Medical Practitioners Applying for Accreditation

All medical practitioners can apply for accreditation to prescribe opioid pharmacotherapies for opioid dependence after completing the OTAC and undertaking a clinical placement. This page overviews how to complete a clinical placement and to apply for accreditation in NSW.

Completing a clinical placement

Upon completing of the OTAC, medical practitioners can complete a clinical placement with a placement supervisor or ongoing mentor. This is the next step for medical practitioners seeking accreditation to prescribe opioid pharmacotherapies in NSW.

A clinical placement is typically a half-day clinical session (at least three hours long but can be longer) where you undertake clinical review of patients who are receiving opioid treatment with your supervisor. Your supervisor will assess you based on your performance at the placement and provide a recommendation for accreditation.

• For medical practitioners outside of a drug and alcohol setting: You should arrange a clinical placement with an appropriate supervisor, for a half-day session (i.e., at least 3 hours, but can be more), where they assess you using the updated Clinical Placement Form. It is recommended that you complete the clinical placement within 6 months of complete the OTAC.
• For medical practitioners working in a drug and alcohol setting, either currently or recently: Your clinic supervisor can decide to complete the updated Clinical Placement Form as part of their usual reflective supervision practices without undertaking a formal placement (i.e., not a specific in-person placement, but more an assessment overall of your current practice). Alternatively, your supervisor may still decide to undertake a more formal placement supervision with you, and you should discuss this directly with your supervisor. It is recommended that you complete the clinical placement within 12 months of complete the OTAC.

You can contact us if you require assistance finding a supervisor near you.

Applying for Accreditation

For medical practitioners seeking accreditation:

1. Undertake a half-day clinical placement with an appropriate supervisor, who will complete and submit an assessment based on the updated Clinical Placement Form. For medical practitioners in a drug and alcohol setting, your supervisor may elect to complete the assessment based on their usual reflective supervision of your clinical practice.
2. Submit an application for accreditation to prescribe opioid pharmacotherapies in NSW.  The following items should be completed and submitted to the NSW Ministry of Health Opioid Pharmacotherapy Subcommittee (OPS) Secretariat:
   • • Completed application form for accreditation – Form 5B
     • Completed updated Clinical Placement Form
     • A recent CV, including any relevant drug and alcohol training
     • Your letter of completion for the OTAC

Your application and supporting documents should be emailed to the OPS Secretariat at: moh-otp-accred@health.nsw.gov.au.

Once you have submitted your accreditation application, the OPS will consider your application at a session approximately once every 6 weeks. To ensure your application is considered at the OPS  meeting, you must submit your application at least 10 days prior to the following committee dates:

 

Upcoming OPS Committee Dates 2023

• Thursday, 30^th March
• Thursday, 11^th May
• Thursday, 29^th June
• Thursday, 3^rd August
• Thursday, 21^st September
• Thursday, 26^th October
• Thursday, 14^th December

If your application is urgent and you believe needs to be considered out of session, contact us.

Once accredited, your placement supervisor and your local drug and alcohol service can provide you with ongoing advice and support for providing patient care. You can contact us to facilitate linkage with your local drug and alcohol service.