application guidance notes march 2011

8/3/2019 Application Guidance Notes March 2011

1/21Registration for Overseas Qualified Physiotherapists: Application Guidance Notes: March 2011 Page 1

P REGISTRATION APPLICATION PART 1: APPLICATION GUIDANCE NOTESOUT THIS APPLICATION FORM

Application forRegistration for OverseasQualified Applicants

Health Practitioners CompetenceAssurance Act 2003 The Physiotherapy Board

of New Zealand

This application is made under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act 2003 forregistration within the general scope of practice: Physiotherapist.

The Physiotherapy Board is a statutory regulatory authority established under the HPCA Act. The Boards keyfunction is to protect the health and safety of the public.

Registration is a legal process to protect the public of New Zealand. In order to gain registration you must meetall legal requirements, including demonstrating that you meet each of the nine competencies established by theBoard as the standard to practise autonomously as an entry level physiotherapist in New Zealand. Therefore,there is no guarantee of registration.

Full details of the Physiotherapy Competencies for Physiotherapy Practice in New Zealand are available todownload from: www.physioboard.org.nz/docs/PHYSIO_Competencies_09_for_web.pdf

Please read the Application Guidance Notes (Part 1, this document) carefully and ensure you meet the eligibilityrequirements before you complete the Application Form (Part 2). Documentary evidence is required with yourapplication; ensure you submit documents that comply with the set criteria on certification and translation inSections J and K of the Application Guidance Notes (Part 1).

Your application will only be accepted for processing if it is complete and accompanied by payment of NZ$1200.00 for applications submitted prior to 1 April 2011 or NZ$1,226.00 for applications submitted after 1 April2011 (inclusive of GST). Ensure that you submit an Application Pack using the most current forms andtemplates. Incomplete applications will be returned, less an administrative charge.

Please note:

Immigration to New Zealand is a separate process administered by the New Zealand Immigration

Service. Overseas qualified physiotherapists with General (unconditional) registration and current entitlement

to practise in any state of Australia may utilise the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act to gainregistration in New Zealand. Please refer to the Boards website for more information:http://www.physioboard.org.nz/index.php?Registration-AustralianQualifiedPhysiotherapists

P IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Purpose of Application This application is for persons holding a physiotherapy qualification gained overseas whoare seeking registration to practise as a physiotherapist in New Zealand within thegeneral scope of practice: Physiotherapist.

Health PractitionersCompetence Assurance(HPCA) Act 2003

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003) governs the registration andpractice of all health professionals in New Zealand. It covers registration, AnnualPractising Certificates (APCs), scopes of practice, discipline, and competence

assurance.

This is the Act which governs the registration and practice of physiotherapists in NewZealand. It covers registration, APCs, scopes of practice, discipline, and competenceassurance. The Act emphasises lifelong competence and participation in continuingprofessional development activities.

The term physiotherapist is a protected title in New Zealand, meaning that onlypractitioners registered by the Board are legally entitled to call themselvesphysiotherapists.

There are currently no reciprocal international arrangements or accreditation ofoverseas physiotherapy courses.

The principal purpose of the HPCA Act is to protect the health and safety of membersof the public (i.e. the New Zealand public).

For further information on the HPCA Act please refer to: www.legislation.govt.nz

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Physiotherapy BoardThe Board is responsible for registering all physiotherapists in New Zealand and issuingAPCs. The Board sets standards of practice and upholds these through its recertificationand disciplinary processes. It is illegal to call yourself a physiotherapist or work as aphysiotherapist in any capacity in New Zealand (including voluntary work) without beingregistered and holding a current APC issued by the Board.

Register The Physiotherapy Board maintains the Register of physiotherapists. A limited amount ofinformation held on the Register is available to the public.

Practising physiotherapy To be entitled to practise as a physiotherapist in New Zealand within the general scope ofpractice: Physiotherapist, (known as the general scope of practice), you are legallyrequired to be registered and hold a current APC before taking up employment.

Scope of Practice:Physiotherapist

All health practitioners registered in New Zealand practise within a prescribed scope ofpractice.

The general scope of practice: Physiotherapist, describes the physiotherapy professionas follows:

Physiotherapy provides services to individuals and populations to develop, maintain,restore and optimise health and function throughout the lifespan. This includes providingservices to people compromised by ageing, injury, disease or environmental factors.Physiotherapy identifies and maximises quality of life and movement potential by usingthe principles of promotion, prevention, treatment/intervention, habilitation andrehabilitation. This encompasses physical, psychological, emotional, and social well

being.

Physiotherapy involves the interaction between physiotherapists, patients/clients, otherhealth professionals, families/whanau, care givers, and communities. This is a people-centred process where needs are assessed and goals are agreed using the knowledgeand skills of physiotherapists.

Physiotherapists are registered health practitioners who are educated to practiseautonomously by applying scientific knowledge and clinical reasoning to assess,diagnose and manage human function.The practice of physiotherapy is not confined to clinical practice, and encompasses allroles that a physiotherapist may assume such as patient/client care, health management,research, policy making, educating and consulting.

Prescribed qualification The Board does not accredit overseas physiotherapy qualifications.

The qualification prescribed under the HPCA Act for overseas educated applicants forregistration within the general scope of practice: Physiotherapist, is:

A pass in an assessment set by the Physiotherapy Board for personsholding a physiotherapy qualification gained overseas;

The assessmentis an assessment against the Boards competencies.

PhysiotherapyCompetencies forPhysiotherapy Practice inNew Zealand

Full details of the Physiotherapy Competencies for Physiotherapy Practice in NewZealand are available to download from:http://www.physioboard.org.nz/docs/PHYSIO_Competencies_09_for_web.pdf

This Application Pack is the assessment set by the Board. You are asked to demonstratehow you currently meet or have met, within the last ten years, all of the PhysiotherapyBoards Competencies 1 9. The nine competencies are of equal importance and apply:

In primary, secondary and tertiary health settings.

Across the lifespan and continuum of care and integrate cultural diversity.

In New Zealand a physiotherapist must be competent in the three core bases ofphysiotherapy cardiovascular/pulmonary, musculoskeletal and neurology. Therefore youmust demonstrate competence in all three areas.

Your primary physiotherapy qualification, post-qualification physiotherapy practice,ongoing professional development and any further postgraduate physiotherapy study areall taken into account in consideration of your application for registration.

Confidentiality The Physiotherapy Board treats all applications for registration as confidential.

Do not use an agent torepresent you

The Board will not accept agent or third party involvement in the application process(including family members). It is Board policy to deal directly with the applicant only, at alltimes.



Cost of application The application fee is non-refundable. Fees must be paid in NZ dollars by either bankdraft, credit card or personal cheque (from a New Zealand bank account). Please makedrafts and cheques payable to the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand. Application feesare set by the Board on a cost recovery basis.

Please note: Incomplete applications will be returned. An administrative fee of

NZ$150.00 may be deducted from your payment.

If your application for registration is successful you will be sent an application form toapply for an APC.

Application documentsare not returned

All documents received with an application remain the property of the Board oncereceived. Information is held for reference and review and is not returned to theapplicant. Therefore, please supply certified copies of documents rather than originalsunless specified.

P PERSONAL DETAILS

Passport

Refer to the ApplicationForm (Part 2)Pg 4, Section C

Please supply a correctly certified copy of the personal details page(s) of your currentpassport as evidence of identity and age including any observations.

