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Core course for every profession

Probity and Financial Integrity for Health Practitioners

Honesty in Records, Billing, Declarations and Conflicts of Interest

  • 2 CPD hoursEstimated learning time
  • 15-question assessmentPass mark 80%
  • Online, self-pacedStart any time
  • CertificateFor your CPD records

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About this course

Patients, funders, employers and regulators rely every day on what health practitioners write, sign, claim and declare, and they rarely have any way of checking it. That is why regulators treat dishonesty so seriously. A false record, an inflated report, a misdescribed claim or a renewal box ticked without checking can lead to more serious consequences than the clinical issue behind it, and concealment during an investigation makes outcomes worse still.

This course shows you how probity is tested in ordinary practice and how to stay on the right side of the line. It covers records, reports and certificates; honest claiming across Medicare, private insurers, the NDIS, DVA and workers' compensation; transparent fees; registration declarations and seven-day notifications; conflicts of interest under the National Law and Ahpra's September 2026 interim guidance; gifts, bequests and financial dealings with patients; and the systems and habits that make honesty the default.

It is designed for all registered professions, with practical scripts, checklists and case illustrations from Australian practice, and it shows you exactly what to do when you discover a mistake of your own, from preserving the record to correcting claims and telling the people affected.

Who this course is for

  • Registered health practitioners in any National Scheme profession
  • Practitioners who write reports for insurers, the NDIS, employers or courts
  • Practice owners and managers who set fees, billing systems and incentives
  • Practitioners who sell products, hold business interests or work with industry
  • Practitioners preparing for renewal or a CPD audit
  • Practitioners who want a structured refresher after a probity-related concern
  • Early-career practitioners building honest habits from the start
  • Researchers, educators and supervisors who need to model honest records, authorship and CPD reporting for others

What you’ll learn

  • Write and sign honestly

    Keep records, reports and certificates you can stand behind, and correct errors transparently.

  • Claim and charge with integrity

    Claim only for what you did and explain fees before treatment, whatever the funder.

  • Declare and notify accurately

    Make honest registration, employer and insurer declarations and notify Ahpra of listed events within seven days.

  • Manage conflicts of interest

    Recognise financial and commercial interests, disclose them to each patient and keep recommendations based on need.

Learning objectives

  • Define probity and financial integrity and explain why regulators treat dishonesty as a serious professional concern.
  • Identify the National Law provisions and code expectations that deal with honesty, referrals and financial interests.
  • Write records, reports and certificates that are accurate and that you can stand behind.
  • Apply honest claiming principles across Medicare, private insurers, the NDIS, DVA and workers' compensation.
  • Make truthful declarations to regulators, employers and insurers, and notify Ahpra of relevant events on time.
  • Recognise, disclose and manage financial and commercial conflicts of interest, including under Ahpra's 2026 interim guidance.
  • Respond appropriately to gifts, bequests and financial proposals from patients.
  • Build systems and habits that make honesty the default, and speak up about probity concerns.

Scenarios covered

Practice situations you reason through, step by step, in the course.

  • The note after the complaint

    A dentist wants to add detail to an old record after a complaint. You learn how to make a transparent late entry instead of altering the record.

  • The NDIS report the client wants

    A long-term client asks for a higher recommended frequency than the assessment supports. You write an honest report and handle the conversation.

  • Rent relief for referrals

    A pathology company offers cheaper rent linked to referrals. You apply the National Law and decide what to do.

  • The bequest

    An older patient leaves her pharmacist a large sum in her will. You work through the professional response and the advice to seek.

  • The renewal shortfall

    A practitioner has not completed enough CPD before renewal. You compare the consequences of an honest declaration and a false one.

  • The upfront treatment plan

    A clinic sells a discounted 24-visit plan to every new patient. You test it against clinical need, fees transparency and conflicts guidance.

Course contents

6 sections, 26 lessons, then the final assessment.

