Annual Practicing Certificates

Who can hold an APC?

Annual Practicing Certificates (APC) are available to clinical physiologists and technicians who are:

  • Resident in New Zealand
  • Employed and practicing in a clinical physiologist or technician role
  • A current member of their professional society
  • Are engaged in appropriate continuing professional development
Renewals

APC renewals occur on set dates dependent on the scope of practice as follows: 

  • Cardiac Physiologists and Technicians - May 1st
  • Renal Physiologists - July 1st
  • Exercise, Neuro, Respiratory and Sleep Physiologists - 1st September

Applications

Applications for an APC are only open to registered practitioners resident in New Zealand. 

Renewal Requirements

APC renewal requires the following:

  • APC declaration signed by yourself and your clinical supervisor
  • Proof of current professional society membership 
  • Payment of the CPRB APC renewal fee

 

APC information

Declaration statements - practitioner

When a physiologist or technician signs the APC declaration, they agree to the following statements:

  • I confirm that I am fit to practice
  • I confirm I have maintained the required standards for competence
  • I confirm I have practiced lawfully
  • I declare I have no mental or physical conditions I am aware of that may compromise my competence and therefore compromise the safety of patients. (Section 16 HPCA Act)
  • I declare that the information I have supplied in this application (and other supporting information provided) is true and correct to the best of my knowledge
  • I accept that false declaration or failure to disclose relevant information could result in my removal from the register
  • I declare that I have not been convicted of any offence nor do I have pending criminal charges
  • I consent to the Clinical Physiologists Registration Board obtaining confidential verbal or written information about my professional experience and current role for the purpose of assessing my registration and APC eligibility

 

If a practitioner replies No to any of the above, they should present accompanying written information or explanation for the board to consider.

For those still undergoing professional development i.e. currently enrolled in a post graduate qualification or certification program, the following 2 statements apply - others should select N/A

  • I confirm I have adhered to the conditions on my current Scope of Practice
  • I have completed further training as directed  (answer NO if incomplete, or YES if completed and provide evidence that they have completed the required training).

Declaration statements - clinical supervisor

The second element of the APC declaration is the Supervisor declaration: 

Clinical Supervisor is to circle an answer to every statement to indicate agreement

I confirm the applicant is suitable to practice as a clinical physiologist / physiology technician in the scope of practice of which they are employed.

 Yes / No

All individuals are required to demonstrate a suitable level of competence in the following domains as per the competency standards set by the relevant professional society:

Scientific, Clinical, Problem Solving, Communication, Research and Development, Technical,  Self-Management (standards are available on CPRB website www.cprb.org.nz)

I hereby certify that the above named applicant has demonstrated a level of competency and provided appropriate evidence in each of the specified domains above that fulfils the requirements of both the professional body to which the named applicant is a member and the requirements of the CPRB (NZ).

Yes  / No

I confirm that the above named has completed Continuing Professional Development activities which meets the objectives set out in the Portfolio requirements for CPRB.  (Portfolio guidelines available on CPRB website www.cprb.org.nz)

Yes  / No

If you have answered NO to any of the above statements, attach a summary outlining any areas where the applicant is not meeting the requirements for competency or CPD, and document the plan in place for the specific requirements to be met. Please attach to this application.

Supervisors Name: 

(If > 1 scope or workplace)

Supervisors Name:

Supervisors Signature: 

Supervisors Signature: 

Registration number:
Registered with:
Position:
Email:
Date:

Registration number:
Registered with:
Position:
Email:
Date:

     


Signing an APC is a big responsibility. Supervisors should read the statements carefully and answer honestly. If a supervisor needs to answer NO to any of the above statements, they should provide written information and explanation, including the plan they have made with the practitioner to remedy any problem. The board will consider this when reviewing the application.

Who can sign this section?

The person who signs the declaration must be qualified and capable of attesting to the practitioner's competence. They will be required to note their full name and registration number with the board under which they are registered.

