmacists: PBA Standards Guide (2026)

Pharmacists registered with AHPRA must complete 40 CPD credits per year to maintain registration. The Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA) requires a minimum of 20 credits from Group 2 activities (those involving assessment or reflection). The remaining 20 credits can come from Group 1 or Group 2 activities. Your CPD year runs from 1 October to 30 September.

That is the short version. The rest of this guide covers what actually counts, what does not, and how to stop scrambling every September.

How many CPD credits do pharmacists need?

The PBA moved away from a simple hours-based model years ago. Credits are now the unit of measurement, and not all activities earn credits at the same rate.

| Requirement | Details | |---|---| | Total credits per year | 40 | | Minimum Group 2 credits | 20 | | Maximum Group 1 credits | 20 | | CPD year | 1 October to 30 September | | Record keeping | Minimum 5 years | | Audit risk | Random selection each year |

One credit generally equals one hour of learning activity, but Group 2 activities can earn more credits per hour because they involve deeper engagement. A one-hour accredited workshop with an assessment component might earn 2 credits, while passively reading a journal article for the same hour earns 1 credit.

The 40-credit requirement applies to all registered pharmacists. It does not matter whether you work full-time, part-time, or casually. There is no pro-rata reduction for part-time practitioners. If you hold general registration, you complete 40 credits. Full stop.

Pharmacists with non-practising registration have reduced obligations, but if you plan to return to practice, you will need to demonstrate currency. The PBA takes a dim view of practitioners who treat CPD as a box-ticking exercise, and audits are designed to catch exactly that.

PBA Group 1 vs Group 2 activities

This is where most pharmacists get confused, and it is worth getting right because half your credits must come from Group 2.

Group 1 activities

Group 1 covers learning activities that do not involve formal assessment. These are largely self-directed.

Examples include:

Reading journal articles, clinical guidelines, or therapeutic updates
Attending non-accredited lectures, webinars, or conferences
Listening to pharmacy-related podcasts
Reviewing product information or new drug monographs
Participating in informal peer discussions about clinical topics
Reading PBA newsletters and regulatory updates

Group 1 activities are straightforward to complete but capped at 20 credits. You cannot fill your entire 40-credit requirement with passive learning. The PBA explicitly designed the system to push pharmacists toward more rigorous professional development.

The documentation burden for Group 1 is lighter. You need a record of what you did, when you did it, and a brief reflection on what you learned. Keep it simple but keep it consistent. If you are audited, "I read some articles" without dates or titles will not satisfy the Board.

Group 2 activities

Group 2 activities require a structured learning outcome. They involve assessment, evaluation, or measurable change in practice. These earn the credits that matter.

Examples include:

Accredited CPD courses with assessment components
Practice-based reviews and clinical audits
Supervised peer review activities
Completing accredited online learning modules with quizzes
Quality improvement projects in your workplace
Formal mentoring programs (as mentor or mentee, if structured)
Competency assessments and skills-based workshops
University postgraduate units

The key distinction is accountability. Group 2 activities require you to demonstrate that learning occurred. A certificate of completion from an accredited CPD course counts. Sitting in the back row of a conference checking your phone does not.

For pharmacists trying to meet their Group 2 minimums efficiently, accredited online courses are often the most practical option. They fit around shift work, they generate certificates automatically, and the assessment component is built in. If you are behind on credits, this is the fastest path to compliance.

Pharmacy-specific CPD topics

The PBA does not prescribe exactly which topics you must cover, but your CPD should be relevant to your scope of practice. A community pharmacist dispensing 300 scripts a day has different learning needs than a hospital pharmacist managing antimicrobial stewardship. Your CPD portfolio should reflect what you actually do.

That said, certain topics come up repeatedly in PBA guidance and audit feedback.

Dispensing and medication safety

This is bread-and-butter pharmacy. CPD in this area covers:

Dose checking and interaction screening
High-risk medication management (anticoagulants, insulin, opioids, methotrexate)
Medication error prevention and reporting
PBS reforms and listing changes
Therapeutic substitution protocols
Supply of Schedule 3 and Schedule 4 medicines

Every pharmacist should have some dispensing-related CPD in their portfolio regardless of practice setting. Even hospital pharmacists still need to understand community dispensing changes that affect their patients at discharge.

Compounding

If compounding is part of your practice, CPD in this area is not optional. The PBA expects pharmacists who compound to maintain competency through documented learning.

Relevant topics include:

Extemporaneous preparation techniques
Stability testing and beyond-use dating
Risk assessment for compounded preparations
PIC/S guidelines and TGA requirements
Quality assurance in compounding workflows

Compounding errors carry significant patient safety risks. The Board knows this, and auditors will look for compounding-related CPD if your practice involves preparation of non-standard formulations.

Immunisation

Pharmacist-administered vaccination programs have expanded significantly across Australian states and territories. If you hold an immunisation endorsement or practise in a jurisdiction where pharmacists vaccinate, your CPD must reflect this.

