New Zealand Applicants
Ngā Kaitono O Aotearoa
Applying for Registration
To practise as an osteopath in New Zealand
you must be registered with the Osteopathic Council. You must also have a
current Annual Practising Certificate (APC).
Please allow a
minimum of 5 - 7 working days for the Council to process a fully
completed application for registration. Note that the
fee for registration is a one-off fee, but the APC must be paid for on
an annual basis. The APC year runs from 1 April to 31 March of the
following year.
You may apply for registration only if you hold a qualification:
- Accredited by the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand, being:
- a Master of Osteopathy; or
- a Bachelor of Musculoskeletal Health and Postgraduate Diploma in Osteopathy; and
- Awarded by an institution accredited by the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand
- This currently includes Unitec Institute of Technology, Ara Institute of Canterbury and Te Pūkenga New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
OR
- You have passed the OCNZ qualifications assessment process.
The Osteopathic Council does not, at present, recognise any other New Zealand qualification.
Trainee Scope of Practice
Registered trainee osteopaths are primary healthcare practitioners
who are enrolled in the prescribed qualification for the general
osteopathic scope of practice at Unitec. The trainee osteopath will have
submitted the final draft of their thesis for marking. All other
components of the required course will be completed to a satisfactory
level. The Council sees that this final marking stage of the thesis and
the time that it takes, should not prevent practice of the student. The
student will need to be working in a group practice to ensure peer
support and is required to practise within the General Osteopathic Scope
of Practice and comply with all related codes and practice standards.
The period of time that a trainee osteopath can practise under this
scope of practice will normally be limited to six months but may be
extended at Council's discretion.
Click here for the requirements for obtaining the trainee scope of practice.
Please note:
If more than 6 months has elapsed since the completion of the
clinical components of the qualification leading to registration and
your application for an initial annual practising certificate, you may
be required to demonstrate your competence to practise. Council will
consider issues of recency of practice on an individual basis. Please
contact the Registrar to discuss your options.