Practitioners reminded to renew registration on time

More than 19,500 dental practitioners with general, specialist or non-practising registration are due to renew by 30 November.

National Board Chair, Dr John Lockwood AM, said about 65 per cent of dental practitioners had already renewed their registration, the majority doing so online. "It's great to see dental practitioners heeding the call to renew online and on time,' he said. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), on behalf of the National Board, is sending dental practitioners a series of email and hard copy reminders to renew. "Anyone who may not have received a reminder to renew should contact AHPRA's Customer Service Team on 1300-419-495 to check that their registered contact details are up to date," Dr Lockwood said. As outlined in the National Law, renewal applications received after the registration expiry date will incur a late payment fee in addition to the annual renewal fee. "I urge all dental practitioners who have not yet renewed their registration to act now by using AHPRA's secure online service for renewal," Dr Lockwood said. Dental practitioners, whose application is received on time or during the following one month late period, can continue practising while their application is processed. Practitioners who do not apply to renew their registration by 31 December 2013 will have lapsed registration. They will be removed from the national register of practitioners and will not be able to practise dentistry in Australia.