New Zealand Registration received today after 4 weeks, any questions?

I know the portfolio is a HUGE task and so I thought I would answer questions people had. I got my reg first time in just 4 weeks...so fire any questions at me! :)

Hi!
Congrats on getting registered...I am almost ready to send off my application. I can't wait to have it gone at this stage!! Just wondering...what documents did you get certified by a solicitor? I'm a new grad...is it just a copy of my qualification certificate do you know?

Thanks a million

Hi there congrats on gaining registration!! I am in the process of putting together my application but I feel so lost I dont know where to start. I am currently on my 7th month post-grad experience I have 5 more months to finish this application n then send it as soon as I hit 12 months! But I just need some guidance on how to do the competencies? Any idea?

Hi timminso

I didn't need my degree certificate signed by a solicitor because uni had already signed it. The physio board really want any 'copies' certified. I had course certificates, the copy of my passport and my decleration all done by a solicitor. Hope that helps.

Hi P_J

The thing to remember about the competencies is that ur course will have covered the points. So just list the modules and cross reference to the module descriptor to cover each point. For the 'evidence' section at the bottom of the compentency, use essays from uni, any in-services you have presented recently, your dissertation, reflections etc and remember you can use ur evidence for more than one competency.

Hope that helps! :)

Hi there!

Thank you so much for making the effort of replying to us!! Im grateful! that is useful Im actually gonna sit down one of my days off from work and just start listing the modules and then start filling in the gaps as much as I can with all my undergraduate work and post-graduate courses!

Also I was woindering how long does the whole process take till you get your annual practising certificate?

What do you think? How long will it take to prepare the whole application? I have actually made a seperate ring binder folder for it!! feels bizzare that my degree certificate is not enough to prove my physiotherapy competency! But what can one do huh

Also wondering what if i decided I didnt want to stay in newzealand would I lose my annual practising certificate? Cos I am actually hoping to travel around and maybe even go Australia for part of my working holiday and see where I want to settle down after?

Please advise me accordingly I would be gratefu


P

Hi, congrats on the reg and good luck to who else is doing it.
I am also just starting the process but have a few questions if you could answer them i would be really grateful.

firstly do you need to have worked prior as a physio prior to getting regristration ie for new graduates.

secondly i have worked for 8 years and recently hit the 30 mark! is it still easy to get a work permit?

lastly i have heard just like the UK there is a lack of jobs? do you know how true this is?

thanks
Gillon

Hi PJ,

Not a problem, im happy to help. The whole process i think varies, just make sure u follow all the guidelines and it goes through quicker. I havent applied for my APC yet but I think its pretty straight forward, its the reg that takes longer. My reg took me a few months to put together. I work full time so I did it when i had a spare min.

You can always get ur APC at a later date, it runs from April to April and costs $250. You can stay registered on the board of physios as a 'non-practising' physio for a small fee. Def worth doing so u dont have to repeat ur whole registration!

Hi Gill,

I know of someone who got registration with no post grad work experience, but she had done the 4 year scotland course (as have I). This course compares well with the NZ course. However, if you have done the 3 year course then they want a years experience first.
As for a work permit, I am going to get a working holiday visa. I am sure this is available up until the age of 30/31, best to check on the NZ immigration site. But you might be able to get a skilled migrant visa, seeing as physio is still on the long term shortage list (which may not last much longer). Check out www.immigration.govt.nz

And lastly, unfortunately there is a lack of jobs out there too. Laws have changed and funding is less available for people to get physio treatment, therefore less people are going. The hardest hit are the private practices I think. I plan on going in Jan, so I started the process early to give me the best chance of a job. If you have experience it may be easier to get work compared to new grads. They will obviously pick NZ residents over overseas folk which makes competition high.

