Course quality and AQF 8
Course quality & AQF8
To maintain and promote high standards of Hand Therapy practice, AHTA courses are overseen by volunteers who sit on the Credentialing Council or Education Committee. These volunteers are Accredited Hand Therapists or have academic positions or expertise in a particular area.
The AHTA uses the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) to develop courses and learning outcomes. The AQF is the policy for regulated qualifications in the Australian education and training system. AQF levels and their criteria indicate the relative autonomy, complexity and depth of achievement required to meet that standard.
AQF level 1 (Certificate 1) has the lowest complexity and AQF level 10 (Doctoral Degree) has the highest complexity. For more information on AQF refer to the website at this link.
AHTA core and elective courses contain learning outcomes that strive to meet, at least, the AQF Level 8 (Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma) standards.
Students must demonstrate advanced cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to:
i. Analyse, critically evaluate and transform information to complete a range of activities;
ii. analyse, generate and transmit solutions to complex problems; and
iii. transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to others.
While our courses are designed for advanced professional practice and to align with AQF Level 8 learning outcomes and are developed at a level comparable to AQF Level 8, they are not an accredited AQF qualification. To be classified as Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 8, they must formally meet AQF requirements and be accredited by the TEQSA (Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency) or another recognised accrediting body.
We invite feedback from participants of our courses.
Higher Education Allowance
The AHTA Board has considered member enquiries regarding whether the Accredited Hand Therapist (AHT) credential could be recognised as a postgraduate qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), for eligibility for a higher qualifications' allowance.
The Board acknowledges that elements of the AHT program reference learning outcomes aligned to AQF Level 8 standards. This alignment is intentional and reflects the advanced level of knowledge, clinical reasoning, and professional practice required to attain the AHT credential. However, alignment to AQF standards does not, of itself, confer AQF qualification status.
Under the AQF, only formally accredited qualifications (such as a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or Masters degree) delivered by a registered higher education provider and accredited through the national regulatory framework are recognised as AQF qualifications. Professional credentials issued by associations, including the AHT credential, are not eligible to be assessed or endorsed under the AQF in their current form.
The Board has explored whether the AHT program could be accredited through the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) as a postgraduate qualification. This pathway would require the development of a new AQF-recognised qualification and accreditation through a registered higher education provider, or alternatively, the Association becoming subject to TEQSA regulation. Advice received indicates that this process is complex, resource-intensive, and costly. Indicative costs for accreditation alone are prohibitive, with a minimum estimated cost of approximately $150,000, excluding ongoing governance, compliance, delivery, and quality assurance requirements. Accordingly, the Board has determined that pursuing TEQSA accreditation is not feasible at this time.
The AHT credential remains a nationally recognised professional credential that signifies advanced competence and expertise in hand therapy practice. However, it does not meet the definition of an AQF-accredited postgraduate qualification as specified in public sector enterprise agreements.
The Board recognises that members value acknowledgement of the AHT credential within the Enterprise Agreement framework. While AQF accreditation is not currently feasible, the Association may explore advocacy to have the AHT credential formally recognised as eligible for the higher qualifications allowance within future enterprise agreement negotiations. This would involve:
- Engaging with relevant unions and employer bodies to present evidence of the AHT program’s rigour, alignment to AQF Level 8 standards, and workforce value.
- Preparing a submission demonstrating the credential’s equivalence to postgraduate learning outcomes, its professional standing, and its contribution to clinical excellence.
- Monitoring and participating in upcoming Enterprise Agreement negotiations or amendments to advocate for the inclusion of professional credentials like the AHT.
The Board is committed to exploring this pathway strategically, recognising it as a long-term initiative that requires careful engagement with industrial, employer, and policy stakeholders.
The Board appreciates the importance of this issue to members and will continue to monitor developments in education, workforce policy, and credentialing pathways. Any future consideration of AQF-aligned qualifications or enterprise agreement advocacy would be subject to careful assessment of feasibility, demand, cost, and risk.
Members requiring further information may contact the association.