General Questions
The standards for accreditation covers governance, operational effectiveness, standards for registrants, educational and training requirements, and management of the register.
You can find out more about the assessment criteria and standards for accreditation here.
If a professional body is awarded with "Full Accreditation", the accreditation status is valid for 4 years, and the organisation has to undergo Mid-cycle Review by the Accreditation Agent during the valid period.
If a professional body is awarded with "Conditional Accreditation", the accreditation status is only applicable for up to 6 months. The respective organisation must provide written evidence on having fully addressed specific recommendations within 6 months to gain the full accreditation status. If the remedial actions are unsatisfactory or delayed beyond the time frame allowed and thus rejected by the Survey Team, the organisation will be given a “Non-accreditation” status.
Accredited healthcare professional bodies will be responsible for administering the register of their own professions and will publish their register of healthcare professionals for public's information. You may find the links to the websites of the accredited bodies for the corresponding registers of healthcare professionals.
If you would like to complain about a registrant of an accredited body, you can contact the respective accredited body. An accredited body under the AR Scheme shall have a clear complaint management mechanism in place to handle complaints received regarding the organisation and its registrants.
If you would like to make complaints or express your opinions about the Accreditation Agent in relation to their role in the AR Scheme, you can write to us at ars@dh.gov.hk.
Under the AR Scheme, an accredited body is required to make its register of healthcare professionals available to the public on website and inform the public on any changes of the register. If a practitioner is removed from the register of an accredited body, the relevant accredited body will inform the public about the name of the practitioner being removed and the reasons for removal on the organisation’s website. The respective practitioner shall not use the specific title granted by the Department of Health upon removal from the register of an accredited body.
For Healthcare Professional Organisations
The Government will provide financial resources for the implementation of the AR Scheme, including operational and assessment costs of the Accreditation Agent and other related expenses. Professional organisations do not have to pay a fee to apply for or renew accreditation.
Applying professional organisations that are dissatisfied with the accreditation result have the right to appeal to the Department of Health. They do not have to pay a fee to apply for an appeal.
Yes, applying organisations have to meet the prescribed standards on governance, operational effectiveness, standards for registrants, educational and training requirements, and management of the register in order to be accredited. You can find out more about the standards for accreditation here.
For Healthcare Professionals/ Practitioners
The Department of Health does not hold any register of healthcare professionals, or approve individuals. Under the AR Scheme, the accredited bodies hold the register of their own professions. If you want to be a member of an accredited body, you may wish to approach the accredited healthcare professional body of your profession and find out if you meet the corresponding criteria for registration.
The AR Scheme is voluntary in nature. Healthcare professional organisations and practitioners may opt to join the AR Scheme according to their own aspirations and circumstances.
On the other hand, the granting of accreditation to a professional organisation under the AR Scheme will not change the roles and scope of work of a particular profession, as well as its working relationship with other healthcare professions. The AR Scheme will not by itself result in title protection or define practice scope to the exclusion of those who choose not to join the Scheme.