A Clinical Supervisor should in the first instance be one of the following from your profession:

  • Clinical team leader, charge physiologist or department head
  • Clinician responsible for your service
  • Clinical Manager or Educator
  • Director of Allied health
  • Person undertaking your annual performance review

The following list are those ineligible to sign the declaration:

  • Workplace peer, Section head
  • Senior Physiologist not in a charge role
  • Non-clinically trained manager

Industry representatives

  • The physiologist's line manager, or the Clinician they undertake most of their practice with should sign.

More than one scope, or more than one employer?

  • One supervisor can sign for both scopes of practice, or there is space for an additional signatory for different scopes, and an additional workplace.

Not currently employed – e.g. between roles, on extended leave?

  • Include an additional statement of the circumstance and why an APC is required. An APC with conditions may be issued.

Sole Practitioners

Who should complete this section

Clinical Exercise Physiologists may practice in isolation as sole practitioners, for example if they own their own practice. Their practice is not overseen by a senior colleague and they do not report to clinicians or senior managers. CEPNZ have authorized a sole practitioner supervisor sign-off process for their members.

No other groups have created a process for sole practitioners, so should not sign this part of the declaration.

When does the process occur?

The clinical exercise physiologist should take steps to initiate this process as soon as they get their first reminder to renew their APC, so that it is completed before the APC expiry date of 1st September.

What is the sole practitioner process?

The sole practitioner clinical exercise physiologist is required to contact CEPNZ and arrange an interview with a CEPNZ nominated representative, to present a case study to demonstrate ongoing competence. The representative will then sign the supervisor declaration section of the renewal form.

The physiologist should sign both the standard declaration, and the sole practitioner declaration. When the supervisor declaration has been signed, then the completed APC form can be submitted as usual.

 

Sole Practitioner Declaration (Clinical Exercise Physiologists only):

Complete this section if you have no clinical supervision or oversight from within your profession such as a charge physiologist, team leader, and clinical manager or outside of your profession such as a medical consultant, unit manager, or service manager.

  • Notify CEPNZ to begin their process for Sole practitioner APC sign-off. Once complete, attach either a confirmation document obtained from them, or obtain a signature from them for the above supervisor declaration.
  • Sign the declaration statement below.

Tick if applicable

I declare that I am practicing as Sole Practitioner.

 

I have abided by the process set by my profession to assess my ongoing competence to practice, and continuing professional development.

 

Applicant’s name:

  

Applicant’s signature: 

 

Date:

 


 

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) evidence

Evidence of CPD is not required to be presented to CPRB with every APC declaration.

CPRB assesses CPD via the portfolio auditing process. CPD evidence should be kept in the practitioners portfolio.

The practitioner may be required to demonstrate evidence of CPD to the supervisor signing their APC, as one of the statements the supervisor must attest to is: "I confirm that the above named has completed Continuing Professional Development activities which meets the objectives set out in the Portfolio requirements for CPRB".

Please read the Portfolio section of this website for more information about portfolio and CPD requirements.

 

New graduates undergoing professional development

Whether or not a new graduate physiologist who is not yet fully qualified or certified is required to hold an APC, is dependent on the internal policy of the organisation employing them. 

CPRB recommends all newly employed physiologists or technicians hold an APC as an important mechanism to ensure they are undergoing the recommended NZ professional development program, under appropriate supervision, in a suitable training institution.

The APC statement: "I confirm I have adhered to the conditions on my current Scope of Practice" is usually answered YES in this situation.

The APC statement: "I have completed further training as directed" is usually answered NO in this situation.

Practicing conditions and lifting conditions from the APC

The APC will show if any conditions have been applied to the physiologist or technicians practice. This same information is also visible on the public register to the public and employers. One of the following conditions will be noted on the APC:

  • No conditions related to practice
  • Supervised – under supervised professional development
  • Supervised – required to complete a competency assessment (time limit may be specified)
  • Practice extended/limited to (a specific extension/limitation to practice)
  • Other/Interim (specify) – This condition of practice may be used under Section 31 of the HPCA Act 2003 

No Conditions to practice

  • Holds the appropriate professional certification from the professional society/societies or a recognized professional certification from an oversees professional body as approved by the CPRB, and
  • Has completed the minimum requirements for professional development as recognized by the CPRB.

