Accredited professionals scheme

The following groups will not require accreditation:

• elected members or former elected members who sit on a Council or Joint Planning Board assessment panel [1]
• planning professionals who are assessing development applications under delegation for an Assessment Manager or Assessment Panel at a council
• planning professionals who are not acting as relevant authority for planning consent
• building professionals who are not acting as relevant authority for building consent
• surveyors who are not acting as relevant authorities for land division applications seeking planning consent.

[1] Council and Joint Planning Board assessment panels can include an elected member or former elected members who are not accredited professionals. The council needs to be satisfied that a person is appropriately qualified to act as a member of the assessment panel based on the person's experience in local government.

To become an Accredited Professional, practitioners will need to be accredited by the Chief Executive of the Attorney-General's Department (the Department), known as the Accreditation Authority.

An application for accreditation will need to be lodged and accompanied by evidence that supports practitioners’ eligibility to become accredited at the level that they request. Eligibility criteria is set out in the Accreditation Authority’s Qualifications, Skills & Experience Requirements (PDF, 482 KB) and Guide to the Accredited Professionals Scheme (PDF, 367 KB).

Apply to become accredited here.

Evaluation of applications

All applications for accreditation under the Scheme will be evaluated by either the Department or a selected service provider on behalf of the Department. However, only the Chief Executive of the Department will have the authority to officially offer accreditation to applicants.

Recognition of equivalent schemes

Under the Accredited Professionals Scheme Regulations, those practitioners who are registered members of a professional body under a recognised equivalent scheme may receive streamlined accreditation at a reduced fee. They must still apply for accreditation but their existing membership may be taken as evidence that they meet the requirements of the accreditation class in which they wish to operate.

More information about Equivalent Schemes can be found in the Guide to the Accredited Professionals Scheme (PDF, 367 KB).

Update to Recognised Equivalent Schemes for Building Professionals

As of 15 October 2021, the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS) categories of membership are no longer recognised as an equivalent scheme pathway for building professionals looking to obtain accreditation under the Accredited Professionals Scheme (APS).

What does this mean?

New applicants applying to be registered as accredited building professionals will need to meet a recognised pathway outlined in Accreditation Authority’s Qualifications, Skills & Experience Requirements (PDF, 482 KB) and Guide to the Accredited Professionals Scheme (PDF, 367 KB).

Accredited professionals who hold a current existing accreditation or have applied for accreditation prior to 15 October 2021 using their AIBS membership as an equivalent pathway, will not be affected provided they maintain their level of accreditation under the APS.

However, if an Accredited Professional under the APS scheme surrenders their accreditation or allows their accreditation to cease or expire, they will be required to re-apply and meet the requirements set out in the documents referred to above if they wish to regain accreditation under the APS.

For enquiries in relation to this update, please contact DIT.APSQueries@sa.gov.au.

Mutual Recognition

If you hold accreditation in another state or territory in Australia and wish to apply for recognition under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992, you will need to provide documentary evidence of the accreditation held in another state or territory.

The Mutual Recognition Act 1992 entitles a person who is registered in a state or territory other than South Australia for an occupation equivalent to a category of accreditation regulated by the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 to apply for recognition of the person’s interstate registration, to carry out that occupation in South Australia.

Automatic Mutual Recognition

A new scheme to automatically recognise interstate licences and registrations will make it easier for workers to take up job opportunities across most of Australia. Building professionals will be able to use their current licence/registration without having to apply and pay for a new one when working interstate.

Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) will progressively roll out across the participating occupations, states and territories. Planning and Land Use Services is gearing up for AMR to commence for relevant accredited professionals on 1 July 2022.

More information about AMR can be found here.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Regulation 17(1)(a) requires accredited professionals to hold a policy for Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) that is reasonable and adequate taking into account the amount and nature of work undertaken by the accredited professional unless a Regulation 17(2) exemption applies. The accreditation authority has determined that the minimum levels of insurance considered reasonable and adequate are:

• Accredited Professional – Building level 1 - $5,000,000;
• Accredited Professional – Building level 2 - $2,000,000;
• Accredited Professional – Building level 3 - $1,000,000; and
• Accredited Professional – Building level 4 - $1,000,000

The onus is on each individual accredited professional to assess their own circumstances and ensure that their level of PII cover is adequate taking into account the nature and amount of work undertaken or you may be liable for claims above the level of your insurance cover.

