Clinical practice

A doctor is engaged in clinical practice, if he or she assesses, diagnoses, gives advice, treats or makes reports, whether face-to-face or otherwise, with a patient, or with a group of patients or a population.  This definition includes the activities of public health medicine and medical administration.

All doctors in clinical practice vocationally registered within a vocational scope of practice should be involved in recertification programmes.

Non-clinical practice

A doctor is practising non-clinical medicine if he or she is not engaged in clinical practice as defined above, but is engaged in such activities as medical informatics, contributing to medical media, teaching to members of the profession and students (without direct patient contact), research not involving humans, medical advisory, board or committee work (this list is not exhaustive) for which an annual practising certificate is required.

The doctor in non-clinical practice may recertify via a collegial relationship with another doctor to ensure the doctor is maintaining competence and taking part in continuing professional development (CPD) or forming a relationship with an educational supervisor within an organisational appraisal system that includes requirements for CPD.

If a doctor working in non-clinical practice can satisfy Council that their work has no risk to public health and safety they may apply to be exempt from recertification.  Such exemptions are considered individually by Council and only granted when it is clear public safety is not at risk. 

The doctor may also be able to claim a reduction of the APC fee (dependent on income) or waiving of the APC fee (if retired and giving service to the profession).

Approved by Council: August 2004