Annual Practising Certificate
Application for an Annual Practicing Certificate also involves undertaking Board recertification requirements.
Before you apply for your APC you are advised to read the following information.
Every podiatrist who wishes to obtain an Annual Practising Certificate must apply to the Registrar. No person may claim to be practising as a podiatrist of a particular kind or do anything to suggest that they are practising unless the podiatrist holds a current practising certificate with a scope of practice which indicates that the podiatrist is of that kind.
The fee for an APC is $800.00 incl GST. It can be paid by personal cheque, or bank cheque made out to the Podiatrists Board, or by MasterCard or VISA. Some employers organise the payment of APC for practitioners. If this is the case the podiatrist needs to make sure that this is carried out in a timely way.
Receipts for payments are sent with the APC.
The standard APC year is 1 April until 31 March. The APC may be issued for a period less than one year. Your scope of practice will be endorsed on the APC. The Podiatrists Board will decide if the full text of the scope or just the title of the scope of practice is to be endorsed on the APC. Detailed information about the scope of practice is to be found in this website.
Once a podiatrist has submitted a correctly completed application including the required fee, the podiatrist is regarded as holding that APC from the date when the authority receives the application until the date it is issued or the practitioner is notified by the Registrar that it will not be issued. Please note in your diary when you posted your APC application.
The Registrar will issue an APC if he or she believes that there are no reasons to refer the application to the Podiatrists Board under section 27 (1). He or she may decline to issue an Annual Practising Certificate if satisfied that any information included in the application is false or misleading.
There are a number of grounds set out in the HPCA Act that may lead to the APC being restricted namely:
The applicant
- has failed to maintain the required standard of competence
- has failed to fulfil or comply with a condition included in the applicant's scope of practice
- has not satisfactorily completed the requirements of any competence programme that the applicant has been ordered by the Authority to complete
- has not held an APC in NZ within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of the application.
- is unable to perform professional functions because of some mental or physical condition.
- has not within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of application lawfully practised his or her profession.
The Registrar may also decline to issue an APC if costs or expenses are owing from a Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal hearing.
If an APC is declined the Authority may issue an interim practising certificate for a period of up to 12 months and with any conditions the Podiatrist Board specifies.
Podiatrists will be given an opportunity to make written and oral submissions prior to any decision being made to decline an Annual Practising Certificate application, or to include or vary conditions in the podiatrist's scope of practice.
Frequently Asked Questions - Annual Practising Certificate Renewals
1. Do I need to purchase an Annual Practising Certificate (APC)?
If you intend to practise in New Zealand for all or any part if the year 1 April to 31 March you will need to purchase an APC.
2. What if I am not going to work in the year 1 April to 31 March?
You do not need to purchase an APC. You do need to inform the Board. Tick the non-practising box on the Remittance Advice sign, date and return in the reply paid envelope.
3. What do I do when I return to the workforce?
The Health Practitioners Competency Act 2003 came into operation on 18/9/04 which introduced changes to the APC requirements. If you have not practisied for more than 3 years the Board may require extra competence requirements for the practitioner's recertification programme,a competency review or further training before an APC may be purchased. Please contact the Board for more information.
4. Who is responsible for the purchase of an APC?
The practitioner is responsible for making sure they have an APC.
5. I have lost my Renewal Notice and Remittance Advice. Can I attach someone else's to my payment?
No - The Renewal Notice and Remittance Advice are personalised for you. This enables computer processing.
Contact the Board by e-mail or phone and we will arrange for a copy to be sent to you. Ensure you quote your Registration number and full name.
7. How can I pay for my APC?
Payment is accepted by cheque or credit card (Visa or Mastercard only).
8. What do I do if I have not received my Renewal Notice?
Have you changed your address since last year? Did you inform the Board?
If you are unable to retrieve your renewal Notice from your previous address, contact the Board by e-mail with your Registration number, name, and old and new mail address. Go to the Change of Address page (here).
You are legally obliged to inform the Board of any change of address within one month of the change occurring.
9. What do I do if I have changed my name?
Complete your new details on the reverse of the Remittance Advice. You must send a certified copy or statutory declaration as evidence of your name change. A Justice of the Peace, Solicitor or Notary Public is authorised to certify these documents. Please write your registration number on your certified copy.
10. What do I do if my employer is paying for my APC?
Payment of an APC by due date is still the responsibility of the practitioner. If the employer wants a copy of your Renewal Notice, they may keep a photocopy.
We need your Original Remittance Advice for processing by the bank.
11. Can I fax my payment details or ring and give you my credit card details over the phone?
No - Please return your Original Remittance Advice.
12. If I lose my APC can I get another one?
No - We only issue one copy. If you declare that your APC is lost, we will issue a letter verifying that you hold an APC.
13. What happens if I pay after 1 April?
You are legally required to hold a current APC whilst in practice. The amount payable if paid by 31 March is NZ$800.00. The amount payable if paid after 31 March is NZ$900.00 if you held an APC for the previous year.
