In considering an application for a practising certificate, the Registrar of the Board must determine whether the requirements of section 27(1) of the Act have been met. If not, the Registrar must consider the application under delegation from the Board, or forward the application to the Board for consideration. Referrals to the Board will be made if the Registrar believes on reasonable grounds that:
*the applicant has at any time failed to maintain the required standard of competence
*the applicant has failed to fulfil or has failed to comply with a condition included in the applicant's scope of practice
*the applicant has not satisfactorily completed the requirements of any competence programme he/she has been ordered by the Board to complete
*the applicant has not held an annual practising certificate of a kind sought by the applicant within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of the application
*the applicant is unable to perform the functions required for the applicant's profession because of some mental or physical condition
*the applicant has not, within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of the application, lawfully practised the profession to which the applicant relates.

When considering applications referred to it under section 27 of the Act, the Board may propose to include conditions in the practitioner's scope of practice, or to decline the application for a practising certificate. The practitioner will have an opportunity to comment before the Board makes a final decision.

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

If you wish to apply to the Board for the issue of a replacement practising certificate, please complete the application form below and send it in to the Board with your payment of $70.00 (payment options are listed below).

Click here to download the document.

If you wish to apply to the Board for changes to existing conditions on your scope of practice or the removal of conditions from your scope of practice, you need to do the following:

-Complete this application form - Click here to download the document.

-Attach a personal statement explaining what conditions you would like the Board to consider changing or removing from your scope of practice (including reasons)

-Submit payment of $160.00 for your application (see payment options below)

-Return your current APC to the Board's office (with your application documents).

Paying by Direct Credit
If you wish to make a payment by internet banking, our bank details are:
Payee: Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand
Bank: Westpac
Account: 03 0502 0367216 00
When paying by Direct Credit you must put in the following:
Particulars – your registration number:
Code – your name

Paying by Credit Card
Click here to make a credit card payment

Conditions on Scope of Practice