The important decisions you make underpin South Australia’s efficient and effective planning system.
The Accredited Professionals Scheme was introduced to provide improved confidence in your decisions as well as the professionalism of decision making more generally.
Performing your role at a high standard requires you to stay up to date with latest developments and be able to respond to the ever-changing nature of the professional environment.
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. The authority recommends seeking independent legal advice in this area if you are unsure if your cover is adequate.
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 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, 650 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 DHUD.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 DHUD.APSQueries@sa.gov.au.
An Accredited Professional seeking to remain accredited must apply, on a yearly basis, to the Accreditation Authority for the continuation of their accreditation under Regulation 19 of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Accredited Professionals) Regulations 2019 and should:
- be in the approved form and lodged via the PlanSA portal (using your accredited professional profile)
- be supported by any information specified in the approved form, including the CPD undertaken and insurance information (if applicable)
- be accompanied by the relevant fee
- be made at least 14 days but not more than two months before the date of expiry of the accreditation.
If an application for continuation is not made in accordance with the Regulations the accreditation will cease at which time you will be removed from the Accredited Professionals Register and your access to the Development Applications Processing (DAP) System may be effected.
A person must not purportedly act as an accredited professional unless the person holds an accreditation under the Regulations.
Accredited Professionals must ensure they are complying with these Regulations at all times.
If you experience difficulty renewing your accreditation, please contact the Service Desk on 1800 752 664 option 1.
As set out under Regulation 19, a person seeking to remain accredited must apply on a yearly basis to the Accreditation Authority for the continuation of the accreditation. An annual application must be made at least 14 days before each anniversary of the granting of the accreditation.
An accredited professional may apply to the Accreditation Authority, via the portal, for an additional 3 months’ time to lodge their continuation of accreditation application in certain circumstances. A request for extension of time to renew must be made 14 days prior to expiry of the anniversary date.
The acceptable criteria for potentially being granted an extension of time to renew – noting this remains a decision for the Accreditation Authority – are:
- being pregnant or taking leave from work due to the birth of a child; or
- being seriously ill or severely disabled; or
- being required to care for a member of the Accredited Professional’s immediate family for an extended period of time
- being under severe financial stress
- on the basis of other unavoidable or extenuating circumstances of which the accredited professional has provided sufficient evidence.
Where an extension of time to renew is approved, this will also provide an additional three months for the accredited professional to complete CPD.
An accredited professional will still be required to apply to renew the accreditation prior to the end of the 3-month extension end date.
Where an accredited professional undertakes CPD during a three-month extension period, that CPD can only be counted towards one CPD period.
Where an extension of time to renew is refused, the accredited professional will still have the ability to lodge a renewal application for 14 days after the refusal or up until their anniversary date, whichever is later.
An accredited professional will be able to apply to the Accreditation Authority when they renew their accreditation to change their anniversary date to a date that is earlier than what would otherwise be their next anniversary date.
In doing so, an accredited professional may need to liaise with the Accreditation Authority regarding Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.
This may assist accredited professionals in aligning their accreditation anniversary under the scheme with their accreditation held with other professional bodies, CPD activities or their insurance renewals.
It is important to note that any request to amend an accreditation date cannot result in an extension of the anniversary date. As such the accredited professionals will need to lodge a separate renewal application prior to the new nominated anniversary date.
Subject to the length of this period, the Authority may consider waiving (in full or part) any fees associated with the next renewal.
As a result, should an accredited professional subsequently require an exemption from the requirement to complete CPD in the next renewal period, they will need to follow the process outlined at 5.6 of the Guide to the Accredited Professionals Scheme (PDF, 329 KB).
In accordance with Regulation 19(6)(a), an accreditation will cease where a continuation of accreditation application is not made or determined by the Authority in the required time frame.
Where an accredited professional has failed to renew their accreditation in the required time frame, they will have the ability to reapply for an expired accreditation, through a streamlined process (as opposed to completing a new application), provided the accreditation has not been expired for more than 12 months.
