Pharmacist Credentialing

PSA continues to endorse measures that would decrease entry barriers to accreditation – such as by increasing competition of providers and by increasing government-funded accreditation places.

PGA has publicly advocated to remove the requirement of accreditation to claim for HMR/RMMR funding. PSA does not support this position.

There was written agreement between the AACP, PSA and PGA to make the announcement only after the agreement was signed.

PSA strongly supports retaining pharmacist accreditation and has a strong vision for accreditation to become a major career pathway for pharmacists. Accreditation is an important step to assure patients, aged care providers, GPs and funders that pharmacists are competent to conduct comprehensive medication reviews.  PSA acknowledges the need for pharmacists to develop and maintain the skills attained during accreditation to be a minimum required for activities like RMMRs and HMRs.

We are waiting on a final decision from the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care on what requirements will exist for reaccreditation, we anticipate you will need to be a member of an accrediting body so recommend you become/remain a PSA member so that you have access to tools, support and ongoing education.

PSA is providing all accredited pharmacists with access to our accreditation resources until 1 April 2023 as part of these transition arrangements. Join PSA as a Professional Plus Member to maintain access to PSA’s accreditation resources beyond 1 April 2023.

The program rules that set the standard for accreditation are determined by the Commonwealth Department of Health. PSA is advocating for this standard to be maintained and has a strong view that quality of care needs to be improved. The Department and other stakeholders have accepted there may be other organisations that want to offer accreditation, and that the program rules should enable this. PSA, as a joint owner of AACP, will continue fighting to protect AACP’s legacy.

Pharmacists already undertaking accreditation credentialling with AACP can continue to do so until AACP ceases operations at the end of 2022. From 1 Jan 2023, these pharmacists can continue to complete their accreditation credentialling with PSA.  The AACP have sent an email to all pharmacists undergoing accreditation, you will need to reply to this with your choice of future provider.

The AACP have sent an email to all pharmacists undergoing accreditation, if you have already replied to the email with your choice of future provider as PSA,  PSA had received your contact information. We are waiting for the data of the study results from AACP. We will send you an email with further updates in late Jan 2023.

If you have not started the credentialling process, we encourage you to enroll in Stage 1 with PSA. Once complete you may continue to Stage 2.

If you have already completed Stage 1, you may enroll in Stage 2 with PSA from 1 January 2023.

PSA is awaiting confirmation from the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care regarding whether accredited pharmacists will be required to be a member of an accrediting body. PSA believes membership should not be compulsory and is advocating for that position.

The Department of Health and Aged Care has advised they will implement a transition period whereby the AACP MRNs that are valid as of 31 December 2022, will remain valid until 30 June 2023 within the Pharmacy Programs Administrator Portal. This will ensure currently Accredited Pharmacists can continue to utilise their existing AACP Accreditation to provide services. The Department will continue to consult regarding future arrangements in February 2023.

PSA will not charge reaccreditation fees. For the current pricing, visit here.

PSA acknowledges that all pharmacists are medicine experts and are trained to counsel, support and provide care for patients. Quality training of pharmacists in medication knowledge, communication, and counselling equips pharmacists with additional skills to provide high quality, complex medication review services through collaborative care models with other health care providers. Accreditation provides opportunity for career pathways and progression, a key pillar of PSA’s ongoing advocacy for roles, remuneration and recognition of pharmacists. PSA acknowledges the need to reduce the financial barrier to reaccreditation and is committed to advocating for higher quality training and support.