Key areas include:

Updates to the National Immunisation Program schedule
Cold chain management and vaccine storage
Anaphylaxis recognition and management (refresher training is mandatory)
State-specific pharmacist vaccination regulations
New vaccine approvals and ATAGI recommendations

Anaphylaxis training typically needs refreshing annually or biennially depending on your state. Check your jurisdiction's requirements. This is one area where lapsed training can directly affect your ability to practise.

Clinical services and expanded scope

Pharmacy practice in Australia is shifting. Structured Prescribing Arrangements, chronic disease management programs, and pharmacist-led clinics are becoming more common. If you are involved in any expanded scope activity, your CPD needs to keep pace.

Topics to consider:

Pharmacist prescribing frameworks and governance
Clinical assessment skills
Chronic disease management (diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular)
Mental health first aid and suicide prevention awareness
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
Cultural safety training

Cultural safety training deserves particular mention. The PBA has signalled that all registered health practitioners should engage with cultural safety as part of their CPD. It is increasingly likely to appear as a specific audit criterion in coming years.

CPD for intern pharmacists

Intern pharmacists have a slightly different CPD landscape. If you are completing your intern year, your supervised practice and intern training program count toward CPD requirements. But there are nuances worth understanding.

During your internship, the structured training program provided by your accredited intern training provider covers a substantial portion of your CPD obligations. The oral and written exams, the practice assessments, and the clinical placements all generate Group 2 credits.

However, the PBA still expects interns to maintain a CPD portfolio separate from their intern training records. This portfolio should document additional learning activities you undertake beyond the formal program requirements.

Practical advice for interns:

Start your CPD portfolio from day one of your internship
Record all learning activities, even informal ones
Keep copies of assessment results and feedback
Document workplace-based learning (case discussions, journal clubs, clinical reviews)
Do not assume your intern program covers everything

The transition from intern to general registration is where many pharmacists stumble. Your first full CPD year after registration requires the full 40 credits, and you will not have an intern program generating them automatically. Build the habit early.

If you are an intern pharmacist looking to build your CPD portfolio efficiently, structured CPD courses designed for early-career pharmacists can fill gaps that your intern program does not cover.

Practice-based CPD activities

The PBA increasingly emphasises practice-based CPD. This means learning activities that arise from and directly improve your daily practice. It is arguably the most valuable form of CPD, and it does not require sitting through another webinar.

Clinical audits

Pick a measurable aspect of your practice and review it systematically. Examples:

Audit your dispensing error rate over three months and implement changes
Review your dose adjustment recommendations for renal patients
Assess your compliance with Schedule 8 recording requirements
Evaluate your counselling practices for high-risk medications

A clinical audit, properly documented, is a Group 2 activity. You need a clear question, data collection, analysis, and an action plan. The PBA provides templates, but you can design your own.

Case-based learning

Write up interesting or challenging cases from your practice. Reflect on what you knew, what you did not know, and what you would do differently. This is particularly effective for:

Complex drug interactions you identified (or missed)
Adverse drug reaction reports
Medication reconciliation challenges at hospital admission or discharge
Therapeutic dilemmas where evidence was unclear

One detailed case study with proper reflection and literature review can earn multiple Group 2 credits. It also produces a portfolio piece that demonstrates genuine professional development if you are audited.

Peer review

Structured peer review is underutilised in pharmacy. Arrange with a colleague to observe each other's practice and provide constructive feedback. This works in community and hospital settings.

Options include:

Observing and reviewing each other's patient counselling
Peer review of clinical documentation
Joint case discussions with structured learning outcomes
Cross-site reviews (particularly useful for identifying blind spots)

Document the process, the feedback received, and any practice changes you made as a result. Peer review done properly is one of the most effective CPD activities available to pharmacists, and it costs nothing.

Quality improvement projects

If your workplace runs QI projects, participation counts as CPD. If your workplace does not run QI projects, starting one is a good way to earn Group 2 credits while actually improving patient care.

Examples relevant to pharmacy:

Reducing medication turnaround times in hospital settings
Improving medication adherence rates in a chronic disease cohort
Streamlining the dispensing workflow to reduce error-prone steps
Implementing a medication review referral pathway with local GPs

The key is documentation. A QI project needs a defined problem, a measurable outcome, an intervention, and a review. PDSA cycles work well and are straightforward to document.

CPD for hospital vs community pharmacists

The 40-credit requirement is identical regardless of practice setting, but the types of CPD activities that are most relevant differ substantially.

Hospital pharmacists

Hospital pharmacists typically have better access to structured CPD through their employer. Grand rounds, journal clubs, in-service training, and clinical governance meetings all generate CPD opportunities. Many hospitals also support attendance at conferences and external courses.

Priority CPD areas for hospital pharmacists often include:

Antimicrobial stewardship
Medication reconciliation
Clinical pharmacokinetics and therapeutic drug monitoring
Oncology and haematology therapeutics
Parenteral nutrition and IV therapy
Critical care pharmacotherapy

Hospital pharmacists should also maintain some community-relevant CPD. Patients move between settings, and understanding PBS changes, community dispensing practices, and consumer-facing pharmacy services improves transitions of care.

