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Online course · Australia

Professionalism and Professional Standards for Podiatrists

Conduct, Scope, Records, CPD and Accountability Under the Podiatry Board's Standards

  • About 2 hours
  • 15 scenario questions
  • Reflective account
  • Certificate of completion
  • Online, self-paced

About this course

Several Podiatry Board documents changed in 2025 and 2026, from health records to infection control and the specialist title. This course brings podiatrists up to date with the current standards and shows how to evidence them in a busy practice.

The course starts by explaining what professional standards are, why they bind you and which Podiatry Board documents apply now, with their effective dates. It then covers conduct in and outside the clinic, titles and registration status, indemnity insurance and professional communication through referrals, reports and telehealth.

Scope gets detailed treatment, including documenting and extending scope, practising with the endorsement for scheduled medicines, surgical podiatrists and the professional performance framework, and supervision of assistants and students. A section on health records explains the Board's guidelines that took effect in July 2026, what a complete record contains, corrections, templates, photographs, AI tools, retention and practice closure.

Further sections cover the CPD standard, an audit-ready portfolio, CPR and anaphylaxis readiness, recency of practice, clinical governance, responsibilities of owners, sole practitioners and contractors, and what happens when your conduct or performance is questioned.

What you will learn

  • Understand how registration standards, codes and guidelines bind podiatrists under the National Law
  • Identify the Podiatry Board documents in force now and the dates they took effect
  • Renew accurately and give seven-day notices when required
  • Use protected and specialist titles correctly, including "surgical podiatrist"
  • Hold professional indemnity insurance that covers everything you actually do
  • Define and evidence your scope, including practice under the scheduled medicines endorsement
  • Keep complete, attributable records consistent with the Board's health records guidelines
  • Meet CPD, CPR and anaphylaxis training and recency requirements with an audit-ready portfolio

Who this course is for

  • Podiatrists in private, public and community practice
  • Podiatrists who prescribe under the scheduled medicines endorsement
  • Surgical podiatrists and podiatrists working with surgical teams
  • Sole practitioners, contractors and clinic owners
  • Podiatrists coming back after parental leave, illness or time overseas

How the course works

  1. Enrol online and the course appears under My Courses in your Probity Courses account, ready to open on a computer, tablet or phone.

  2. Work through 6 sections and 24 short lessons in order, at your own pace. Your place is saved in the browser you use, so you can stop and come back.

  3. Use the key points, scenarios and reflection prompts in each section, and write your own notes as you go; they stay with your course pack.

  4. Finish with a 15-question final assessment. You need 12 correct answers (80%) to pass, and you can retake it after a short pause if needed.

  5. Write your reflective account, submit the short feedback form and your completion is recorded. Download a certificate of completion stating the estimated learning time (about 2 hours); record the time you actually spend.

Course content

7 sections · About 2 hours · 15-question final assessment

1The Professional Standards Framework for Podiatry4 lessons
  • What Professional Standards Are and Why They Bind You
  • The Board's Current Standards, Codes and Guidance
  • Professional Capabilities and the Expected Standard
  • Renewal, Declarations and Notices to the Board
2Professional Conduct, Titles and Insurance4 lessons
  • Conduct Expected In and Outside the Clinic
  • Titles, Registration Status and Practising Lawfully
  • Professional Indemnity Insurance and Where You Practise
  • Professional Communication: Referrals, Reports and Telehealth
3Scope, the Scheduled Medicines Endorsement and Surgical Podiatry4 lessons
  • Defining, Documenting and Extending Your Scope
  • Practising With the Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines
  • Surgical Podiatrists and the Professional Performance Framework
  • Supervision, Assistants and Students
4Health Records and Documentation Standards4 lessons
  • The 2026 Podiatry Guidelines on Health Records
  • What a Complete Podiatry Record Contains
  • Corrections, Templates, Photographs and AI Tools
  • Retention, Access, Transfer and Practice Closure
5CPD, Emergency Readiness and Recency of Practice4 lessons
  • The Podiatry CPD Standard in Detail
  • Building an Audit-Ready CPD Portfolio
  • CPR, Anaphylaxis and Emergency Readiness
  • Recency of Practice and Returning After a Break
6Accountability, Governance and Responding to Concerns4 lessons
  • Who Holds Podiatrists to Account
  • Clinical Governance in Podiatry Practice
  • Owners, Sole Practitioners and Contractors
  • When Your Conduct or Performance Is Questioned
7Conclusion, Final Assessment and Reflection4 lessons
  • Conclusion and key points
  • References and quick-reference guide
  • Final assessment (15 questions, 80% pass mark)
  • Your reflective account

Assessment and certificate

  • Certificate of completion stating the estimated learning time (about 2 hours); record the time you actually spend.
  • A written reflective account you can keep with your CPD records.

Questions about this course

What changed with the surgical podiatrist title?

From 5 October 2026, 'surgical podiatrist' is the specialist title for podiatrists with specialist registration in podiatric surgery, replacing the earlier title. The course explains how to describe yourself and colleagues correctly.

Are the new health records guidelines covered?

Yes. The course explains the Podiatry Board's guidelines on health records, which replaced the earlier clinical records guidelines in July 2026, and turns them into a practical checklist.

Does it explain the emergency training requirements?

Yes. It covers the CPR and anaphylaxis training expectations alongside the CPD standard and how to keep evidence for audit.

Can I count this course towards my CPD?

That is your call under your Board's CPD standard: you choose activities that match your scope and the learning needs in your plan. If this course fits, file the certificate of completion, record the time you actually spend and note one change you will make in practice.

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