The Board's Annual Practising Year runs from the 1st October to the 30th September each year. In order to practise as a psychotherapist in New Zealand you must be registered with the Board and hold a current practising certificate (renewed annually). It is illegal to practise without a current practising certificate, and doing so can result in prosecution and/or disciplinary action. You should have your registration and practising certificates displayed in a prominent position. Responsibilities of a health practitioner As a registered psychotherapist you have certain responsibilities under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCAA). In particular you must:
- Not practise outside the scope of practice in which you are registered (Sn 8)
- Not describe yourself as or imply that you are a health practitioner of a particular kind unless you are registered and qualified to be a practitioner of that kind.
- Not perform certain activities restricted to health practitioners (Sn 9) unless these activities fall within your scope of practice
- Not practise without a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC)
- Comply with any conditions that the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand may place on your scope of practice (Sn 22.3)
- Provide the information determined by the Psychotherapists Board when applying for an APC along with the relevant fee (Sn 26.2)
- Meet the requirements of a recertification programme as determined by the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand (Sn 41)
- Comply with any orders that the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand may make following a review of your competence (Sn 38)
- Comply with the requirements of any competence programme that the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand may set (Sn 40)
- Allow the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand to inspect all or any of your records for the purpose of a competence review, competence programme or recertification programme (Sn 42)
- Inform the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand of the current postal address, residential address and (if applicable) work address, and promptly advise the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand of any changes in your address (Sn 140)
- Advise the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand of any changes in your name within one month (Sn 141)
- Promptly notify the Registrar of the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand if you have reason to believe that another practitioner is unable to perform the functions required for the practice of psychotherapy because of a mental or physical condition (Sn 45.2). Note that if you have similar concerns over a health practitioner registered with another authority you may notify the registrar of the authority concerned
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