Participation in the Recertification Programme is mandatory for all physiotherapists who are registered and hold an Annual Practising Certificate (APC) regardless of their practice setting or the number of hours they work.
One of the Board’s functions is to ensure the ongoing competence of physiotherapists within their scope of practice. For this reason, the Board maintains a set of Recertification Programmes under Section 41 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act 2003.
Recertification Programmes
Who is required to participate?
Physiotherapists who are registered with the Board and hold a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC).
What is the process?
If you are registered with the Board and hold an APC you are required to complete all of the following each practising year:
Professional Development Plan (PDP)
- This must supplied on the Board template (see Resources below) and be signed off by a professional peer.
A peer review
- Please note that if this is in a clinical setting this must be undertaken by a physiotherapist registered in Aotearoa | New Zealand who holds a current APC.
Three reflective statements, including
- one specific to Māori culture and how this relates to their practice, and
- two from any of the following categories relevant to your area of practice:
- cultural, and/or
- ethical, and/or
- professional.
100 hours of CPD completed every three practising years
- This is a rolling average across the last three years (i.e. there is no minimum amount of CPD that must be completed annually, as long as 100 hours have been completed in the last three years).
- CPD hours will be pro-rated if you have not held an APC for the entire three-year period.
- Please note that if you hold an APC, but are not practising for some reason e.g. maternity leave, injury, etc., ensure to notify the Board as soon as possible so that we can take this into account when reviewing your audit.
- While it’s not currently a required for you to submit a CPD logbook, you must maintain one as you may be requested to supply evidence on a case by case basis. This can be in any typed format.
- If you are a Specialist or Advanced Practise Physiotherapist, 50% of your 100 hours of CPD will need to be in your nominated area of practise.
Please note that if you are a new graduate and you are applying for your first APC, you will need to make sure to complete the PDP, Peer Review, and Reflective Statements, however CPD requirements regarding hours completed will be pro rata.
Resources
Recertification Programme Guidelines
Relevant Legislation
HPCAA (2003) S43 Unsatisfactory results of competence programme or recertification programme
Templates
The General Scope Recertification Audit
Each year approximately 5% of registered physiotherapists holding a current APC are randomly selected for a Recertification Audit to confirm that they meet the requirements as listed above.
If you are selected for the audit, you will be notified via email.
What does it cost?
There are no Board fees associated with any Recertification Audits.
If I am selected, how long does it take to process my submission?
These are completed on a case-by-case basis so we cannot provide you with processing timeframes.
What if I’m registered, but hold Non-Practising status?
You are not eligible for selection for the Recertification Audit as long as you remain non practising, this means that you are not required to complete CPD while non practising.
However, we do recommend that you maintain some level of CPD activity during any non-practising period. This is helpful if you don’t legally practise as a physiotherapist for 3 or more years and want to return to practise, as you will be required to undergo a Return to Practise programme and any relevant CPD activity undertaken while you were away from practice will be taken into consideration then.
Who else could be selected for the Audit?
Other practitioners who may be selected for the Audit are those who:
- deferred from a previous Audit.
- were previously selected in an Audit but failed to contact the Board and now wish to practice in Aotearoa | New Zealand.
- recently returned to the profession after an absence of more than three years.
- were directed by the Board to participate in the Audit following the completion of a Competence Review , or following a disciplinary hearing.
Please note that the Board is entitled to include any practitioner in a Recertification Audit at its discretion.
What happens if I’m selected for the audit?
If selected, you would be required to submit evidence to the Board including the mandatory documents listed above to cover recertification activities for the last three practising years.
For example, if you are chosen for Recertification Audit in 2022 the evidence you will be required to submit will relate to the activities undertaken for the practising years falling in between 1 April 2019 – 31 March 2022.
Instruction on how to submit these documents will be provided to you directly if you are selected.
What happens if my audit is unsuccessful?
Failure to submit the required information for a Recertification Audit, either because the documents required are not submitted, or are not at the required standard, will result in the physiotherapist being referred to the Board or Registrar for further action, which could include a competence review, the imposition of conditions, or suspension of practising certificates.