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Every doctor who practises in Australia, including those who consult by phone or video, must be registered with AHPRA. You can check any doctor’s registration yourself in a couple of minutes using the free public register on the AHPRA website. Checking registration, and looking out for a few warning signs, is the simplest way to make sure a telehealth service is safe.
Here’s what AHPRA registration means, how to search the register step by step, and what else to look for when choosing a telehealth service.
What is AHPRA?
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) works with the Medical Board of Australia and other national boards to regulate registered health practitioners. To be registered, a doctor must meet standards set by the Medical Board, including requirements for:
- approved qualifications and training
- English language skills
- criminal history checks
- professional indemnity insurance
- continuing professional development
- recency of practice
Doctors renew their registration every year. If a doctor isn’t registered, they can’t legally practise medicine in Australia, whether in a clinic or online.
How to check a doctor’s AHPRA registration
The AHPRA register of practitioners is public and there’s no cost to search it.
- Find the doctor’s full name. A trustworthy telehealth service will tell you the name of the doctor you’re seeing. You can ask for it at the start of your consultation, and it should appear on any prescription, certificate or referral.
- Go to the register. Open the AHPRA register of practitioners on the AHPRA website.
- Choose the profession. Select “Medical Practitioner”.
- Search by name or registration number. Enter the doctor’s name. You can narrow the search by state or suburb. If you have the registration number (for doctors it starts with “MED”), searching by number is more precise.
- Open the doctor’s record. Check the details described below.
If you can’t find the doctor, they may be registered under a slightly different name, such as their full legal name rather than a shortened version. Try variations, or ask the service for the doctor’s registration number.
What to look for on the register
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Registration status | Should say “Registered”. This means the doctor is currently allowed to practise. |
| Registration type | For example, general registration or specialist registration. GPs who have completed specialist training in general practice usually have specialist registration in general practice. |
| Speciality | Shows the doctor’s recognised speciality, such as general practice, if they hold specialist registration. |
| Conditions, undertakings or reprimands | Any limits on how the doctor can practise, or past reprimands, are listed here. Most doctors have none. |
| Principal place of practice | The suburb or area where the doctor mainly works. Telehealth doctors may consult patients in other states. |
AHPRA also publishes a list of cancelled practitioners and of people who have agreed not to practise, which you can check if you have concerns.
What is FRACGP?
FRACGP stands for Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. It shows a doctor has completed specialist training and assessment in general practice through the RACGP. You’ll often see it after a GP’s name.
Other signs of a safe telehealth service
Registration is essential, but it isn’t the only thing to check. A safe telehealth service will usually:
- Talk to you in real time. The Medical Board of Australia’s telehealth guidelines say that prescribing, issuing certificates or referring based on an online questionnaire, without a real-time consultation, is not good practice.
- Be clear about who it is. Look for an Australian business name, contact details and a phone number you can call.
- Be upfront about fees. You should know what you’ll pay, and whether Medicare covers it, before the consultation.
- Explain how it protects your information. Look for a privacy policy that explains how your health information is stored and shared.
- Tell you when telehealth isn’t enough. A good doctor will say if you need to be examined in person or go to an emergency department.
- Support your regular care. It should offer to send a summary to your usual GP.
Warning signs
- You can’t find out the name of the doctor treating you.
- A prescription or certificate is offered after filling in a form, with no conversation.
- The website promises a particular medicine or result before you’ve been assessed.
- There’s no clear business name, address or way to contact the service.
- Fees are unclear, or you’re pushed to sign up to ongoing subscriptions.
What to do if you have a concern
If something doesn’t feel right, raising it with the service is often the quickest way to sort it out. If you’re concerned about a doctor’s conduct or the safety of their care, you can raise a concern with AHPRA. In New South Wales, concerns go to the Health Care Complaints Commission, and in Queensland to the Office of the Health Ombudsman.
If you think a doctor isn’t registered at all, you can report it to AHPRA.
How Teldoc works
Teldoc Australia is an independent, Australian-owned telehealth GP service. All consultations are with AHPRA-registered GPs, by phone or video in real time, 7 days a week from 9 am to 7 pm (Sydney time). Our doctors will tell you if you need to be seen in person, and with your consent we can send a summary to your usual GP. Our fees are on our fees page, and you can learn more about our team.
For more on what to expect, see how a telehealth consultation works and what telehealth can and can’t do.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a doctor is AHPRA registered?
Search the doctor’s name or registration number on the AHPRA register of practitioners, on the AHPRA website. Select “Medical Practitioner”, then check that their registration status says “Registered”.
Does it cost anything to search the AHPRA register?
No. The AHPRA register of practitioners is public and anyone can search it at no cost.
Do telehealth doctors need to be registered in my state?
Registration with AHPRA is national, so a registered doctor can consult patients anywhere in Australia, including by telehealth.
Is it safe to get a prescription from an online form?
The Medical Board of Australia says prescribing based on an online questionnaire, without a real-time consultation with a doctor, is not good practice. Choose a service where a doctor speaks with you by phone or video.
What does it mean if a doctor has conditions on their registration?
Conditions are limits on how a doctor can practise, set by their regulator. They’re listed on the register. If you have questions, you can ask the service or contact AHPRA.
This article is general health information and isn’t a substitute for advice from your own doctor. If you’re worried about your health, speak to a GP. In an emergency, call 000.
Medically reviewed by Dr Vafa Derakshan (MBBS, FRACGP), September 2026
