Australia
If you hold current registration in Australia and are legally entitled to practice Chiropractic in Australia, you may apply for registration in New Zealand under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997.
The Chiropractic Board is a Responsible Authority established under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act 2003. The Board’s key function is to protect the health and safety of the public by setting the standards for all chiropractors registered to practise in New Zealand. Pursuant to Section 11(1) of the HPCA Act, the Board has one approved Scope of Practice – Chiropractor.
Registration is a legal process, to gain registration, you must meet all legal requirements. within the Gazetted Scope of Practice - Chiropractor under the HPCA Act. All chiropractors registered in New Zealand practise within this prescribed scope of practice.
Registration in New Zealand is two-fold – the first step being registration, the second being the right to practise Chiropractic by holding an Annual Practising Certificate (APC). It is a breach of the HPCA Act 2003 to practise as a Chiropractor in New Zealand without holding a current APC granted by the New Zealand Chiropractic Board and significant penalties apply. The Annual Practising Certificate (APC) is renewable each year.
Prior to applying, please ensure that you have read the Board’s Guidance Notes and Registration Policy. You can apply for registration online here.
To apply for registration, you will be required to provide:
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This includes personal details, fitness for registration questions and a declaration.
Payment: The current application for registration fee is available via the Gazette Notice.
Proof of identity: This can be either a certified copy of the personal pages of your current passport, or a certified copy of your birth certificate, and can be uploaded online.
Evidence of change of name (where applicable): You must provide a certified copy of evidence of your name change, which can be uploaded online.
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As part of the registration data held on the New Zealand Register of Chiropractors, the Board requires:
- Title of your Chiropractic degree (e.g. B App Sci (Chiropractic) / Doctor of Chiropractic).
- Name of awarding institution.
- Date your degree was conferred.
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To satisfy section 15 of the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997, you are required to provide details of where and when you were first registered as a Chiropractor in Australia. If you hold current registration that gives you legal authority to practice Chiropractic in Australia, you must provide the following:
- A certified copy of your current Annual Practising Certificate from Australia.
- Request a Certificate of Good Standing to be sent directly to the Board issued by AHPRA.
Your obligations as a registered Chiropractor practising in New Zealand:
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The Board has identified that chiropractors who have completed their primary training in a jurisdiction other than New Zealand do not receive education in aspects of healthcare unique to New Zealand. The Board has therefore set a recertification programme under section 41(3)(f) of the Act, requiring all chiropractors whose primary qualification was not obtained in New Zealand, and who register or re-register as a chiropractor after the date of the programme’s introduction, to complete education on practicing in the New Zealand context.
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Understanding Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi is integral to Chiropractic practice in New Zealand. Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi is a founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand and informs legislation, policy and practice. Government health policy aims to reduce health inequalities between Māori and non-Māori. Alongside this, the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (NZ) requires health regulatory authorities, such as the Chiropractic Board, to ensure registered health professionals meet set competencies (including cultural competencies).
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You are required to answer questions related to your fitness for registration, and you may need to provide further information, depending on your answers to the questions. 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 a Chiropractor.