Te hoki ki te mahi

Returning to practice 

A return to practice process is to protect the health and safety of members of the public by ensuring that psychotherapists are competent and fit to practise.

A return to practice process is for:

  • Psychotherapists who are registered and have held a non-practising status for 3 years or more. Please click here to download the decision guidelines.

  • Practitioners who  have not held an Annual Practising Certificate (APC) within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of their application but who have been consistently practising psychotherapy outside of Aotearoa New Zealand. Please click here to download the decision guidelines. 

The Board must determine if the applicant meets the required standard of competence before an annual practising certificate can be issued.  Further to this the Board and may impose conditions or vary existing conditions to safeguard the safety of the public. 

What can you do to demonstrate your competence? 

  • Prepare a self-appraisal that outlines how you have maintained the currency of your psychotherapy knowledge during the time you have not been practising as a psychotherapist.  This self-appraisal should be detailed and provide specific information (such as courses undertaken, publications read). The self-appraisal should be developed with your clinical supervisor and will be guided by Board standards.

  • Prepare in conjunction with your supervisor information that demonstrates how you intend to manage and monitor your return to practice. This plan should cover at least the next 12 months and show specifically how you intend to develop your psychotherapy knowledge and skills.

  • Prepare an up-to-date curriculum vitae.

  • Obtain a certificate of good standing (if applicable).

  • Review the Board return to practice policies for further information. 

Please note the return to practice process is completed through the MyPBANZ portal.  

Restoration to the register

This process is for practitioners who are no longer on the register of psychotherapists and who must apply to be restored.

Please click here to download the form.

Applicants are required to confirm their identity through two forms of identity (one that includes a photograph) and evidence of any name change. 

Acceptable forms of identification are certified copies of:

  • Birth certificate,

  • Passport,

  • Drivers Licence,

  • Evidence of change of name (if applicable)

Criminal history checks

Applicants are required to declare any convictions received and complete a New Zealand Criminal Convictions Check. 

Applicants that have lived in another country for more than 12 months or more since last registered in Aotearoa will also need to complete a Criminal Convictions Check