In doing so the applicant will be required to complete an application with supporting documents and show evidence of CPD completed within the previous 12 months OR submit a request for exemption in accordance with the process outlined at 5.6 of the Guide to the Accredited Professionals Scheme (PDF, 329 KB).
Fees are set out by a Ministerial fee notice (PDF, 284 KB) published in the Government Gazette. A simplified version of these fees is set out below:
| Fees under Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Accredited Professionals) Regulations 2019 | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application for accreditation (non-equivalent scheme pathway) | $628.00 |
| Application for accreditation under an equivalent scheme pathway | $303.00 |
| Reapplication for accreditation within 12 months | $303.00 |
| Application for continuation of accreditation/renewal | $202.00 |
| Late application fee | $67.00 |
| Application for enrolment into APS core competency course |
$566.50 (inc. GST) |
As of 2 April 2024, a fee for private accredited professionals using the ePlanning system was introduced.
The fee applies to all decisions made on applications submitted from 2 April 2024 that have been issued a consent decision of either ‘granted’ or ‘refused’.
Fees will be billed quarterly for decisions made in the previous quarter. Reports are available through the Development Application Processing (DAP) system that provides a summary of the consent decisions made in any given date range, including the total payable fee amount and the list of applications where a consent decision has been made.
Fees are set out by a Ministerial fee notice (PDF, 284 KB) published in the Government Gazette.
You are required to undertake Continuous Professional Development (CPD) as part of your accreditation to ensure that you continue to maintain and broaden your knowledge and abilities.
CPD is a mandatory requirement, which must be completed in order to ensure the continuation of your accreditation and that your accreditation will cease where you have not met the prescribed requirements
The Guide to the Accredited Professionals Scheme (PDF, 329 KB) provides further information about CPD under the Accredited Professionals Scheme including how to apply for an exemption from this requirement in specific circumstances.
On renewal you are required to complete a Continued professional development activity log form for Accredited Professionals (XLSX, 24 KB) demonstrating your compliance with the requirements.
Whether you are looking for a long or short course, a topic of special interest, in person or online, CPD courses are readily available from a variety of providers.
The table below provides a summary of the mandatory professional competencies required to be completed by Planning and Building professionals. The table can also be found in the Guide to the Accredited Professionals Scheme (PDF, 329 KB).
| Planning | Building |
|---|---|
| If you hold Planning Level 1 only or in combination with other Planning levels (20 units) | If you hold Building Level 1, Building Level 2 or Building Level 3 (20 units) |
20 CPD units in each 12-month accreditation period of which 7 units must be completed in the following professional competencies:
| 20 CPD units in each 12-month accreditation period of which 9 units must be completed in the following professional competencies:
|
| If you ONLY hold Planning Level 2 (4 units) | If you hold Building Level 4 (10 units) |
4 CPD units in each 12-month accreditation period of which 4 CPD units must be completed in the following professional competencies:
| 10 CPD units in each 12-month accreditation period in which 4 units must be completed in the following professional competencies:
|
| If you hold Planning Level 3, Planning Level 4, or Surveyor only or in combination with other Planning levels (other than Planning Level 1) (20 units) | |
20 CPD units in each 12-month accreditation period of which 5 units must be completed in the following professional competencies:
|
Note:
- If an accredited professional holds Planning Level 1 accreditation, they are able to undertake the functions of a Planning Level 2, 3 & 4 without the need to complete additional CPD other than what is listed under Planning Level 1.
- If an accredited professional holds Planning Level 3 accreditation, they are able to undertake the functions of a Planning Level 2 without the need to complete additional CPD other than what is listed under Planning Level 3.
- In the case of an accredited professional who holds both planning and building accreditation, CPD may be counted towards multiple accreditations held by one person, provided the required competencies for each accreditation held, are covered.
Organisations offering CPD courses
The Association of Australian Certifiers (AAC)
Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB)
Australian Institute of Architects (AIA)
Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS)
College of Professional Development
Housing Industry Association (HIA)
Independent Commission Against Corruption SA (ICAC)
The Law Society of South Australia
Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA)
Office for Design and Architecture SA (ODASA)
An 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 DHUD.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.
Documents
If you can't find a document, try searching PlanSA's resources library.
