To maintain FAA status, an individual must participate in approved professional development (PD) activities and pay the FAA licence fee. Advisors can choose from the following renewal length options:

FAA’s are encouraged to undertake at least three hours of PD activities each year, rather than leaving it to the 2^nd or 4^th years and then “cramming” activities.  

Audits of advisor recommendations are no longer required to renew FAA status.

From time to time, the Fertcare Committee may choose to make some activities mandatory. The mandatory activities must be undertaken within four years of being deemed mandatory.

 A list of approved PD activities is available HERE

The following transitional arrangements apply to FAA renewals:

• FAA’s whose licence falls due up to 30^th June 2024, be asked to pay the four year licence fee with no PD requirement for this renewal only. Future renewals will require twelve hours of approved PD activities.
• FAA’s whose licence falls due between 1^st July 2024 to 31^st December 2024, will be required to undertake three hours of approved PD activities and pay the four year licence fee.
• FAA’s whose licence falls due between 1^st January 2025 to 31^st December 2025 will be required to undertake six hours of approved PD activities and pay the four year licence fee.
• FAA’s whose licence falls due between 1^st January 2026 onward, will be required to undertake twelve hours of approved PD activities and pay the 4 year licence fee. 

FAA are required to provide written proof of participation in PD activities to the Fertcare Customer Service Manager. Email: monique.thomson@fertilizer.org.au.

Examples include:

• Certificate of attendance showing the persons name, the activity and date.
• Tax invoice / receipt which includes the name of the person, the activity and date.
• In the case of a free course that didn’t issue a certificate of attendance, an email from the provider indicating the persons name, the activity and date. 
• In the case of a free webinar, registration confirmation email. 
• Providers can also directly advise the Fertcare Customer Service Manager who has participated in approved activities, if they are willing to do this. 
• If you are viewing a free webinar recording which is listed as an approved PD activity, please email a statement indicating that you have viewed the specific webinar recording to the Fertcare Customer Service Manager. Email: monique.thomson@fertilizer.org.au

FAA are encouraged to submit their PD activities to the Fertcare Customer Service Manager soon after completing them, or at least once every year so the Fertcare database can be updated.

As part of providing assurance that the quality of advice growers receive from FAA’s is based on good practices and is sound, 15% of FAA’s will be audited each year. Fertilizer Australia will select the auditors and cover the audit costs.