The functions of the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand

The Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand (OTBNZ) has been appointed as a body corporate in accordance with the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCAA). As an authority under the HPCAA the OTBNZ is responsible for the registration and oversight of occupational therapy practitioners.

The functions of the OTBNZ, as listed in section 118 of the HPCAA, are:

• to prescribe the qualifications required for scopes of practice within the profession, and, for that purpose, to accredit and monitor education institutions and degrees, courses of studies, or programmes
• to authorise the registration of health practitioners under the HPCAA, and to maintain registers
• to consider applications for annual practising certificates
• to review and promote the competence of health practitioners
• to recognise, accredit, and set programmes to ensure the ongoing competence of health practitioners
• to receive and act on information from health practitioners, employers, and the Health and Disability Commissioner about the competence of health practitioners
• to notify employers, the Accident Compensation Corporation, the Director-General of Health, and the Health and Disability Commissioner that the practice of a health practitioner may pose a risk of harm to the public
• to consider the cases of health practitioners who may be unable to perform the functions required for the practice of the profession
• to set standards of clinical competence, cultural competence, and ethical conduct to be observed by health practitioners of the profession
• to liaise with other authorities appointed under the HPCAA about matters of common interest
• to promote education and training in the profession
• to promote public awareness of the responsibilities of the authority
• to exercise and perform any other functions, powers, and duties that are conferred or imposed on it by or under the HPCAA or any other enactment.