Why apply for accreditation?
Accreditation allows medical and nurse practitioners to prescribe opioid pharmacotherapies for up to 300 patients with opioid dependence. It also authorises you to prescribe both buprenorphine and methadone, including starting patients on methadone treatment.
Without accreditation, medical practitioners can still prescribe opioid pharmacotherapies but are limited to 30 patients—20 on buprenorphine and 10 low-risk methadone patients transferred to their care—and cannot initiate methadone treatment.
Who can apply?
If you are an interstate prescriber seeking accreditation in NSW it may be possible for your accreditation to be recognised in NSW.
Similarly, if your accreditation has lapsed in NSW (i.e., typically, if you have not prescribed opioid pharmacotherapies for a patient at least once in a two-year period), you can apply for your accreditation to be re-instated.
For information about your particular situation, contact us.
How to apply?
Complete the application form by clicking the button below. You will need to upload a current curriculum vitae (CV) and an optional written letter of support, as well as provide details about your role, workplace, and any prior accreditation.
Please note, this form is only for lapsed or interstate accredited prescribers.
What happens next?
Once your application is submitted, your application will be reviewed at the next NSW Ministry of Health Opioid Pharmacotherapy Subcommittee (OPS) meeting. In most cases, no further action is required from you, though the OPS Secretariat may contact you if additional information is needed.
To ensure your application is considered at an upcoming OPS meeting, your application must be submitted at least 10 days before the scheduled OPS meeting date.
OPS Meeting and Application Dates
The Opioid Pharmacotherapy Subcommittee meets to review applications approximately every six weeks. Below are the upcoming OPS meeting dates and application deadlines.
| Applications due by | OPS Meeting date |
|---|---|
| COB 11 August 2026 | 20 August 2026 |
| COB 22 September 2026 | 1 October 2026 |