Registration
Legally required to be registered by the Physiotherapy board of New Zealand (‘the board)- Regulatory authority
Two main types of registration:
Have to have skills and competencies assessed by the board
Application
To apply for registration you must download, complete and return all the forms on the Board’s website and return them with the appropriate evidence and a non-refundable application fee (NZ $1,226)
Tips for completing forms and competency templates
Section 1 of template (physiotherapy education including clinical placements):
Section 2 (post-qualification physiotherapy experience):
Section 3: (Evidence of experience):
Note: You do not need to go into great detail on every component of every competency, but make sure you include some evidence of knowledge and experience to illustrate each competency.
You can use the same examples and references for more than one competency, provided they are relevant in each case.
Certificate
More info see
Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (TTMR):
Registration for post-graduate study
CPD
Legally required to be registered by the Physiotherapy board of New Zealand (‘the board)- Regulatory authority
Two main types of registration:
- General scope of practice registration for physiotherapists wishing to practice as hands on clinicians
- Special purpose scope of practice: physiotherapists wishing to study or teach with no unsupervised hands-on involvement with patients.
Have to have skills and competencies assessed by the board
- 9 basic competencies see here
- On assessment evidence that your qualification is substantially equivalent to the NZ qualification, covering the 3 main areas of cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal and neurological physiotherapy and the 9 competencies mentioned above.
- Quick evaluation to see whether you are eligible
- Successful registrars asked to sign a statutory declaration clearly indicating intention to practice in NZ if registration is granted.
Application
To apply for registration you must download, complete and return all the forms on the Board’s website and return them with the appropriate evidence and a non-refundable application fee (NZ $1,226)
- There is no accreditation of overseas courses. Each application is individually assessed
- Application can be a long process- allow 3-4 months
- Errors and omissions will cause significant delays and there is no guarantee that an application will be successful.
Tips for completing forms and competency templates
- Read the guidance notes very carefully
- Gather all the relevant documentation together and then for each competency
Section 1 of template (physiotherapy education including clinical placements):
- List the relevant modules studied during your degree course and cross-reference these to the module descriptor to cover each point. You can reference essays, your dissertation or projects, any relevant clinical placement with a very brief explanation of why they are relevant.
- Number your supporting documentation clearly so that it is easy for your assessor to identify which doc is being referenced.
Section 2 (post-qualification physiotherapy experience):
- Provide relevant examples from your work experience, referencing any associated ‘validation of work history’ forms.
Section 3: (Evidence of experience):
- List the relevant continuing professional development (CPD), skills training courses, in-service training and conferences attended, with very brief details of why they are relevant, and reference your CPD portfolio and reference certificates.
- For all sections, provide copies of the documentation you have referenced.
Note: You do not need to go into great detail on every component of every competency, but make sure you include some evidence of knowledge and experience to illustrate each competency.
You can use the same examples and references for more than one competency, provided they are relevant in each case.
Certificate
- Once registration is granted you will remain on the registrar for as long as you continue to pay the annual re-registration fee
- All physio’s actively practicing must also hold a valid Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) you must have a valid APC in order to practice.
- The APC runs from April 1st – March 31st- the full annual fee is charged whatever time of year you apply, all expiring on March 31st
- The fee is currently $341.19 for the practicing year April 1st 2014- March 31st 2015.
More info see
- Physio Board
- The national Physiotherapy professional body- Physiotherapy New Zealand
- Private Practictioners associations
Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (TTMR):
- A physiotherapist registered in NZ automatically has the right to work in Australia and vice versa via the TTMR agreement. Therefore if you have been granted registration to practice in NZ you can later apply for general registration in Australia via a streamlined process, although you must still provide proof of identity and professional qualification
- Similarly if you have been granted registration to work in Australia you may apply to NZ under the terms of the TTMR via a streamlined, faster process and at a much lower cost (NZ $184, as opposed to NZ $1,226 for registration under the HPCA Act 2003)
Registration for post-graduate study
- Must be registered with the Board under the Special Purpose scope of practice category. If successful you will be issued a Special purpose practicing certificate for the first academic year of your study. If the course is longer than one year you will need to apply to the Board to have your certificate renewed.
CPD
- Every Physiotherapist in NZ is expected to maintain their competence in Physiotherapy..It is your responsibility to keep knowledge up to date by undertaking and documenting relevant CPD throughout your career.
- New Zealand College of Physiotherapy
- Physiotherapy New Zealand maintains close links with this body, which offers post-qualification, continuing education and accreditation. The college provides a formalised, peer reviewed route to clinical specialisation. For more info see here.