Change of name If you have changed your name, evidence in the form of a correctly certified marriagecertificate, deed poll, or statutory declaration must be provided.

Postal address This will be the address that all Board correspondence will be sent to. If you are grantedregistration you will be required to provide the Board with a residential and postaladdress in New Zealand. If you change your address during the application process youare required to notify the Board in a personally signed statement.

P INTENTION TO PRACTISE IN NEW ZEALAND

Intention to practise inNew Zealand

Refer to the ApplicationForm (Part 2)

Pg 5, Section DPg 19/20, Section M

Applicants must supply:

Their intended date of arrival in New Zealand; and

Their present immigration status in New Zealand; and

Evidence of applying for or holding a New Zealand Working Holiday visa, Residencepermit or work visa or permit; and

A signed statutory declaration (Section M of the Application Form) attesting theirintention to practise as a physiotherapist in New Zealand.

If the applicant is not eligible to apply for one of these visas/permits, they must provide:

Evidence that they have clearly investigated relocating to New Zealand such as thetype of visa that they intend to apply for upon the successful grant of registration.

P ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY FOR REGISTRATION

Please establish whether or not you are currently eligible to submit an application for registration by matchingyour qualifications/experience to Board criteria below.

Please note: Your primary physiotherapy qualification must be sufficiently similar in theory and practice to thephysiotherapy curricula undertaken by undergraduates in New Zealand undergraduate physiotherapyprogrammes. Refer to Section E of the Application Guidance Notes for more information.

Recency of practicecriteria

Applicants who have graduated three or more years prior to the date of application forregistration are required:

To have worked as a practising physiotherapist (as a clinician, manager, educatoror researcher) whether full-time or part-time, for any period of time during the threeyears immediately prior to submitting their application for registration; or

To provide evidence of successful completion of a formal course of university levelphysiotherapy study additional to their primary physiotherapy qualification i.e.Certificates of Proficiency, a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, aPostgraduate Diploma or a Masters during the three years immediately prior tosubmitting their application for registration.

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Recency of practicecriteria continued

N.B. If you are applying for registration on this basis, your evidence must include:university issued course or qualification certificates, official academic transcript/personalrecord of achievement/diploma supplement and module/paper descriptors for allmodules/papers undertaken as listed on your academic transcript.

Applicants must meet one of the categories below to establish eligibility to applyfor registration. Please note that the categories are not listed in any particularorder, they are numbered purely for referencing purposes.

Initial Board criteria toestablish eligibility toapply for registration

1. Primary physiotherapy qualification completed in either India or the

Philippines

Persons who have gained their primary physiotherapy qualification overseas whohave completed a full time undergraduate physiotherapy degree programme in eitherIndia or the Philippines will require:

Either,

Evidence of FULL registration in Canada or the United Kingdom (England, Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland) and have subsequently gained physiotherapy practiceexperience in Canada or the United Kingdom.

Or,

Evidence of successful completion of a formal course of university levelphysiotherapy study that encompasses the three core bases of physiotherapy,cardiovascular/pulmonary, neurology, and musculoskeletal (additional to theirprimary physiotherapy qualification), i.e. Certificates of Proficiency, a GraduateCertificate, a Graduate Diploma, a Postgraduate Diploma or a Masters. This formalcourse of study has been completed in New Zealand, Australia, Canada or theUnited Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland),

2. Primary physiotherapy qualification from a four year full time undergraduatedegree sufficiently similar to the physiotherapy curricula undertaken byundergraduates in New Zealand

Persons who have gained their primary physiotherapy qualification overseas whohave a physiotherapy qualification from a four year full timeundergraduate degreeprogramme sufficiently similar to the physiotherapy curricula undertaken byundergraduates in New Zealand are eligible to apply for registration without showingevidence of additional post-qualification physiotherapy practice experience. [Note:the physiotherapy curricula undertaken by undergraduates in New Zealand aredeveloped to incorporate all the Boards competencies]

3. Primary physiotherapy qualification from a three year full time undergraduatedegree

Persons who have gained their primary physiotherapy qualification overseas whohave a physiotherapy qualification from a three year full time undergraduate degreeprogramme will require:

Either,

A minimum of one year full-time post-qualification physiotherapy practice experienceas a fully registered (i.e. with unconditional registration) physiotherapist, not in solepractice, in their country/countries of practice,

This experience must be gained in a professionally supported environment providedby an experienced physiotherapist and include:

Observed practice and guidance for professional development and

Physiotherapy practice experience in the core bases of physiotherapy that werenot covered during the prequalification clinical/physiotherapy practiceplacements

Or,

Evidence of successful completion of a formal course of university levelphysiotherapy study additional to their primary physiotherapy qualification i.e.Certificates of Proficiency, a Graduate Certificate, a Graduate Diploma, aPostgraduate Diploma or a Masters.



4. Primary physiotherapy qualification from a four year part timeundergraduatedegree

Persons who have gained their primary physiotherapy qualification overseas whohave completed a four year part time degree programme that is considered to be

equivalent to a three year full time bachelor degree, will require:

Either,

A minimum of one year full-time post-qualification physiotherapy practice experienceas a fully registered (i.e. with unconditional registration) physiotherapist, not in sole

practice, in their country/countries of practice,

Initial Board criteria toestablish eligibility toapply for registrationcontinued




Or,

Evidence of successful completion of a formal course of university levelphysiotherapy study additional to their primary physiotherapy qualification i.e.Certificates of Proficiency, a Graduate Certificate, a Graduate Diploma, aPostgraduate Diploma or a Masters.

5. Primary physiotherapy qualification from a graduate entry qualification(accelerated programme)

Persons who have gained their physiotherapy qualification overseas who have agraduate entry qualification (accelerated programme) [i.e. eitherbachelor/masters/doctoral level] as their primary physiotherapy qualification willrequire:

Either,

A minimum of one year full-time post-qualification physiotherapy practice experienceas a fully registered (i.e. with unconditional registration) physiotherapist, not in solepractice, in their country/countries of practice,




Or,

Completion of competence examinations in the three core bases of physiotherapypractice (cardiovascular/pulmonary, musculoskeletal and neurology) at a NewZealand School of Physiotherapy.

And

The accelerated programme must reflect contemporary physiotherapy education andbe sufficiently similar to the physiotherapy curricula undertaken by undergraduates inNew Zealand;

The minimum entry prerequisites for this graduate entry qualification must be arelated bachelor degree. There must be evidence of human science papers such asanatomy, physiology, pathology, psychology, biophysics, human development,biochemistry, histology, kinesiology, pharmacology.

The curricula for the graduate entry qualification must show a minimum level oflearning that is similar to the bachelor level of learning in physiotherapy that isrecognised in New Zealand.

6. Primary physiotherapy qualification from a programme of less than 3 years fulltime study (other than a graduate entry qualification)

Persons who have gained their primary physiotherapy qualification overseas whohave a primary physiotherapy qualification ofless than 3 years full time study(otherthan a graduate entry qualification referred to above) will need to provide evidence of



successful completion of a formal course of university level physiotherapy study

additional to their primary physiotherapy qualification i.e. Certificates of Proficiency,a Graduate Certificate, a Graduate Diploma, a Postgraduate Diploma or a Masters.