Conditions of accreditation

As an ongoing condition of accreditation under the Scheme, practitioners will be expected to demonstrate that they have maintained suitable skills, knowledge and qualifications by undertaking continuous professional development; be required to maintain an appropriate level of insurance; comply with the Accredited Professionals Scheme Code of Conduct (PDF, 517 KB) and notify the Chief Executive of the Department of any change to their professional circumstances.

Changes to Planning Level 1 – Conditional Accreditation

The Planning Level 1 Assessment Manager role is important in providing advice to Assessment Panels and decision making in their own right.

When the Accredited Professionals Scheme (the Scheme) was first introduced, applicants seeking Planning Level 1 accreditation—that were not members of an equivalent scheme or only held full member status—were able to apply for Planning Level 1 – Conditional Accreditation.

Planning Level 1 – Conditional Accreditation provided a two-year transitional period, applied from the date of initial accreditation, during which the accredited professional must demonstrate peer reviewed compliance with level 1 core competencies as listed on pages 3 to 5 of the Accreditation Authority's Qualifications, Skills & Experience Requirements for Accredited Professionals (PDF, 482 KB).

This can be achieved by completing the APS Core Competency Assessment Course or if the applicant is a PIA Full Member, by completing the transition to PIA Registered Planner.

From 1 February 2022, Planning Level 1 – Conditional Accreditation will no longer be available under the Accredited Professionals Scheme (the Scheme).

New applicants wishing to hold Planning Level 1 accreditation will be required to demonstrate peer reviewed compliance with the level 1 core competencies prior to being eligible to hold accreditation as a Planning Level 1 Assessment Manager.

Please note, this does not apply to accredited professionals who currently hold Planning Level 1 – Conditional Accreditation. Should a current accredited professional need to apply for an extension of time to complete these core competencies please fill out the Extension Request Form (PDF, 192 KB) and email to DIT.APSQueries@sa.gov.au to be assessed on a case by case basis.

Accredited professionals with any questions about their accreditation or this update can contact the Accredited Professionals Scheme Coordinator on 1800 752 664 (and select option 2) or email DIT.APSQueries@sa.gov.au.

There will be several classes of accreditation available under the Scheme and each will require a different level of qualification, skill and experience. The accreditation classes are not dissimilar to the accreditation levels identified by the Planning Institute of Australia, the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute

Planning professionals and surveys

There are four classes of planning accreditation available as well as a class for surveyors under the Scheme. Each class requires different qualifications, skills  and experience (PDF, 482 KB), and each level is able to assess different types of proposals.

_{*All approved activities are subject to the Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) (Development Assessment) Variation Regulations 2019}

Building professionals

There are four classes of building accreditation available. Each class requires different qualifications, skills and experience, and each class is able to assess different types of proposals.

Becoming accredited at Building Level 2 also includes Building Level 3 and Building Level 4 accreditation. This is the only higher level accreditation that includes accreditation at the lower levels.

_{* All approved activities are subject to the Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) (Development Assessment) Variation Regulations 2019}

The accreditation scheme was introduced in April 2019 to recognise the professional expertise of planning practitioners in the important decisions that they make. The Planning Level 1 role is important in providing advice to Assessment Panels and decision making in their own right.

In order to obtain accreditation at Planning Level 1 a prospective accredited professional must demonstrate peer reviewed compliance (in accordance with a process established by the Accreditation Authority) with the (5) core competencies as set out in the Accreditation Authority's Qualifications, Skills & Experience Requirements for Accredited Professionals (PDF, 482 KB):

1. Professionalism and integrity
2. Interpreting and using spatial thinking
3. Communicating and engaging with stakeholders
4. Understanding and working with planning frameworks
5. Using a creative and integrative approach.

The APS Core Competency Assessment Course is available through an online platform to complete these requirements. The cost of enrolment in the course is $490 which provides access to all course material through the online platform including handbooks and guidebooks.

Prospective Accredited Professionals are required to complete one assessment in each competency area and submit them within quarterly marking windows. Marking windows close on the first Friday in February, May, August and November.

Successful applicants will receive their certificate of completion from the Accreditation Authority which can be used to demonstrate achievement when lodging an application for accreditation at Planning Level 1. Please note that completion of the core competencies does not guarantee approval of your application for accreditation at Planning Level 1. You are still required to meet the other relevant criteria.

