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Important Notices
 

Returning to Practice after a break of three years or longer

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the Act), the legislation which regulates the psychology profession in New Zealand, requires the Board (under section 27) to be assured that a psychologist who is registered but who has not held a practising certificate in the last three years is competent to practise before issuing an Annual Practising Certificate (APC). To meet this obligation the Board requires those psychologists, referred to here as “returners”, to supply additional information and may impose special conditions on the practising certificate, to ensure the safety of the public.

The Board’s policy is designed to support and facilitate returners to make a safe transition back into competent practice. While each returner is responsible for their own competence and conduct, the profession has a collective interest in retaining those individuals in the workforce while maintaining high standards to uphold the reputation of psychologists.

The Board is appreciative of the assistance of senior and respected members of the profession as supervisors who may be involved to enable refreshment of skills and oversight of practice. The Board’s policy is intended as remedial in focus rather than restrictive and limiting. It is not intended to be a deterrent to returning to psychology practice, nor does it have a disciplinary function. (click here for the information leaflet)