Hope this helps guys! :D

Thats fab Carole-anne, after doing all that hard work it must be so satisfying to get you reg finally!i've just finished mine getting it couriered on friday- i'm petrified theres a fire or something in the house, just would really like it sent away! fingers crossed that it goes through first time. I'm heading to Oz at the end of October so would be a wee bit problematic to fix anything! I'm just a bit confused about what to start doing for reg in Oz following all the changes. I'm hoping to head over to NZ when the job situation pics up a wee bit
Laura:D

hi carol-anne,
thanks for all the info and advice, it really does help just to know that there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

at present i am still waiting for uni to get all my info sorted and am starting to sort my compenties and what i may need.

i take it it is some box of evidence you sent over? does all the inservice you have done and course info sheets eg cyriax course manual need to be verified?

well done again and good luck with the job hunt

gillon

Hi laura,

I think Oz reg should be pretty straight forward once you have your NZ reg. Check out AHPRA - Overseas Practitioners. You will likely hear back from the NZ board before you leave at the end of oct. I found it very quick!

Hi Gill,

Yeah it was a big pile of papers i sent but it only cost about £27 to get a tracker post, i was surprised!! I didn't get any of my in-services verified. But I got all my course certificates signed by my solicitor (because they were copies of my original). I didnt send any originals because you wont get them back. I didnt get my course outlines verified either.

Good luck :D

hi guys! i started doing the new zealand reg ages ago and then stopped cos i got a job and deferred going. now the system has changed- do you just need to fill out the 18 competency boxes? in the old system you had to give evidence for each one of 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 etc? i have a lot of my uni and cpd stuff gathered from last year.

thanks a mil,

mairead

Hi Mairead,

Yeah you just fill out the 18 competency templates. It seems a lot easier now compared to the old system. Very easy just to put in your modules and evidence and cross reference it all. :)

Hey, I am almost ready to send my physiotherapy docs off, but I am unsure of what is necesarry for the autonomy part, can anyone help me please?

Thank you!! Any help will be amazing!

Inneke

HI Inneke,

For the autonomy competencies I used my annual appraisals, reflections, a stroke scenario, a shoulder dislocation project I had completed and a coursework from uni.

Hope that helps!

Hi Carol
Congrats on getiing registration . I am from India and i am fresh Graduate .Its a 4 year course with 6 months of internship which is still left . Now i am intrested in applying for a Masters programme in sports but the problem is it requires 1 yr expereince which i dont have . So to apply for special purpose reg i have to wait for a yr . Now i am intrested in applying for general scope registration . Since i am fresh graduate i wont have enough experience except the clinical experience of 6 months which is part of curriculum . So less expereince will that be hurdle for applying for registration . I am very confused where to start with and is It faster if i apply through post graduate or i go for general category .

I am not really sure to be honest! This is what the NZ physio board have to say:

" The Board has received many applications from physiotherapists trained in India. To date very few physiotherapists trained in India have satisfied the Board that they meet the required competencies and been granted registration in New Zealand.
The Board will accept only those applications from physiotherapists who have gained their primary or masters' physiotherapy qualifications in India who can supply:
EITHER
1. Evidence of successful completion of a formal course of university level physiotherapy study in addition to their physiotherapy qualification(s) gained in India. This formal study must be completed during the three years immediately prior to submitting an application for registration in New Zealand. The formal study could include Certificates of Proficiency, a Graduate Certificate, a Graduate Diploma, a Post Graduate Diploma or a Masters. This formal course of study must be completed in New Zealand, Australia, Canada or the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland),
OR
2. Evidence of FULL registration in Canada or the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and physiotherapy practice in Canada or the United Kingdom.
These applications will be assessed on a case by case basis."

Hope that helps you! :)

Thanks !!
So you mean its better to apply to university post graduate course in newzealand, get a temporary registration and than after completing the course apply for general scope of practice . Do you think this way will be easier and there are more chances my application would be accepted after i study from nz ?

Yeah I would think so! Good luck! :)

Hi,

Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far I am also in the process of completing NZ registration, can anyone give me some advise about the reflection on the treatment of Waitangi - what detail they are looking for and also about the structure of the personal statement, like is this a summary of experience to date and why you want to work in NZ, please let me know if I am on the right track!

Many Thanks and good luck to everyone also doing the application

Jean

Hi Jean,

For the treaty of Waitangi reflection I just wrote about what I learned from reading the info they provided and also did a bit of research into 'treating the maori patient'. I reflected on how I already live in a multi-cultural country and therefore come across a wide variety of cultures in my current practice. I think they want to ensure you are aware of the different cultures and that you will adapt to this once working in NZ and that you have a good understanding of what the treaty means.

