Practising certificate renewal
All occupational therapists practising in Aotearoa New Zealand are required to hold a current practising certificate. This provides assurance to the public that will receive safe and competent care.
The Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand offers two types of practising certificate:
| Annual practising certificate | Valid for up to one year until 31 March | $NZD 500 incl. GST |
| Short-term practising certificate | Valid for up to 90 days until 31 March | $NZD 190 incl. GST |
Applications for a practising certificate are made in the MyOTBNZ portal. A step-by-step guide to the process is available in PDF format and a video tutorial.
Third party
Practitioners with a current practising certificate are required to have a third party attestation. Practitioners who do not have a third party may apply for a Third Party Waiver. Information about acting as a third party is available here.
Non-practising status
Practitioners who will not be practising in the current year may remain on the register by applying for non-practising status and paying the fee ($NZD 57 incl. GST).
It is a practitioner's responsibility to ensure that they hold a current practising certificate when working as an occupational therapist.
Policy on when Registration and a Practising Certificate are required
Our policy to give you guidance on when registration and a practising certificate is required.
Annual practising certificate (APC) decision tree
Our decision support tree designed to assist you in meeting your legal obligations under the HPCAA 2003.