Click here for a 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. If you belong to this group you will need to refer to the Reinstatement/Restoration of Registration information first and then refer to the information below regarding return to practise requirements.

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 Practising Register Requirements

Pharmacists who were previously registered in the pharmacist scope of practice with the Pharmacy Council of NZ (or under the Pharmacy Act 1970) are eligible to have their name reinstated to the register upon application to the Pharmacy Council of NZ. Refer to Reinstatement/Restoration of Registration. Please note that reinstatement to the Pharmacy Council of NZ register does not automatically entitle the pharmacist to an APC. Pharmacists are only eligible to return to practice provided they meet the requirements under any one of the categories listed below.

Categories for Returning to Practising Register

Category 1

If you were a registered pharmacist with the Pharmacy Council and you last practised as a pharmacist in New Zealand within three years of returning to practice in New Zealand you may be eligible to be issued with an unconditional APC provided you:

are currently registered as a pharmacist in NZ - if not, you need to apply for Reinstatement/Restoration of Registration
apply for an APC on the usual form (contact the Registrations Officer for the appropriate form) completing the necessary sections and including relevant payment of fees
ensure the Pharmacy Council has received Letters of Good Standing from appropriate regulatory boards if you have been registered and practising as a pharmacist in any countries other than New Zealand within the past 3 years (see above 'Before you apply for an APC')
provide a work history to Pharmacy Council of NZ for assessment.

Category (1) includes pharmacists who have been practising overseas and are returning to practise in New Zealand within three years of last practising in New Zealand.

Category 2

If you were a registered/previously registered pharmacist (with Pharmacy Council of NZ or under Pharmacy Act 1970) and you have not practised (ie not held an APC) in New Zealand within the three years immediately preceding the date of your application but have lawfully practised the profession of pharmacy within the same three years in either Australia or UK or Ireland, you are eligible to be issued with an APC provided you meet the following requirements:

are currently registered as a pharmacist in NZ - if not, you need to apply for Reinstatement/Restoration of Registration
apply for an APC on the usual form (contact the Registrations Officer for the appropriate form) completing the necessary sections and including relevant payment of fees
ensure the Pharmacy Council has received Letters of Good Standing from appropriate regulatory boards if you have been registered and practising as a pharmacist in any countries other than New Zealand within the past 3 years (see above 'Before you apply for an APC')
provide evidence/ record of CPD activities for assessment.
complete a minimum of one month's (fulltime) supervised practice under a designated registered practising pharmacist.
successfully complete the pharmacy council assessment of New Zealand Pharmacy practice Law and Ethics (interview assessment).
Pay the fee as prescribed.

While you are meeting the above requirements you will be issued with an APC that allows you to practise under the supervision of a New Zealand designated registered practising pharmacist. When the requirements have been met, and all the documentation of this has been received by the Pharmacy Council, the Registrar can grant you an unconditional APC, under Part 2 Section 26 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, and you can practise unsupervised as a New Zealand registered pharmacist.

Category 3

If you are a registered/previously registered pharmacist (with Pharmacy Council of NZ or under Pharmacy Act 1970) who lawfully last practised the profession of pharmacy more than three but less than eight years (> 3 to 8 years) ago preceding the date of application in either New Zealand or Australia or UK or Ireland, you are eligible to practise under conditions provided you meet the following requirements:

currently registered as a Pharmacist in NZ (if not, you need to apply for Reinstatement/Restoration of Registration first)
complete the necessary sections on the Return to Practice form (contact the Registrations Officer for a copy),and provide a work history
provide evidence/record of continuing professional development activities (if any) to Pharmacy Council of NZ for assessment.
undertake a competence standards assessment (self assessment by pharmacist)
complete a minimum of three months' supervised practice under a designated registered practising pharmacist. Individual requirements will be based on the assessment of information and in consultation with you.
undertake a competence standards assessment (self assessment by pharmacist) at the end of the first month of supervised practice.
undertake the return the workforce programme (if available)
complete a competence standards assessment in the workplace (details sent to you and your supervising pharmacist once application has been received)
successfully complete the pharmacy council assessment of New Zealand Pharmacy Practice Law and Ethics (interview assessment).
undertake relevant clinical update courses (as identified in the assessment)
ensure the Pharmacy Council has received Letters of Good Standing from appropriate regulatory boards if you have been registered and practising as a pharmacist in any countries other than New Zealand within the past 8 years (see above 'Before you apply for an APC')
Pay the fee as prescribed.

While you are meeting the above requirements you will be issued with a conditional APC that allows you to practise under the supervision of a New Zealand designated registered practising pharmacist. When the requirements have been met, and all the documentation of this has been received by the Pharmacy Council, the Registrar can grant you an unconditional APC, under Part 2 Section 26 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, and you can practise unsupervised as a New Zealand registered pharmacist.

Category 4

If you are a registered/previously registered pharmacist (with Pharmacy Council of NZ or under Pharmacy Act 1970) and have lawfully last practised the profession of pharmacy more than eight years (> 8 years) ago preceding the date of application in either New Zealand or Australia or UK or Ireland, you are eligible to practise provided you meet the following requirements:

currently registered as a Pharmacist in NZ - if not, you need to apply for Reinstatement/Restoration of Registration first.
complete the necessary sections of the Return to Practice form (contact Registrations Officer for a copy), and provide a work history
provide evidence/ record of continuing professional development activities to Pharmacy Council of NZ for assessment.
complete a minimum of six months (full-time or part-time equivalent) supervised practice under an approved preceptor pharmacist.
undertake a competence standards assessment (self assessment by pharmacist) at the end of the first three months of supervised practice.
successfully complete the Intern Training Programme (competence standards assessment based programme), run by the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand (Inc). In 2005, the programme costs are $2700 (incl. GST).
undertake relevant clinical update courses (as identified).
Pay the fee as prescribed.

While you are meeting the above requirements you will be issued with a conditional APC that allows you to practise under the supervision of a designated approved preceptor pharmacist. When the requirements have been met, and all the documentation of this has been received by the Pharmacy Council, the Registrar can grant you an unconditional APC, under Part 2 Section 26 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, and you can practise unsupervised as a New Zealand registered pharmacist

Category 5

If you are a registered/previously registered pharmacist (with Pharmacy Council of NZ Register or under Pharmacy Act 1970) and you do not consider that any of the above categories are applicable to you, your application will be assessed on an individual basis. Please contact the Registrations Officer for further information.