7. Primary physiotherapy qualification from a Diploma of Physiotherapyprogramme

Persons who have gained a Diploma of Physiotherapy as their primaryphysiotherapy qualification awarded after 1995 will need to provide evidence ofsuccessful completion of a formal course of university level physiotherapy study

additional to their primary physiotherapy qualification that encompasses the threecore bases of physiotherapy, cardiovascular/pulmonary, neurology andmusculoskeletal i.e. Certificates of Proficiency, a Graduate Certificate, a GraduateDiploma, Postgraduate Diploma or a Masters.

If you meet one of these criteria and all other criteria in Sections E, F, G, H and Iplease complete the application form.

P PHYSIOTHERAPY QUALIFICATIONS CRITERIA

Primary physiotherapyqualification must meetset criteria

If you hold a physiotherapy qualification gained overseas and you have notpreviously been registered by this Board, your qualification must meet all of thefollowing criteria:

Primary physiotherapy

qualification

Your primary physiotherapy qualification is the course of study leading to your initial

registration as a physiotherapist in the country or state where you gained yourphysiotherapy qualification.

Similarity to the curriculaof the New Zealandundergraduateprogrammes

The curriculum studied by persons who have gained their primary physiotherapyqualification overseas must be sufficiently similar in theory and practice to thephysiotherapy curricula undertaken by undergraduates in New Zealand undergraduateprogrammes leading to physiotherapy registration involving a minimum of four years ofacademic study.

Course objectives andlearning outcomes

Course objectives and learning outcomes of your physiotherapy course of study must beclearly set out and reflect the competencies of the entry level physiotherapists in NewZealand. Learning outcomes should reflect higher levels of learning, showing evidenceof discussion, analysis, evaluation and critical review. Learning outcomes must beapplicable to physiotherapy practice in New Zealand and should reflect competence inthe assessment, clinical reasoning, planning and implementation of client management.

Content, learning experiences and clinical education experiences that encompass thethree core physiotherapy bases of cardiovascular/pulmonary; musculoskeletal; andneurology must be integrated throughout the curriculum.

The assessment process employed in your course of physiotherapy study should overtlyassess the achievement of learning outcomes.

Scientific knowledgebase

Your course of physiotherapy study must provide a scientific knowledge base on whichphysiotherapy management is founded including, anatomy, physiology, pathology,psychology, biophysics, human development, biochemistry, histology, kinesiology,pharmacology

Research principles Your course of physiotherapy study must provide a knowledge base in research includingresearch methodologies, academic writing, statistical analysis and critical review ofcurrent literature. The integration of current evidence into practice must be overt withinthe curriculum.

Supervisedphysiotherapy practice

You must have gained around one thousand (1,000) hours of supervised physiotherapypractice during your course of physiotherapy education, in a variety of settings. Thesupervised practice component of the curriculum must be conducted under the guidanceof registered physiotherapists approved by your school of physiotherapy.

Autonomous Practice Your course of physiotherapy study should demonstrate the course participants ability,on completion, to practise independently of other health professionals without referraland using a sound assessment, clinical reasoning, reflection and evaluation process.

Clinical reasoning Clinical reasoning is the process in which the physiotherapist, using clinical knowledgeand professional judgement, formulates with the patient/client a potential treatment plan,continually reflecting on and involving the patient/client in adaptations to the plan foreffective ongoing management.

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Evidence informedpractice

Evidence informed practice is the integration of current best evidence, individualpractitioner experience and anecdotal experience plus patient/client involvement inselection of effective management options and continual outcome evaluation.

Country/State ofRegistration

Your course of physiotherapy study should entitle you to be registered to practise as aphysiotherapist in the country/state in which the course was undertaken.

If, in order to be a practising physiotherapist in your country of qualification, you arerequired as a graduate of a physiotherapy programme to undertake further mandatorypre-registration examinations, the Board expects to receive evidence of your successfulcompletion of such examinations.

Continuing ProfessionalDevelopment

Continuing Profession Development (CPD) is a process through which individualsundertake learning through a broad range of activities that maintains, develops, andenhances skills and knowledge in order to improve performance in practice.

You must provide detailed evidence of your post-qualification experience as aphysiotherapist and CPD to show that you meet all of the competencies as required bythe Board.

Requireduniversity issuedqualificationdocumentation

Provide either original documents, copies stamped by the issuing university or correctlycertified copies of university issued documents.

Please note all documents received with an application remain the property of theBoard once received. Information is held for reference and review and is notreturned to the applicant. Therefore, please supply correctly certified copies ofthese university issued documents if you wish to retain the originals.

If your primaryphysiotherapyqualification was gainedless than 10 years prior tosubmitting thisapplication

University issued documentation that is required (these must be either originaldocuments, copies stamped by the issuing university or correctly certified copies ofuniversity issued documents):

your degree certificate/course qualification certificate; and

your complete official academic transcript/diploma supplement; and

an official and complete academic curriculum relating to your primaryphysiotherapy qualification clearly dated for the specific timeframe of yourcourse of study; and

evidence confirming that you personally completed around 1000 hourssupervised physiotherapy practice as part of your primary physiotherapyprogramme and detail of practice settings and clinical bases covered

If your primaryphysiotherapyqualification was gained

more than 10 years priorto submitting thisapplication

University issued documentation that is required (either original documents, copiesstamped by the issuing university or correctly certified copies of university issueddocuments):

your degree certificate/course qualification certificate; and your complete official academic transcript/diploma supplement; and

evidence confirming that you personally completed around 1000 hourssupervised physiotherapy practice as part of your primary physiotherapyprogramme and detail of practice settings and clinical bases covered.

If you gained your primary physiotherapy qualification over 10 years prior to submittingan application for registration you may request an exemption from providing a completeacademic curriculum see page 7, Section E of the Application Form (Part 2).

If concerns about qualifications are raised at any stage during the applicationprocess an applicant who has been exempt from providing a curriculum will berequired to provide a curriculum that meets Board criteria to further progress theirapplication.

Prerequisite qualification Your prerequisite qualification is the degree programme completed prior to youracceptance into a graduate entry (accelerated) physiotherapy programme and must be arelated bachelor degree. There must be evidence of human science papers such asanatomy, physiology, pathology, psychology, biophysics, human development,biochemistry, histology, kinesiology, pharmacology.


your degree certificate; and


an official and complete academic curriculum relating to your prerequisitequalification clearly dated for the specific timeframe of your course of study.



Additional physiotherapyqualification

An additional physiotherapy qualification is a formal course of university levelphysiotherapy study additional to your primary physiotherapy qualification. If youreligibility for submitting an application to the Board is dependent on you holding a furtherphysiotherapy qualification additional to your primary physiotherapy qualification i.e. thesuccessful completion of a formal course of university level physiotherapy study

for example Certificates of Proficiency, Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma,Masters include the following:


your degree certificate/course qualification certificate; and


an official and complete academic curriculum relating to your additionalphysiotherapy qualification clearly dated for the specific timeframe of yourcourse of study; and

evidence of supervised physiotherapy practice undertaken as part of youradditional physiotherapy programme and detail of practice settings and clinicalbases covered.

P QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTATION: EXPLANATION OF TERMS

This section refers to your course or programme curriculum.

The complete, official course or programme curriculum the Board requires should bepublished by the university and available to each student. The curriculum your universityprovides for evaluation by the Physiotherapy Board will be used solely by this registrationauthority (and not by another university).

