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Summary of return to practising register requirements

This information is for:

• pharmacists who are currently on the non-practising register and want to move to the practising register. Note, Pharmacists who have retained their New Zealand registration while practising overseas will be on the non-practising register.

AND

• pharmacists who were previously registered in New Zealand but are no longer on the NZ register and who now want to practise as a pharmacist in New Zealand. Note that "practising" refers to the pharmacist Scope of Practice.  

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA) requires pharmacists to be registered and hold a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC) in order to be able to practise. Practising without being registered and holding an APC is an offence.

The Registrar may issue an APC to a registered pharmacist upon fulfillment of the following:

• Successful completion of any returning to the practising register requirements as explained below
• Completion of the appropriate application forms
• Payment of fees.
  

The information you need to provide includes -

• details of your work history relating to your pharmacy practice in NZ and overseas 
• when you last practised in New Zealand
• how you have maintained your competence in your area of practice
• a record of any additional pharmacy qualifications and courses which are relevant to pharmacy practice

Before you apply for an Annual Practising Certificate (APC)

If you have been practising in other country(ies) since you were last registered in New Zealand you need to contact the Registration Authorities in all the countries you practised in to arrange for Letters of Good Standing to be sent to us. These must be received by the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand before your application can be processed.

The principal purpose of the HPCA Act 2003 is to protect the health and safety of members of the public by providing for mechanisms to ensure that pharmacists are competent and fit to practise the profession of pharmacy. While you may have previously been deemed competent to practise as a pharmacist in New Zealand, this may no longer be the case because of your circumstances. The Pharmacy Council of NZ will therefore require details of your practice and on-going continuing professional development since you last practised as a pharmacist.

If you were previously registered (with the Pharmacy Council of NZ or under the Pharmacy Act 1970) and are now considering reinstatement to the practising register, you should be aware that any conditions on your scope of practice at the time registration was cancelled would be part of the your scope of practice until such time as the conditions were varied or cancelled by the Pharmacy Council of NZ.

 

Returning to Practice Requirements

A description of the categories for Returning to Practice and the requirements for each category are outlined in the Pharmacy Council Return to Practice Policy.

For further information and to request the Return to Practice forms, please contact the Registrations Officer