Got the audit email? Or worried you will? Take a breath. If your records are organised, an audit is a routine paperwork check, not a disciplinary organisation.
Who gets audited
Every May during annual Registration, you declare to NMBA that you met your mandatory 20 hours. AHPRA conducts random annual audits. If selected you will receive an audit notice with a checklist outlining the evidence you need to provide.
What they ask for
Two things: evidence you did your hours, and your CPD plan for the previous year (1 June to 31 May) i.e CPD portfolio +plan or evidence of participation.
What your records need to show
The NMBA expects your portfolio to outline:
- Your learning need - gap in knowledge
- Your plan - what activity you selected to achieve this
- What you did - the activity you choose
- The outcome - reflection + how this improved your competency and practice
- A short reflection on how it changed your practice
For self-directed learning, add references to what you read and the date you completed the activity. Certificates are your proof for courses and events.
How long to keep them
At least five years from the date you did the CPD.
The secret is log it as you go
The hardest part of an AHPRA audit isn't the standards. It's searching for a conference certificate from three years ago.
In the Nurses & Midwives Academy app, your course certificates save themselves. You can also log CPD from other external sources in 3 steps and upload your evidence. When you need it, it all comes out as one audit-ready report.
Start your folder now, and your first 20 hours are on us. Get my 20 free hours
Sources: NMBA Fact sheet: Continuing professional development, NMBA Guidelines: Continuing professional development
