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Introduction and Policy

The principal purpose of the HPCA Act 2003 is to protect the health and safety of members of the public and provide the Pharmacy Council with mechanisms to ensure that pharmacists are competent and fit to practise. Recertification is one mechanism through which the Pharmacy Council can can do this on an ongoing basis.

To view the Pharmacy Council's policies on recertification requirements and audit please see these links:

Recertification requirements

Recertification audit

2011 Audit

The 2011 audit has been completed.

Examples of completed CPD record sheets are available here.

Non-compliance in Recertification

Any pharmacist found not to be meeting the requirements of recertification may have a condition placed on their practising certificate. The condition would vary their scope of practice and require the pharmacist to practise under the oversight of a professional peer, [under s.28(2) of the HPCA Act 2003] until they have demonstrated full compliance in recertification. The condition would be recorded on the Register and be publicly available.

Pharmacists with a condition for non-compliance of recertification will be informed that they may not hold the following roles until the conditions are lifted:

• Preceptors
• Councillors (including Committee members)
• Competence Reviewers or Practice Counsellors
• Pharmacist assessors, appointed or employed for all Council functions, including overseas pharmacist assessors and preregistration programme assessors.

The recertification policy states that the pharmacist must provide reports to the Competence Advisor every three months, signed by the pharmacist and their professional peer, indicating the progress that they are making towards achieving compliance with the recertification process.

Recertification Programme Framework

The recertification framework is being reviewed by the Pharmacy Council and all pharmacists will have an opportunity to comment on the draft framework.
The current framework is based on the four steps (reflection, planning, action, outcomes) of the continuing professional development (CPD) model and includes the following requirements;

Reflection:
A reflective step, which includes assessment against the Pharmacy Council of NZ Competence Standards

Planning and Action:
Demonstration that learning undertaken is both relevant to practice, and addresses identified areas of need

Outcomes:
Evaluation of practice-benefits and allocation of outcome credits in line with the Pharmacy Council of NZ Outcome Credit Scale

The purpose of CPD is to assist pharmacists in maintaining and developing their practice to enable them to remain on the register for practising pharmacists.  CPD must be documentated on the Council approved CPD record forms and must show clearly that the pharmacist has followed the four steps in the CPD cycle.

CPD records may be audited by the Pharmacy Council of NZ.

Accredited Programmes

Currently the only recertification programme available and accredited by the Pharmacy Council is ENHANCE®.  This is provided by the Pharmaceutical Society of NZ (Inc).

If you have any inquiries regarding accreditation of a programme that you consider to meet the recertification programme framework set by the Pharmacy Council of NZ please contact the Recertification Team.

FAQs