For the personal statement, do you mean within the CV? If you do then yes, I just talked about my work experience to date, areas of responsibility, how I keep up with CPD etc and why I would like a change to work in NZ.

Hope this helps :)

Thanks for your reply! Very helpful! Need to get cracking now!

Hey, I am a newly qualified physio from the UK and have been adivsed on gaining NZ reg to work in Australia as there is more freedom with it. Is there any advise/support on filling out the competencies (as to what they expect in each section) as I don't really want to be charged $150 for it to be sent back to me each time something is missing or out?

Thank you,

Charlotte

Hi Charlotte,

The NZ physio board won't return your application (and take $150) unless you miss any of the Mandatory documents (e.g. course certificate, passport etc). If you were just needing a little bit more evidence in the competencies they will just send you a letter asking for it (and wont charge you). For the competencies just use all your uni modules/placements, courseworks, dissertation, presentations etc to prove them. Did you do a 3 year course? If so, you will need to work in the UK for a year before applying. If it was 4 years then you will be fine, the 4 year course matches up to the NZ course well, which is what they want.
Hope that helps.

.... and you have to get an Annual Practicing Certificate

.... and you have to sign a statuary declaration that you intend to work in NZ ...


There is no more freedom to work in Australia than NZ, just more available jobs.:o

Regards,
Fyzzio

Hi Carol-Anne,

Thank you for your help it's very much appreciated. I did a 3yr course and have been working as a podiatry technician for the last yr. I also work with ESP Musculoskeletal Physios, but also work weekends on Orthopaedics and occassinally shadow an ESP physio when Im not needed at weekends. Will this classify as 1yrs post-grad experience or are they looking for full-time rotational physio experience? Else does this mean I have to sit an exam once I get there?

Thanks, Charlotte

Hi Charlotte,
I had a quick look on their website, as I thought I had read something before.
Here it goes: Look at the Self-Evaluation Tool and click on criteria:
The Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand > Registration - Overseas Qualified Physiotherapists

I have completed;
....
2. A physiotherapy qualification from a three year undergraduate degree programme as my primary physiotherapy qualification and have:
Either:
A minimum of one year full time post qualification physiotherapy practice experience as a fully registered (i.e. with unconditional registration) physiotherapist in my country/countries of practice,

Or:
I am able to provide evidence of successful completion of a formal course of university level physiotherapy study additional to my primary physiotherapy qualification, i.e. Certificates of Proficiency, a Graduate Certificate, a Graduate Diploma, a Post Graduate Diploma or a Masters during the three years immediately prior to submitting my application for registration.

So, as you have not worked as a Physio one year full time, you will not meet entry criteria.
As far as I understand, this means that they will not accept your application.

Regards,
Andrea

Hi guys...lots of great advice and relevant info....now can anyone help me ???

I have 2 years post grad experience rotating through all the core areas (plus i completed a 4 year degree) so i know my experience will not be a problem. I actually have a friend out in NZ at the min that heard the NZ physio board are not even looking at uk/ireland application forms presently due to the increased numbers applying...i was wondering did anyone know how true this is?

I know Carol-Anne got hers last month but i was just wondering if it had changed since? I am off work this week so i can get my application form wrapped up but i dont want to be wasting all this time if its not even going to be considered!!!

Also, my plan would be to work in OZ eventually...whether that be straight away or working in NZ first and then travel to OZ...Can i do either of these? My understanding is that if i become registered with the NZ board and get my certificate i can then apply for a state specific registration in australia? Can anyone confirm that for me or has things changed?


Sorry for all the questions but any help would be great!

Thanks :)

Hi Carole-Anne,

I am currently starting my competencies, I have worked as a physio for 6 years so have lots of experience. Just a few questions about how much detail is required:1) do you need to specify uni modules and give evidence for each of the components of competencies eg 1.1, 1.2.... or just list a few things that cover some/most of them? 2) In the post-qualification physiotherapy experience is do in-service trainings and courses come under this box or strong supporting evidence? 3) Did you just bullet point the evidence or do it within written sentances?