Your course or programme curriculum should be dated as confirmation that thecurriculum provided relates to your specific physiotherapy education programme (and notthe education programme currently offered by your university/educational institution).

The curriculum must contain module/paper descriptors for all modules/papers completedand match the papers that are recorded on your official academic transcript.

Complete official courseor programme curriculum

Each module/paper descriptor should contain:

a summary of the objectives of the paper; and

the learning outcomes that show the expected level of learning; and

the learning hours that are completed; and the content that will be learnt; and

the methods of assessment that are used to assess the achievement of thelearning outcomes; and

reference to the evidence base of the teaching in regard to the texts; and/or

journal papers that inform the learning within the paper.

Complete officialacademictranscript/diplomasupplement

The complete official academic transcript/diploma supplement the Board requires is auniversity issued formal statement of an individual graduates academic performance(personal record of achievement/statement of academic record). It details an individualsprogress within his or her programme of study and confirms the award of thequalification.

The Board requires that your academic transcript/diploma supplement provide evidenceof your successful completion of each module/paper undertaken, hours required and

marks obtained. If grades (e.g. A, B, C etc) are awarded rather than marks (e.g. 50%,60%, 70% etc), an explanation of the grading system must also be provided.

The Board requires academic transcripts/diploma supplements that have been issued bythe Academic Registry of a university, printed on specialised (such as tamper proof)headed paper, rather than a document produced and issued at faculty level. Theacademic transcript/diploma supplement should be either an original document, a copystamped by the issuing university or a correctly certified copy.

Confirmation ofsupervised physiotherapypractice

The confirmation of supervised physiotherapy practice which the Board requires is auniversity issued formal statement such as a clinical hours profile.

The document should provide evidence that you have personally undertaken and beenassessed on around one thousand (1,000) hours of supervised physiotherapy practice ina variety of settings during your course of physiotherapy education and include detail ofthe clinical bases covered.

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P FITNESS FOR REGISTRATION

Legislative requirements Under section 16 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act)the Board must seek information to ensure an applicant is fit to be registered as aphysiotherapist.

Mental and physicalfitness

New Zealand law requires physiotherapists to be mentally and physically fit to practisewithin the profession in New Zealand. Refer to the Application Form (Part 2), Pg 8,Section F.

Complete answersrequired The Application Form includes questions covering: communication, physical and mentalfitness, risk declaration, professional misconduct, police investigation, criminal convictions;as well as your educational record.

All of the questions must be completed if any are left unanswered or the required,specified information is not included then your application will be returned.

Please note: Making a declaration under section 16 about your fitness to practise does not necessarilymean that you will be refused registration. The Board is required by law to considerwhether having an issue of this nature will adversely affect your fitness to practise as aphysiotherapist in New Zealand.

Criminal Conviction Record Required

All applicants mustprovide:

An original current criminal conviction record (or its equivalent) issued by therelevant police authority in their current country of practice.

For information on how to obtain this document refer to:http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/formsandfees/formsandguides/policecertificate/

The record must be dated not more than 3 months prior to the date of receipt by theBoard.

You are not required to disclose any convictions that are covered by the New Zealandlegislation - Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004.

If a conviction is disclosed on your criminal conviction record that would have beencovered by the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004 (had it occurred in New Zealand),then the Board will treat this type of conviction as though it was in fact covered by the

Clean Slate Act, and disregard this conviction when considering the individualsapplication.

If you have lived outsideof your current countryof practice in the last 10years you must alsoprovide:

An original current criminal conviction record (or its equivalent) issued by therelevant police authority in every other country that you have lived in for 12months or more in the last 10 years.

This does not apply if you were aged 17 or younger while you were living there. Therecord must be dated not more than 3 months prior to the date of receipt by the Board.

Criminal convictionrecord United Kingdom

If you must supply a cr iminal conviction record from the United Kingdom as evidence ofyour fitness to practise as a physiotherapist in New Zealand, you must apply under theData Protection Act 1988 through your local police force Data Protection Officer to requesta search of the Police National Computer for any cr iminal records held on you andprovision of a Subject Access disclosure, issued by The Association of Chief PoliceOfficers (ACPO) Criminal Records Office (ACRO), and provide the original current reportto the Board.

Further information about this process can be found on the ACPO website:www.acpo.police.uk/NationalPolicing/ACROCriminlRecordsOffice/SubjectAccess.aspx

Criminal convictionrecord Republic ofIreland/Eire

If you must supply a criminal conviction record from the Republic of Ireland/Eire asevidence of your fitness to practise as a physiotherapist in New Zealand, you must applyto the Garda Siochana Authority under section 4 of the Data Protection Act 1988 for asearch of the Garda Criminal Records Database for any criminal records held on you, andprovide the original current report to the Board.

Criminal convictionrecord New Zealand

If you must supply a criminal conviction record from New Zealand as evidence of yourfitness to practise as a physiotherapist in New Zealand, you must apply to the Privacy Unitof the Ministry of Justice in New Zealand using form Priv/F1 Request by individual for acriminal record check issued by the Ministry of Justice, and provide the original current

report to the Board.

G



Application forms and further information about this process can be found on the Ministryof Justice website:http://www.courts.govt.nz/services/get-a-copy-of-your-criminal-record/application-forms/application-forms

If you answer Yes to any of the questions in the Application Form Section F:Fitness for Registration, please read the following information carefully.

Convictions If you have answered Yes to the Fitness for Registration question covering convictions,

then you must also provide:

1. A personally signed reflective statement on the template available on theBoards website at:

www.physioboard.org.nz/index.php?Registration-Overseas-QualifiedPhysiotherapists

Describing:a. The circumstances leading to the conviction(s);b. The impact that this experience has had on you as a result;c. How the experience will influence your future behaviour and choices; andd. Why you believe that each or any conviction does not reflect adversely on

your fitness to practise as a physiotherapist in the future

You may include any further information you believe is relevant.

2. The name and contact details of the referee who will be providing a characterreference in support of your application. Refer to the Board requirements forsuitable referees and character references detailed below.You must arrange for a current character reference to be posted directly to the Boardby a suitable referee. This reference must:

a. Show that the referee is aware of the circumstances and events leading toyour conviction; and

b. Include comment on whether or not they believe that your conviction doesnot currently, or will not in the future, reflect adversely on your fitness topractise as a physiotherapist in New Zealand.

Once all above items have been received the Board will consider your application basedon all information provided.

Physical and/or MentalFitness Declaration

If you have answered Yes to the Fitness for Registration question covering physical andmental fitness, then you must also provide:

1. A personally signed reflective statement detailing:a. Details of your condition or impairment, including duration and treatment of

your condition or impairment;b. Your insight and understanding of your health condition and its triggers;c. Details of strategies utilised in managing your condition or impairment; andd. Your management plan for your future practice of physiotherapy.

You may include any further information you believe is relevant.

2. A current original supporting letter signed by your treating practitionerconfirming the details of your management, and including comment on whether or notthey believe that your condition or impairment does not currently, or will not in thefuture, reflect adversely on your fitness to practise as a physiotherapist in NewZealand.

CommunicationDeclaration

If you have answered Yes to the Fitness for Registration question coveringcommunication, then you must also provide:

A personally signed statement describing your reasonsYou may include any further information you believe is relevant.