If you are a current member of an equivalent scheme recognised by the Accreditation Authority please contact your membership provider prior to determine if alternative peer reviewed compliance with the (5) core competencies is offered as part of your membership.

To access the APS Core Competency Assessment Course for Planning Level 1 Accreditation please complete the form below so that your enrolment can be arranged.

The Accredited Professionals Scheme will help to facilitate the following:

• Better decision making
  The Scheme will ensure that planning and building professionals are suitably qualified and experienced to assess development applications and that they adhere to relevant planning requirements and a strict code of conduct.
• Improved recognition of professionals
  The Scheme will publicly recognise the skills and experience of planning and building professionals and the value they bring to the decision-making process.
• Faster processing for applicants
  Development applicants will have the choice to engage accredited professionals in the public or private sectors, resulting in faster and more responsive turnaround times on applications.
• Better management of complaints
  The Scheme will provide a clear auditing and compliance process to ensure that all decisions are transparent and that issues and complaints can be investigated swiftly and fairly.
• Centralised public register for all accredited professionals
  All Accredited Professionals will be registered on a central directory on the PlanSA website, making it easier for users to access up-to-date information on all planning and building decision-makers, including their areas of expertise.

There are a number of significant benefits to becoming accredited as a decision-maker in South Australia’s planning system:

• As an Accredited Professional, your skills and experience in the development assessment process will be formally recognised and the importance of your role in the planning and development profession will be elevated sector-wide.
• You will also be part of a high-profile community of practice that leads the nation in professional standards and conduct and values ongoing professional development.
• Accredited professionals will also benefit from applicants having greater confidence in the development assessment process and the people who administer it through enhanced accountability and flexibility.
• Importantly, clearer auditing and compliance processes will be available to all accredited professionals to ensure that all issues and complaints are investigated swiftly and fairly and practitioners can continue to do their work without unwarranted or prolonged disruption.

A new Accredited Professionals brand identity has been developed for use by Accredited Professionals to assist in publicly identifying as accredited under the Accredited Professionals Scheme.

Use of the Accredited Professionals brand identity is permitted by Accredited Professionals who hold active accreditation under the Scheme; however, strict terms of use apply which have been outlined in a supporting brand style guide (PDF, 223 KB).

Usage

Use of the Accredited Professionals brand identity is permitted by Accredited Professionals who hold active accreditation under the Scheme. Under Regulation 31 of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Accredited Professionals) Regulations 2019, a person must not purportedly act as an Accredited Professional unless the person holds accreditation under these regulations.

Maximum penalty: $10 000.

It is essential that Accredited Professionals ensure they only use the brand identity whilst their accreditation remains active under the scheme.

If you require more information about the Accredited Professionals Scheme brand identity, please email DIT.APSQueries@sa.gov.au or call 1800 752 664 and select option 2.

The accredited professionals register shows planning and building professionals who are accredited under the Accredited Professionals Scheme.

• Continuing Professional Development - Building Accredited Professionals (Levels 1 to 4) (PDF, 329 KB)
• Continuing Professional Development - Planning Accredited Professionals (Levels 1 to 4 & Surveyor) (PDF, 399 KB)

• Statutory declaration form for Accredited Professionals (PDF, 183 KB)
• Skills and experience form for Accredited Professionals (DOCX, 118 KB)
• Continued professional development activity log form for Accredited Professionals (DOCX, 109 KB)
• Practical experience report for Accredited Professionals (DOCX, 42 KB)

• Guide to the Accredited Professionals Scheme (PDF, 367 KB)
• Accreditation Authority's qualifications, skills and experience requirements for Accredited Professionals (PDF, 482 KB)
• Code of Conduct for the Accredited Professionals Scheme (PDF, 517 KB)

• Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Accredited Professionals) Regulations 2019

• Building Advisory Notice 06/19 - Regulation 17 of the PDI (Accredited Professionals) Regulations 2019 - An Accredited Professional’s responsibility to hold “reasonable and adequate insurance” (PDF, 218 KB)

• Forgot password instructions for creating an Accredited Professionals Scheme online account (PDF, 428 KB)
• Applying to become an Accredited Professional eModule (PPS, 7491 KB)