Supervised practice

  • Is employed in an appropriate physiology service, and is following a course of professional development and working towards professional certification as laid down by the professional body, or is enrolled on a competency assessment plan.

Other/Interim

  • Required to practice within a highly defined set of conditions as decided from time-to-time by the CPRB or as mandated under the HPCA Act 2003 pursuant to Sections 31 (and 29) of the Act

 

Removing a condition from the APC

When a physiologist or technician has completed the course of professional development, including any required academic qualifications, vocational certification or competency examination, and practicing hours/years requirements, they are then eligible to apply to have the condition of Supervised practice lifted from their APC.

They can apply as soon as all requirements are met, or at the next APC renewal date.

The general requirements to lift a condition are:

  • provide evidence of passing the qualification or examination e.g. certified copy of the certificate, letter or academic summary.
  • present a letter of support from their clinical supervisor stating they have met all requirements and are competent to practice without further supervision. This letter can be in traditional letter format, or an email from the supervisors email account directly to the CPRB Registrar.
  • provide an updated CV describing their current role and responsibilities.
  • if combined with annual APC renewal, evidence of current professional society membership, signed APC declaration form and payment of APC renewal fee.

Limited practice or Extended practice

The following types of conditions may be noted on the APC of certain practitioners:

Extended Practice 

  • Has successfully completed a recognized course of professional development, and any professional certification as laid down by the professional body, that adds to the body of knowledge and skill of the person allowing them to practice in an extended field within or outside of their professional area
  • e.g. A cardiac physiology technician, who completes the ANZSRS spirometry training program, may be registered under the cardiac scope with practice extended to spirometry. They are not qualified for the full respiratory scope of practice, but now may perform the single defined respiratory test of spirometry. Renewal of this condition may depend on ongoing refresher courses in that scope to maintain competency.
  • In general these conditions are permanent, unless the practitioner fails to complete required refresher programs for the extended scope, or advises they are no longer performing the extended practice.

Limited Practice

  • Has successfully completed a recognized course of professional development, and any professional certification as laid down by the professional body, in a single defined area of clinical physiology.
  • e.g. a cardiac physiologist who only completed the qualifications and training for cardiac sonography, may be registered under the cardiac scope with their practice limited to echocardiography only, if they have not completed the required training for the full cardiac physiologist scope.
  • In general these conditions are permanent, unless the practitioner completes full training in a scope and applies for the limitation to be lifted. 

Parental Leave

If you take Parental Leave, please advise the CPRB registrar by email of your expected leave dates. These will be noted on your file, and your APC status changed to On hold - Parental leave.
 
Reminders:
You will still receive an automated reminder 6 monthly. This is for the following reasons:
1) to remind those who have not advised the registrar of their leave, to do so.
2) to remind those who have returned to work from Parental leave, to renew.
3) to remind those who are taking extended leave > 2 years, or who have resigned to advise the registrar.
If you receive a reminder while on Parental leave, and none of the above apply, you can leave the reminder until you return to practice.
CPD:
If you have taken Parental leave, you are still required to collect the same minimum amount of evidences of CPD activities - 18 over a 3 year period. This may mean a catch up period occurs once you have returned from leave, however as the minimum level is low the board feels this is very achievable. 
Part time: If you return to practice part time, you are still expected to partake in the same amount of CPD activities as a full time practitioner. There is no pro-rata system for CPD for part time employment.

Return to Practice

For information about renewing your APC after an extended break, please see Return to Practice

Portfolio auditing and APCs

If a practitioner fails to respond to a request to have their portfolio audited, then the board is unable to ascertain that that practitioner is maintaining professional standards by undertaking continuing professional development (CPD).

Should no CPD be supplied for audit by the requested date, the Portfolio Officer, after issuing a number of warnings, will inform the CPRB Registrar. The Registrar will withdraw the practitioners APC, and inform the Clinical supervisor who signed their most recent APC declaration.

A practitioner may, upon receiving an Audit notification, apply for one extension or deferment in extenuating circumstances. If this application is successful, the APC will not be affected.

A practitioner who supplies inadequate CPD for audit, will be re-audited in a period of time set by the Portfolio Officer. Their APC will not be affected, providing the re-audit is satisfactory.