Community pharmacists

Community pharmacists face a different challenge. CPD opportunities are less likely to be handed to you by an employer. You need to seek them out, and time is always scarce.

Priority CPD areas for community pharmacists:

Pharmacist vaccination updates and expanded scope
Dose Administration Aid (DAA) best practices
PBS reforms and pricing changes
Over-the-counter medicine counselling and Schedule 3 protocols
Chronic disease screening and management programs
Opioid dependence treatment and harm minimisation
Digital health (e-prescriptions, My Health Record integration)

For community pharmacists juggling shift work and business demands, online CPD platforms that track your credits and send reminders before the September deadline can remove a significant administrative burden. The goal is to spend your time learning, not managing spreadsheets.

If you are comparing CPD requirements across different health professions, our guide to AHPRA CPD hours by profession provides a useful overview. The pharmacy requirements sit at the higher end of the spectrum, which reflects the complexity and risk profile of the profession.

Audit preparation

Each year, the PBA randomly selects a percentage of pharmacists for CPD audit. If you are selected, you will receive a notice requiring you to submit your CPD portfolio for review. This is not a cause for panic if you have been maintaining records properly. It is a significant problem if you have not.

What auditors look for

40 credits completed within the CPD year
At least 20 credits from Group 2 activities
Evidence that CPD is relevant to your scope of practice
Reflective statements demonstrating learning outcomes
Certificates or evidence of completion for formal activities
A portfolio that tells a coherent story about your professional development

Common audit failures

Pharmacists fail audits for predictable reasons:

Insufficient Group 2 credits (the most common issue)
Poor documentation (activities completed but not recorded)
CPD that is not relevant to current practice
Missing certificates or evidence
Bulk-completing CPD in the final weeks before the deadline
No reflective component in portfolio entries

How to stay audit-ready

Maintain your portfolio throughout the year. Do not leave it until August. A good rhythm is to update your records monthly and review your credit balance quarterly.

Keep all certificates, receipts, and evidence in one place. Digital is fine. A folder on your desktop works. A compliance tracking platform works better because it calculates your credits automatically and flags shortfalls before they become problems.

Write brief reflections as you complete each activity. Two or three sentences is enough. What did you learn? How will it change your practice? Auditors want to see that you engaged with the material, not that you can write essays.

For a broader look at recent changes to CPD requirements across all AHPRA-regulated professions, see our 2025 CPD requirements update guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I carry over excess CPD credits to the next year?

No. The PBA does not allow credit banking. If you complete 50 credits in one CPD year, the extra 10 do not carry over. Each year starts fresh on 1 October. Plan your CPD to hit 40 credits, not to stockpile them.

What happens if I do not complete my CPD?

If you are audited and cannot demonstrate 40 credits, the PBA may impose conditions on your registration, require you to complete additional CPD, or in serious cases, take disciplinary action. Self-reporting a shortfall before an audit is generally viewed more favourably than being caught.

Do conference attendance hours count as Group 1 or Group 2?

It depends on the conference. General attendance at lectures and presentations is Group 1. However, workshops with assessment components, accredited sessions, or structured activities within a conference may qualify as Group 2. Check with the conference organisers and your CPD provider for accreditation details.

Is the 40-credit requirement different for pharmacists with limited registration?

Pharmacists with limited registration may have modified CPD requirements specified as conditions on their registration. Check your registration conditions on the AHPRA website or contact the PBA directly. Non-practising registrants have reduced requirements but must still maintain some CPD if they intend to return to practice.

Can I count my university teaching or supervision as CPD?

Yes, in certain circumstances. Supervising pharmacy students or interns can count as a Group 2 activity if it involves structured reflection and learning on your part. Simply turning up to supervise does not qualify. You need to document what you learned from the experience and how it informed your practice. Developing new teaching materials or curricula can also count.

How long do I need to keep my CPD records?

The PBA requires you to keep CPD records for a minimum of five years. This applies even if you are not audited. If you change your record-keeping system, migrate your old records rather than deleting them. Five years of records means five complete CPD cycles.

Getting your CPD sorted

The pharmacy CPD system is not complicated once you understand the Group 1 and Group 2 distinction and build a habit of recording as you go. The pharmacists who struggle are the ones who treat it as an annual panic rather than an ongoing practice.

Start with a plan at the beginning of each CPD year. Identify the topics most relevant to your current role. Spread your activities across the year. Prioritise Group 2 activities early so you are not scrambling for assessed courses in September.

If you want a structured approach to meeting your PBA requirements, explore AHCRA's CPD courses designed specifically for Australian pharmacists. Or check our pricing page to see how our compliance tracking tools can keep you audit-ready year-round.

Sources

Pharmacy Board of Australia. "Continuing Professional Development (CPD) FAQ." PBA, 2017. https://www.pharmacyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines/faq/cpd-faq.aspx
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). "Registration standard: Continuing professional development." 2023. https://www.pharmacyboard.gov.au/registration-standards.aspx
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA). "CPD Resources and Learning." https://www.psa.org.au/practice-support-and-tools/cpd/