Risk Declaration If you have answered Yes to the Fitness for Registration question covering the riskdeclaration, then you must also provide:

A personally signed reflective statement detailing:a. Your insight and understanding of the risk factor(s) and the triggers;b. Details of strategies utilised in managing the risk factor(s); andc. Your management plan for your future practice of physiotherapy.



ProfessionalMisconduct, PoliceInvestigation, and/orEducational RecordDeclarations

If you have answered Yes to one or more of the Fitness for Registration questionscovering: professional misconduct, police investigation, and/or educational recorddeclarations, then you must also provide:

1. A personally signed reflective statement describing the incident(s) oroffending;

2. The name and contact details of the referee who will be providing a characterreference in support of your application.

Refer to the Board requirements for suitable referees and character referencesdetailed below.

You must arrange for a current character reference to be posted directly to the Boardby a suitable referee. This reference must show:

a. That the referee is aware of the circumstances and events leading to yourdeclaration; and

b. Why they believe that your circumstances do not currently, or will not in thefuture, reflect adversely on your fitness to practise as a physiotherapist inNew Zealand.

3. A certified copy of each of the following documents (where applicable):a. Relevant reports;b. Findings;c. Decisions;d. Orders;e. Endorsements on registration certificates; and/orf. Summons.

Once all of the relevant required items have been received, the Board will consider yourapplication based on all information provided.

NOTES

Suitable referees Your referee must be a person who is in a position of responsibility and has known you fora minimum of 1 year (i.e. in their capacity as your employer, manager, supervisor oreducator). This referee must have knowledge of the declaration you are making regardingyour fitness for registration. Family members, friends and colleagues are not suitablereferees.

Character references Your referee may supply their character reference in any format they prefer as long as it

meets the following criteria: It is clearly named with the full name of the referee;

It is labelled as a character reference in support of your application forregistration;

It indicates the referees relationship to you as the applicant;

It indicates the length of time the referee has known you;

It is signed and dated by the referee; and

If the reference is completed by your referee in their professional capacity, then itmust be on the letterhead of their employing organisation.

P COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Refer to the Application

Form (Part 2)Pg 10, Section G

Communication andEnglish Skills

In order to practise as a physiotherapist in New Zealand you must have an excellentcommand of the English language with the ability to comprehend and communicateeffectively in English in a physiotherapy practice setting with both patients/clients andprofessional colleagues.

If either or both of the two scenarios below apply to you, the Board requires you to proveyour English proficiency through undertaking one of the tests detailed below:

1. English is not your first language. First language (native language/mothertongue) is defined as the language a person learns first, usually from theirfamily.

2. Your course of physiotherapy (i.e. primary physiotherapy qualification) was notinstructed and examined entirely in the English language.

H



Academic IELTS & OETassessments

The Board accepts two academic English language tests:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at the Academic level with an overall score of 7.5 and no grade less than 7 in each band.

Detailed information including locations, contact details and dates for IELTS

examinations in New Zealand and overseas is available at www.ielts.org

Australian Occupational English Test (OET) with an A or B level in all four sections.

Detailed information including locations, contact details and dates for OET examinationsis available at http://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/

Test results must be dated within the 2 years preceding the Boards receipt of yourapplication.

Application to request anexemption

An applicant may be exempt from passing an approved English test if he or she providesevidence which satisfies the Board of their ability to comprehend and communicate inEnglish.

Application to request anexemption (continued)

Applicants requesting an exemption will be required to provide:

Evidence of continuous practice as a fully registered physiotherapist for a periodof at least two years within the three years immediately prior to application, in aphysiotherapy practice setting in one of the following countries: England, Wales,

Scotland, Northern Ireland, Eire, Canada, Australia, South Africa and/or USA,where English was the first and primary language used in the physiotherapypractice setting.

AND

The names and contact details of two senior registered physiotherapists who areprepared to act as referees, who speak English as a first language, and who canverify the applicants claims to communicate effectively in English in aphysiotherapy practice setting with both patients and professional colleagues.The two referees will be contacted directly by the Physiotherapy Board of NewZealand.

Each application for exemption will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

If concerns about English comprehension and communication are raised at anystage during the application process, an applicant who has been exempt from

providing test results will be required to provide test results that meet Boardcriteria to further progress their application.

P EVIDENCE OF GOOD STANDING / VERIFICATION OF STATUS

The Boards expectation is that you have met and will provide evidence ofcompletion of registration requirements in your country of qualification.

Please provide evidence of your current/recent national or state registration and goodstanding. You must provide this evidence in the form of a certificate of good standing(sometimes known as a letter of verification of status).

You must provide this evidence from ALL statutory physiotherapy regulatory authorities

that you have worked within, for the 3 years immediately prior to submitting yourapplication.

Please supply valid, original evidence of your current/recent national or state registrationand good standing. The Board will not accept copies (including certified copies of theoriginal document).

Evidence of goodstanding as aphysiotherapist

The certificate of good standing/letter of verification of status should provide evidence ofyour registration status and good standing with the statutory physiotherapy regulatoryauthority, and state that there are no disciplinary actions pending or proceeding againstyou.

Thecertificate of good standing/letter of verification of status must be valid on receipt bythe Board and issued within the 3 months preceding the Boards receipt of yourapplication.

I



Read the Boards requirements (below) for the documentation you will need toprovide from your country/countries/state(s) of registration.

United Kingdom Physiotherapists registered in the United Kingdom at any time within the last 3 yearsmust supply an original, current Certificate of Professional Status issued by the statutoryregulatory authority the Health Professions Council (HPC).

USA Physiotherapists registered in the United States of America at any time within the last 3years must supply an original, current Letter of Verification of Status/Licensure or

Certificate of Good Standing from all State regulatory authorities they are/have beenregistered with within the last 3 years.

South Africa Physiotherapists registered in South Africa at any time within the last 3 years must supplyan original, current Certificate of Status issued by the regulatory authority the HealthProfessions Council of South Africa.

Canada Physiotherapists registered in Canada at any time within the last 3 years must supply anoriginal, current Letter of Verification of Status/Licensure or Certificate of Good Standingfrom all provincial/territorial regulatory authorities (Colleges of Physical Therapists) youare/have been registered with.

Other countries with nostatutory

physiotherapy regulatoryauthority (such asRepublic of Ireland/Eire)

If there is no statutory physiotherapy regulatory authority in one or more of thecountries/states you qualified or worked in within the last three years (including any

voluntary work experience, and regardless of the length of time you practised there), youmust provide proof of your good standing in the form of an original current criminal recordcheck (or equivalent) from those countries/states.

For information on how to obtain this document refer towww.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/formsandfees/formsandguides/policecertificate/

Thecriminal record check or (or equivalent) must be valid on receipt by the Board andissued within the 3 months preceding the Boards receipt of your application.

Please inform the Board as soon as possible if your registration status in any othercountry or state changes while your application is being processed.

P CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTSCertifying yourdocuments

Provide certified copies of all your mandatory documents unless otherwisespecified in these guidance notes.

Certified copy A certified copy of a document is a direct copy (photocopy) of an original document, witha statement signed by an official with the necessary legal power (such as a Justice of thePeace, Commissioner of Oaths, Solicitor or Notary Public) certifying that the official hasseen the original and that the copy is a true copy of the original.

