Ahpra trials fee deferral for new medical graduates
09 Sep 2026
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and National Boards already provide support to graduates and registered practitioners. This includes a 30% rebate on annual renewal fees for practitioners taking parental or other protected leave.
The new pilot will allow Australian and New Zealand medical graduates applying for provisional registration for the first time to defer part of their registration costs.
The trial will run from 9 October 2026 to 4 January 2027. Graduates who request fee deferral before applying for provisional registration will still pay the application fee upfront. They will then have until 31 March 2027 to pay the registration fee.
Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner said upfront registration costs can be difficult for graduates moving from study into the workforce.
Medical Board of Australia Chair Dr Susan O’Dwyer said many medical students finish their studies after a period of limited income and may not begin earning a full-time salary until they start their first medical job.
In 2026/27, Australian and New Zealand medical graduates are required to pay a $332 application fee and a $543 registration fee.
Ahpra said the pilot will help assess demand, implementation requirements and system impacts. The findings may also help guide future flexible payment options for other registered health professions.
Ahpra trials fee deferral for new medical graduates
Source: Ahpra