What is the APP Scope of Practise?
Developed by the Board to recognise physiotherapists who are practising at an advanced level, the purpose of the APP scope is to aid both the public and referrers to identify those physiotherapists who have demonstrated advanced skills and competencies in a chosen area which may be more suitable for their complex needs.
Successful applicants will demonstrate advanced clinical skills, competencies and knowledge and contribute to the profession through mentoring and developing leadership skills.
Who can apply?
Prospective applicants must:
- Hold unrestricted registration in the General Scope of Practise with the Board, and
- Hold a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC), and
- Have successfully completed a minimum of a master’s degree that:
- requires a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (or equivalent) for entry to the degree programme and
- is relevant to clinical physiotherapy practice.
- Meet all of the following recency of practise requirements:
- at least 1 year of post-qualification, full time employment (FTE) in Aotearoa | New Zealand, and
- at least 5 years of post-qualification, full-time equivalent (FTE) clinical experience, and
- at least 3 years of full-time equivalent (FTE) clinical experience relevant to a nominated area of physiotherapy practice in the 6 year period immediately prior to the date of your application.
What does it cost?
Please refer to our Fees Schedule here. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable.
How long does it take?
Once all required documents are confirmed to have been received, APP applications are averaging 2-3 months for processing and assessment. Please note these timeframes are subject to change.
To avoid delays in processing your application ensure you include all the required information. Your application may be declined or returned for further work if it is not complete.
What is the process for this application?
Phase 1: Initial Review
After you submit your application, we will review it for completeness. If documents or evidence are missing or we have concerns about your eligibility, we will email you for further information before your application is sent on for processing.
If your application does not meet criteria for any reason, one of the following will occur:
- You are given the opportunity to Withdraw your application.
- Your application is Returned.
- We propose to Decline your application.
Phase 2: Assessment
We select assessor with appropriate experience levels in your nominated area of practise. The assessor and applicant are both contacted to ensure there is no conflict of interest. If there are no issues, your application is sent out for assessment. There are two outcomes from this process:
- If your application meets criteria, it is put forward for Registration.
- If your application does not meet criteria, you are given an opportunity to resubmit with additional or updated evidence for an additional assessment fee.
- If your additional evidence still does not meet criteria after this 2nd assessment, one of the following will occur:
- You are given the opportunity to Withdraw your application.
- We propose to Decline your application.
- If your additional evidence still does not meet criteria after this 2nd assessment, one of the following will occur:
Phase 3: Registration
Applications deemed to meet the minimum requirement for registration are sent to our Registrar for approval. Once this is completed you will receive an email confirmation.
Required Documents:
- *Passport or Birth Certificate
- *Evidence of Name Change (if applicable)
- Relating to your Masters physiotherapy degree:
- *Degree
- *Academic Transcript
- *Curriculum
- CV
- 2x Case Studies
- Qualifications and Experience Narrative
- Research into Practise
- APP FTE Form
- APP Competencies
* Document must be certified or sent directly to [email protected] by the issuing authority
Application Resources
APP Application Guidance Notes
APP Competency Assessment Template
Qualifications and Experience Narrative Template
If you have any questions, please see our comprehensive help page or contact us via [email protected] or by calling us on +64 4 471 2610 during business hours (9am-5pm NZDT). We can provide advice on the preparation of your application; however, we are not able to advise you on whether or not it will succeed.