Further details about the Board certification requirements can be viewed online at:http://www.physioboard.org.nz/index.php?CertifiedCopies

Physiotherapy Boardcertification criteria

When approaching an official to certify your documents please ensure that theauthorising official complies with ALL of the following:

(i) Signs the copy; and(ii) Prints his/her full name under the signature; and(iii) States his/her position or designation; and(iv) Endorses the copy with his/her official seal (where applicable); and(v) Provides his/her full postal address to enable the Board to seek verification; and(vi) Ensures that the certified copy being provided to the Board includes the

statement Certified true copy of original document sighted.

Please note: The full postal details of the certifier must be provided.

If the certifier is not a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths, Solicitor or NotaryPublic, the Board will require proof they have the legal authority to certify documentssuch as a signed statement on the letterhead of the official including reference to theempowering legislation.

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Certification of large documentsCertification of documents containing multiple pages is only acceptable in the followingformat:

The front page is certified with the stamp, seal and signature etc of the authorisingofficial and includes a reference made by the official on the front page to the entirenumber of pages in the document (so the Board can be assured no pages havebeen added or removed).

As you are likely to incur charges in order to certify your documents, it is in yourinterests to ensure that certification complies with ALL of the Boardsrequirements as outlined above.

To achieve consistency in your paperwork (and reduce the likelihood of error) werecommend that you ask one official to both witness your statutory declarationand certify copies of your documents.

P TRANSLATIONS

Translating yourdocuments into English

If the documents you provide to the Board are not in English you will need to have themtranslated at your own expense.

You are required to provide the Board with:

The original (or certified copy of the original document) in the original language.

A full English translation prepared by an official translation service.

The translations must be on official translation service letterhead and bear itssignature/stamp. You must provide the original translation or a correctly certified copy ofthe translation. The full name and postal details of the translatormust be provided.

P COMPETENCY TEMPLATES

Competency Templates To illustrate how you meet the 9 New Zealand Competencies please use thetemplates provided.

The competency templates are provided so you can record where in your application theassessors will locate the evidence of how you meet each specific competency.

There are nine competencies which all applicants for registration within the general

scope of practice: Physiotherapist, in New Zealand are required to meet. Eachcompetency is made up of components which form the elements necessary to achievethe competency. An awareness of the components is essential in demonstrating that youmeet each competency.

The competencies are detailed in the Boards document Physiotherapy Competenciesfor Physiotherapy Practice in New Zealand available for download from:http://www.physioboard.org.nz/docs/PHYSIO_Competencies_09_for_web.pdf

Part 5 of the Application Pack contains templates, in word format, for you to completematching your qualifications and experience to each competency in turn.

Please access the templates from the Boards website and save a copy on your PC.

Type your information where required remembering to save your work.

Print the completed templates to provide as part of your Application Pack.

Refer to at least three but no more than five items of your supporting evidence, asoutlined in Section M, demonstrating how you meet each competency.

The Board requires a typed, hard copy of your completed competency templates.Please note that the Board only accepts the templates that are available on thewebsite.

Templates:You must complete the following templates listing those items supplied within yourapplication that demonstrate how you, as an individual, meet this competency in relationto each of the three core bases of physiotherapy (cardiovascular/pulmonary,musculoskeletal, neurology).

K

L



Template CompetencyCore base of

physiotherapy

Template 1:Template 2:Template 3:Template 4:

1239.4

Cardiovascular/pulmonary

Template 5:Template 6:Template 7:

Template 8:

123

9.4

Musculoskeletal

Template 9:Template 10:Template 11:Template 12:

1239.4

Neurology

Template 13:Template 14:Template 15:Template 16:Template 17:Template 18:

456789 (excluding 9.4)

All bases

Purpose of the templates: The templates are designed to assist the assessors in locating the evidence you have

supplied that best demonstrates your competence in each competency.

Content of the templates: First row: Your own physiotherapy education programme including your clinicalplacements (refer to detail included in your curriculum and academic transcript/diplomasupplement including your clinical hours profile)

Second row: Your post-qualification physiotherapy experience (refer to the relevantpart of your CV and refer directly to the appropriate referee providing validation of yourwork history)

Third row: List 3 to 5 items of strong supporting evidence which best reflect yourcompetence for the relevant competency.

P SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

The purpose of yourapplication

Refer to the ApplicationForm (Part 2)Pg 18, Section L

Your application for registration is your opportunity to present your case to thePhysiotherapy Board as to how you, as an individual meet the New ZealandCompetencies. To view the New Zealand Competencies please go online to:http://www.physioboard.org.nz/docs/PHYSIO_Competencies_09_for_web.pdf

Please take the time to reflect, document, write and summarise your own abilities andprofessional development and whether or not these meet the New Zealand competencyrequirements. Please self evaluate as to whether you can provide strong supportingevidence to the Board that you are meeting/have met within the last 10 years, all therequired competencies 1 - 9.

All applicants must meet the current entry level requirements for registration. Currently,there is no specialist registration in New Zealand; therefore you cannot be registered inone particular area of physiotherapy practice. You must be competent in all three corebases of physiotherapy practice.

If you identify any potential deficiencies in your evidence informed knowledge andphysiotherapy practice you are strongly encouraged to address those areas, in yourcurrent country of residence, prior to submitting an application to the Board.

What you must include You must include all the mandatory documents and your supporting evidence of how youpersonally meet the New Zealand competencies.

These explanatory notes are to assist you to produce an application in a formatacceptable to the Board.

1. Use the Application Guidance Notes (Part 1) and the Checklist (Part 3) toensure you have supplied all relevant information and documentation.

2. Compile your supporting evidence.3. Sign the self-declaration forms.4. Complete the Application Form (Part 2) (other than the fields relating to the

statutory declaration) working through each section.

M



5. Take the whole Application Pack to an authorising official for witnessing yourstatutory declaration.

What is supportingevidence?

In New Zealand, a physiotherapist must be competent in the three core basescardiovascular/pulmonary, musculoskeletal and neurology. Therefore you mustdemonstrate competence in all three core bases of physiotherapy to be registered as aphysiotherapist in New Zealand.

Supporting evidence is evidence of your post-qualification experience and ongoingprofessional development within the last ten years. Please select the strongest items ofevidence that demonstrate how you meet each competency. Strong items of evidenceare items that best demonstrate that you meet each competency.

Provide at least three but no more than five items of strong supporting evidence for eachcompetency. Select and include those items of evidence that best reflect yourcompetence. Include reflective statements.

Please note: Each piece of evidence can be referred to more than once.

For example:An In-Service Training presentation that you have given could demonstrate that youmeet more than one competency; such as Competency 4 Communicateeffectively, Competency 5 Apply educational principles to physiotherapy practiceand Competency 7 Apply evidence informed learning to physiotherapy practice. In

addition, this item of supporting evidence could demonstrate competence in one ofthe three core bases of physiotherapy depending on the subject matter of the

presentation. Evidence that is more than 10 years old will be disregarded.

Below are some examples of acceptable supporting evidence.

Examples of strong supporting evidence that can be included:

Reflective statements (for details see below and Part 7 of the Application Pack)

Professional development course attendance certificates; and course outlines,course description information, forms of assessment, include the number of hours ordays, long course with assessment requirements, or short course, the duration of thepresentation, and the presentation target group.

Attendance at a national and international conference: include copies of theprogrammes, state which presentations and workshops you have attended.

Evidence of how you are keeping up to date with the current literature and currentbest practice guidelines. For example literature appraisal, participation in a journalclub. Please do not include copies of journal articles or similar.