Thanks for your help!
Sarah

Hi All,

having just left NZ after 2-years working in the public sector, I can inform you that indeed there is a shortage of Jobs after new legislation regarding ACC funding for physiotherapy treatments. This has particularly been tough on the private clinics. Where once patients who were eligable for ACC funding could go along to any physiotherapist and get their treatments provided for free, now the ACC has slashed their funding to the private sector of physiotherapists which in turn has meant that they have had to start charging their patients for treatments.
This has had a disastrous consequences for the private sector with many clinics having to close as New Zealanders do not like to pay for their own health care, therfore they have now turned to the public hospitals where they can receive physio treatment for free. With less private clinics (due to lack of punters) to employ new grads etc, and the loss of confidence in working for the private sector more physios are applying for the few physio appointments in the pubic sector (District Health Boards).
So yes jobs are not what they where, and who is to say in the future if they will follow the UK and take physiotherapy off the skill shortage list.

Hi Kathy,

I havent heard that the board arent looking at UK applicants, nothing was mentioned to me. However, you can always phone and ask them directly? Number is on their website I think. My friend is working in NZ at the moment too, and she just got a job a few months ago. Yes it took her a few months but she did get one. There might be a shortage of jobs but there are still some out there. The situation there cant be much worse than here can it?!
I think you are right about the Oz situation, maybe check the oz physio board for clarification.

Hi Sarah P,
For the competencies I didnt try and meet every single point, I just listed all the modules I thought were relevant. I bullet pointed everything to keep it simple. For the course, I put them in my CV and entered that into the post-grad experience and used the certificates/course outline as evidence on some occasions. It depended if I had stronger evidence or not. But I thought that if they were in the post-grad experience then it was still included in my application somewhere.

Hope that helps you guys!

Carol-Anne

Hi guys,

I am almost done completing my application but I was just wondering how everyone cross referenced their evidence on the templates, did you page number everything or reference by appendix 1, 2, 3 etc? any advice would be greatly appreciated!


Jean

Hi Jean,

I cross referenced my evidence like this:

Section 8, p12-15 (all of my section 8 was page numbered from 1 - over 100)

or if it was a reflection:

Section 7, reflection 1, note keeping

or if I used the treaty of waitangi as evidence, it was just cross referenced to section 3.

Hope that helps!

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has used reflections printed from the CSP pebblepad and if these are ok for NZ registration?

They are just a template and then my own work but the bottom of the form says "Cannot be reproduced without permission of the CSP"

I wasn't sure if that would be an issue?

Would appreciate any advice!

Thanks,
Sarah

Hi Sarah,

I just used the templates that the NZ physio board provided. That way I knew they would be ok with the format. Why don't you use the CSP as a guide but write it in the NZ form?

Thank you for replying so quick!!

Was just hoping I could save time rather than copying it all out in to the NZ proforma but I would rather do that then have them send it back ! :)

Thanks again

Sarah

Hello again,

I'm getting to close to having this finished but just wanted some advice on layout etc!!!
For each of the competencies I have bullet pointed modules from uni in the 1st section and cross referenced them and the same with the supporting evidence. I'm just a bit stuck with how to set out the 2nd bit (post-qualification experience). I know I need to refer to pages in my CV and reference letters but have other people written anything in the box? I put some bullet points but was just repeating stuff from my CV!!?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Sarah

Just wondering if you applied for a visa first prior to gaining the reg? Do I need to in order to prove I am def coming to NZ??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Harry8

Just wondering if you applied for a visa first prior to gaining the reg? Do I need to in order to prove I am def coming to NZ??

---

i didn't and still haven't applied for a visa, it justs asks for your anticapted arrival in NZ. I was waiting until the reg was finalised and when i have a job offer then i will apply for a visa

Hi,

I am just starting the process for my New Zealand registration. Would it be possible to ask for some help on the CV template. Would anyone who has gained resgistration be able to send me an example of what they have done? I am not sure how much information to put on there.

Also examples of reflection statement and CPD would be fab.

Thanks in advance.
Kat

hi all...
I am an Indian Physiotherapist having PR visa for australia...Can anyone guide me to get registered in NZ???How all the competencies got complited?I am having so much of confusion regarding the NZ registration...help me out plz..

Regards,
Reema