  1. Section 1: Probity and Why Regulators Treat Dishonesty Seriously4 lessons
    • 1.1 What Probity Means
    • 1.2 Where the Obligation Comes From
    • 1.3 How Probity Problems Develop
    • 1.4 Why Dishonesty Is Treated So Seriously
  2. Section 2: Honesty in Records, Reports and Certificates5 lessons
    • 2.1 Records as Statements of Fact
    • 2.2 Reports for Insurers, Employers, Courts and Funders
    • 2.3 Certificates, Forms and Signatures
    • 2.4 Research, Teaching and Academic Integrity
    • 2.5 References, CVs and Describing Yourself
  3. Section 3: Honest Billing, Fees and Claims4 lessons
    • 3.1 Principles of Honest Claiming
    • 3.2 Transparent Fees and Financial Consent
    • 3.3 When Billing Practices Become Dishonest
    • 3.4 Correcting Errors and Repaying Money
  4. Section 4: Honest Declarations to Regulators, Employers and Others4 lessons
    • 4.1 Registration Declarations
    • 4.2 Notice of Certain Events
    • 4.3 Employers, Credentialing and Insurers
    • 4.4 Honesty When You Have Made a Mistake
  5. Section 5: Conflicts of Interest5 lessons
    • 5.1 Recognising Conflicts of Interest
    • 5.2 Referral Benefits, Pecuniary Interests and the National Law
    • 5.3 Ahpra's 2026 Interim Guidance on Commercial Conflicts
    • 5.4 Managing a Conflict You Cannot Avoid
    • 5.5 Industry, Gifts and Sponsorship
  6. Section 6: Financial Dealings With Patients and a Culture of Integrity4 lessons
    • 6.1 Gifts, Bequests and Financial Involvement With Patients
    • 6.2 Recognising Financial Vulnerability and Abuse
    • 6.3 Systems That Support Probity
    • 6.4 Speaking Up About Probity Concerns
  7. Final assessment and written reflection15 questions

Assessment and certificate

  1. Work through the course

    Study each section at your own pace, including the case illustrations and apply-it questions.

  2. Pass the assessment

    15 scenario-based questions. You need 12 correct (80%) to pass.

  3. Write your reflection

    A short written reflection on how the learning applies to your own practice.

  4. Download your certificate

    Shows your name, the course, the date and 2 CPD hours. Anyone can check it on our verification page.

What you keep for your CPD records

  • A certificate of completion recording approximately 2 CPD hours of estimated learning time
  • A written reflective account on probity pressures in your own practice
  • A conflicts of interest disclosure exercise you can keep in your CPD portfolio
  • A quick-reference checklist for records, claims, declarations and gifts

How certificates and CPD records workVerify a certificate

Primary sources

The course is built on these official documents. Check them for the current version.

Questions about this course

Does Ahpra accredit or approve this course?

No. It is an independent educational course. It is not accredited, not approved and not endorsed by Ahpra, any National Board or any professional body. You decide whether it fits your CPD plan and record the time you actually spend.

What does probity mean for a health practitioner?

Honesty and integrity in professional dealings: accurate records, truthful reports and certificates, honest claims and fees, truthful declarations, disclosure of conflicts of interest, and never using a patient's trust for personal financial gain.

Do I have to tell patients about my financial interests?

Yes. Referring to or recommending a service you have an undisclosed financial interest in is listed as unprofessional conduct, and Ahpra's September 2026 interim guidance says disclosure must be made to each patient. A notice on a website is not enough.

Can I accept gifts from patients?

Small token gifts can usually be accepted in line with workplace policy. Large gifts, money, loans, bequests, investment offers and requests to act as executor or attorney should be declined, documented and discussed with your insurer or MDO.

What happens if I make a false declaration at renewal?

A false declaration can lead to regulatory action and is often treated more seriously than the shortfall it hides. If you cannot honestly declare that you meet a standard, declare the shortfall and seek advice about how to address it.

What if my employer pressures me to bill or sell more?

You remain personally responsible for your conduct. Section 136 of the National Law makes it an offence for anyone to direct or incite you to act unprofessionally, and the 2026 interim guidance says employers should not set targets that put business interests ahead of patients.

Will this course satisfy a condition or undertaking about probity?

Not by itself. Ahpra usually needs to accept a course nominated for an education condition before you start it. Confirm with Ahpra or your Board, and your lawyer or insurer, before relying on any course.

How long does the course take?

About 2 hours, including reading, apply-it activities, a reflective account and 15 scenario-based questions with a pass mark of 12. Record the time you actually spend.

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