In-service presentations you have personally prepared and delivered, stating thedate of presentation and the presentations topic and target group. Include handoutsand/or a reflective statement.

Records of your work performance such as your own personal appraisals andannual reviews.

Your professional development plans.

Reflective Statements Reflection allows you to critically think about what you have learnt. Reflective statementsshow how you intend to implement or integrate new learning into your practice.Conversely you may reflect on why the activity was not useful and has not beenincorporated into your practice.

Examples of reflective practice you may choose to write about include: Learning from a new working environment e.g. your first evening on-call;

The evidence base for selecting a particular clinical treatment;

How you accommodated a persons cultural needs in your practice;

How you resolved an ethical dilemma;

Issues when establishing a new protocol;

Researching information to enhance service delivery;

A conference or course attended.

Reflective statements must be completed on the Board template (Part 7 of theApplication Pack), and include three components:1. What did you do?2. What did you learn?3. How did this activity affirm or influence your practice?

Please note the caution set out below.



Download the reflective statement template from:www.physioboard.org.nz/index.php?Registration-Overseas-QualifiedPhysiotherapists

Items of your own work Examples of your own work include: published journal papers, formal power pointpresentations, conference posters, formal journal paper critique/review presentations topeers, assignments and official reports or service reviews that have been written by youwhere all sourced information has been appropriately acknowledged and referenced.

All formal presentations and posters should include the presentation date and venue,

plus an outline of the audience; assignments should include reference to the paper, theprogramme and date of completion; reports/service reviews need to include the clearpurpose of the report/review with the place and date.

CAUTION Your supporting evidence must not include information gathered about another individual(such as patients, colleagues, students) whether identifiable or not UNLESS you haveobtained signed written consent from that individual for the express purpose of its use assupporting evidence in your application for registration.

Examples of identifiable information could include (but are not limited to) documentationof the individuals personal details, hospital, full patient histories, photographs etc.

Reflective StatementsPlease think carefully about the information you are including in your reflectivestatements. The Physiotherapy Board does not request information about identifiable

individuals such as patients or colleagues as such information may constitute a breach ofprofessional standards and ethics. Reflective statements are to be focused on you as aphysiotherapist and what you have learnt, rather than the patients or others involved inyour learning.

Care should be taken in providing supporting evidence. Please ensure that all yoursupporting evidence complies with:

The Boards Standards of Ethical Conduct found at:www.physioboard.org.nz/docs/Code_Ethical_Final_2006.pdfand

The New Zealand Privacy Act 1993 (a full copy of the Act can be viewed atwww.legislation.govt.nz).

If your supporting evidence does not comply then please do not include it in yourapplication. Applications that are found to include non-compliant information of this kindcan incur significant delays and impact on the outcome of the application process. Anyethical or legal issues raised during the application process will be taken very seriously.

Please think carefully about the information you are including in your application.You are expected to exercise sound ethical judgment when deciding which information toinclude consider how relevant the information is to the competency you are trying todemonstrate.

Submission ofapplication papers andsupporting evidence

When submitting your application papers and supporting evidence to the PhysiotherapyBoard please ensure that you provide:

A list of names of persons who will be mailing Validation of Work History orConfirmation of Fitness to Practise forms to the Board.

Mandatory documents certified in line with current Board criteria

A contents list, clearly cross referenced to your evidence.

Evidence held together preferably by paperclip or rubber band.

Do not send your papers specially bound together or in any type of file, folder orsleeve.

Documents supplied by your university should be sent to the Board in the format sent toyou including any covering letters.

NOTEThe Board does not accept as evidence any of the following; Printed literature such as publications issued by professional bodies,

Information downloaded from the internet,

Email correspondence.

Evidence supplied on CD/disc/electronic media

Evidence of this type will be disregarded.



P SUPPLYING VALIDATION OF WORK HISTORY FORMS

About the Validation ofWork History form

Refer to the ApplicationForm (Part 2)Pg 15, Section I

The Validation of Work History form provides validation of your post registrationphysiotherapy practice. The validation is in the form of references from trustworthy andcredible persons validating your work history including assessment, treating, evaluationmethods and professional development in the three core bases of physiotherapy(cardiovascular/pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neurology).

Your Validation of Work History forms are a very important part of your application. TheBoard is expecting to see Validation of Work History forms of a high standard that are

completed fully and correctly. Any Validation of Work History forms that are incomplete orotherwise invalid will be returned to the referee for completion.

Validation of Work History forms must be filled out by referees who can validate a periodof your work history as a fully registered physiotherapist in that country.

Please provide the names and contact details of THREE persons supplying Validation ofWork History forms, two of whom should be current or recent employers with aphysiotherapy background who have first hand knowledge of your clinical/professionalpractice.

If you are self-employed you may choose a referring doctor or a physiotherapycolleague/peer who has peer reviewed your practice.

Download the form, complete the first section and pass it on to your referee.http://www.physioboard.org.nz/docs/Validation_of_Work_History_Form_July_2009.pdf

The completed and signed forms should be sent, by the referees, by air mail, directly to:The RegistrarPhysiotherapy Board of New ZealandPO Box 10-734Wellington 6143New Zealand.

Forms sent with the Application Pack will be disregarded.

The Board recommends that you provide your referees with stamped self addressedenvelopes to post the form to the above address. This may prevent avoidable delays tothe processing and assessment of your application.

Note:

New/recent graduates of 4 year physiotherapy degree programmes that are sufficientlysimilar to the physiotherapy curricula undertaken by undergraduates in New Zealand,without post qualification physiotherapy experience, are not required to supply Validationof Work History forms with their applications. Instead the Board requires confirmation oftheir fitness to practise from their university. See Section O for details.

P SUPPLYING CONFIRMATION OF FITNESS TO PRACTISE FORMS

About the Confirmationof Fitness to Practiseforms

Refer to the ApplicationForm (Part 2)Pg 17, Section J

New/recent graduates of 4 year physiotherapy degree programmes that are sufficientlysimilar to the physiotherapy curricula undertaken by undergraduates in New Zealand,without post registration physiotherapy experience, are required to supply confirmation oftheir fitness to practise from their university.

Download the form from the Boards website, complete the first section and pass it on toyour university referee.

http://www.physioboard.org.nz/docs/Confirmation_of_Fitness_to_Practise_Form_July_2009.pdf

The completed and signed forms should be sent, by the referee, by air mail, directly to:The RegistrarPhysiotherapy Board of New ZealandPO Box 10-734Wellington 6143New Zealand.

Forms sent with the Application Pack will be disregarded.

The Board recommends that you provide your academic referee with a stamped selfaddressed envelope to post the form to the above address. This will help preventavoidable delays to the processing and assessment of your application.

O

N



P STATUTORY DECLARATION

Statutory declaration Section M of the Application Form (Part 2) is a statutory declaration. A statutorydeclaration is made under oath before an official with the legal authority to take statutorydeclarations. It is up to you to ensure that the information you supply to the Board is trueand correct. It is an offence to provide false or misleading information to the Board.

The statutory declaration contains the following statement:

I am the person who is applying for registration to practise as a physiotherapist in

New Zealand under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.

In making this declaration in front of an authorising official you are confirming the intent ofyour application is to practise in New Zealand.

To achieve consistency in your paperwork (and reduce the likelihood of error) werecommend that you ask one official to both witness your statutory declarationand certify copies of your documents.

Thestatutory declaration must be valid on receipt by the Board and witnessed within the3 months preceding the Boards receipt of your application.

P COMPILING YOUR APPLICATION PAPERS & SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

Please check the Boards website to ensure you have completed the current Application Form and templates.

The completed application must be presented in the format and order outlined here.The eight sections of your application should be compiled in this order:

a. Completed Application Formb. Completed Checklistc. Signed Reflective Statement on the Treaty of Waitangid. Mandatory documentse. Completed Competency Templatesf. Completed Curriculum Vitaeg. Reflective Statements to be completed as supporting evidenceh. Supporting evidence held together by clips or rubber bands. DO NOT send your supporting evidence in a

bound copy or in any other type of f ile/folder/plastic sleeve.

You are also required to have arranged for either Validation of Work History or Confirmation of Fitness to PractiseForms to be sent directly to the Board from your referees.

Section One:Application Form

Ensure that:

All sections are completed; and

The statutory declaration is appropriately signed and witnessed by you and theauthorising official; and

The full postal address of authorising official isprovided.Section Two: Checklist

Refer to the ApplicationPack(Part 3)

Ensure:

All sections are completed; and

The self declaration is completed and signed.

Section Three:Treaty of Waitangi


Ensure:

You have read all the information provided; and

Completed and signed a reflective statement.

Section Four:Mandatory documents:

Ensure you have provided:

Degree certificate(s)/university issued qualification or course certificate; and

Complete official academic transcript/diploma supplement(s)/personal record ofachievement; and

Evidence of personal completion of around 1,000 hours supervised physiotherapypractice and areas covered; and

Complete official academic curriculum/curricula/module/paper descriptors for allmodules/papers undertaken as listed on your academic transcript/diplomasupplement(s); and

Passport (personal details page); and

Criminal Conviction Record (or equivalent)

Evidence of good standing; and

P

Q



Treaty of Waitangi Reflective Statement; and

Curriculum Vitae; and

Where applicable - English proficiency test results

Where applicable Name change documentation

Where applicable Evidence of your Immigration Status

Section Five:Competency Templates


Ensure you have:

Completed all 18 competency templates, provided by the Board, referencingevidence of how your qualifications and experience demonstrate that you meet the 9

Competencies. Typed hard copies of all the completed templates to be included with your

application form.

Supplied at least three but no more than five items of strong supporting evidence todemonstrate how you meet each competency, remembering that you can refer toeach piece of evidence more than once.

Section Six:Curriculum Vitae


In your Curriculum Vitae (CV), the Board wants to know about any employment youhave undertaken in any capacity as a physiotherapist including techniques used,conditions treated, clinical environment and any areas of responsibility. Specifyeach rotation within a post.

Ensure that you have completed and included a typed hard copy of the Curriculum Vitaetemplate available on the following link:http://www.physioboard.org.nz/index.php?Registration-Overseas-QualifiedPhysiotherapists

Please note that the Board will only accept your CV when it has been completed on therequired Board template.

Section Seven:Reflective Statements

Refer topage 15, SectionMof this document, and tothe Application Pack (Part7)

Ensure your reflective statements are completed on the Board template available athttp://www.physioboard.org.nz/index.php?Registration-Overseas-QualifiedPhysiotherapists and that they:

Contain the three essential components:o What did you do?o What did you learn?o How did this activity affirm or influence your practice?

Are all signed and dated

Comply with the Boards Standards of Ethical Conduct found at:http://www.physioboard.org.nz/docs/Code_Ethical_Final_2006.pdf

Section Eight:

Supporting evidence

Refer topage 15, SectionMof this document

Ensure that you:

provide all the supporting evidence you have referred to in the competencytemplates you have completed

record any items of evidence that are your own work on the declaration on yourchecklist

number each page of your supporting evidence

include evidence that complies with the Boards Standards of Ethical Conduct foundat: http://www.physioboard.org.nz/docs/Code_Ethical_Final_2006.pdf

P ACCURACY OF INFORMATION

Please read carefully Under section 172 of the HPCA Act it is a criminal offence to make a false declarationand/or provide false or misleading information.

Under section 19 of the HPCA Act the Board may, if it thinks fit for any reason, receiveany information from any person in respect of an application being considered by theBoard.

Additionally, applicants are advised that the Board may question any of the followingpersons and/or organisations as to the applicants suitability for registration, includingfitness for registration, verification of prescribed qualification and/or competence topractice within the nominated scope of practice:

The referee or referees nominated by the applicant,

The applicants educational institution/s,

The applicants physiotherapy regulatory authority overseas (if applicable)

The applicants listed professional organisations ( if applicable),

The applicants current and/or previous employer/s (if applicable),

Any other person or organisation notified by the Board in any individual case.

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P WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU HAVE SUBMITTED YOUR APPLICATION?

Your application will be carefully scrutinised by staff to see whether you have provided allthe information required and that it is in the correct format.

If your application is incomplete the whole application may be returned to you and anadministration and postage charge will be deducted from your refund.

If your application is accepted for processing you may be required to submitadditional information at this stage.

Complete applications will then be passed to the Registration Assessors.

How your application willbe processed

The speed at which your application will be processed is dependent on your compliancewith the Boards requirements. It is important you supply the information requested in thecorrect way otherwise your application will incur delays.

How your application willbe assessed

Your application will be assessed to determine whether you have sufficientlydemonstrated that you meet the Boards competency requirements and all legalrequirements. Further evidence of competence may be required from you, includingpractical competence exam(s).

The Board will contact you by mail at each stage of the process to inform you of theprogress of your application. You are welcome to contact the Board by phone throughoutthe processing and assessment of your application; however, this will not speed up theassessment process. The best way to ensure your application is processed andassessed as quickly as possible is to provide ALL the information and documentation theBoard requires with your application. Missing or invalid information and documentationwill result in the delay of the processing and assessment of your application.

All applications are treated equally and there is no possibility of applications beingexpedited or prioritised for assessment.

How long the applicationprocess will take fromwhen the Board acceptsyour application

The length of time taken to process and assess your application depends on the qualityof the application you submit. You must meet the eligibility criteria and supply all thedocumentation required (certified correctly where necessary). The Board accepts noresponsibility for delays resulting from applicant error or omission or for failures in thepostal system. On average, it takes at least 2 months to process and assess a completeand compliant application.

How you will know aboutthe progress of yourapplication

Letters will be sent to the postal address you supply with your application:

once the Secretariat has received your application,

if your application is accepted for processing following an initial check of yourapplication,

once your papers have been checked if any further evidence is required,

when your application is forwarded to the Registration Assessors for assessment ofeligibility for registration,

to inform you of the outcome of your application.

Registration as a physiotherapist in New Zealand is a legal process and as such nocorrespondence will be conducted by email.

Annual PractisingCertificate (APC)

If you are successful in gaining registration, to legally practise physiotherapy in NewZealand you are required to hold a current APC. An APC specifies your scope ofpractice, any conditions on your scope of practice and the period of time it is valid for.Please view further information about applying for an APC at:http://www.physioboard.org.nz/index.php?AnnualPractisingCertificate

Annual Practising Year The New Zealand practising year is 1 April to 31 March. The maximum time an APC canbe issued for is twelve months but if you apply for an APC to be issued part way throughthe practising year you will still be required to pay the full fee.

S