Return to Practice

Introduction

Return to Practice policies may apply to health professionals who leave their profession or stop practicing for an extended period of time, and then return to work as a Clinical Physiologist or technician.

Typically this is due to:

  • extended parental leave 
  • working in a different field
  • extended travel

Return to practice policies vary between professions, and are set by the professional societies (ANZSSA, SCT, NZASRDP, ANZSRS, NZSNT, CEPNZ).  CPRB does not set the return to practice conditions.

Register or Renew APC?

If you were previously registered with CPRB, then you will apply to renew your APC. CPRB keeps all records of registrants permanently, even if your name was removed from the register. You will already have a registration number. If your name has changed you will need to inform the registrar when you apply to renew your APC.

If you were never registered with CPRB you will need to follow the first-time registration pathway. You will be issued with a new unique registration number. An APC will be issued once you have registered.

Professional Society membership

In order to register or renew an Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) after a period of time away from the workforce, a physiologist or technician must first re-join their professional society. Membership of your professional society is a pre-requisite for Registration and APC renewal. To re-join your professional society proceed to their website  - Link to Professional Societies

Return to Practice Conditions

Depending on their policy, your professional society may apply conditions to your practice. These would typically be supervised practice in the workplace until:

  • you have sat and passed certification exam
  • you have passed a practical competency assessment

These conditions are put in place to protect the public and ensure that your practice is up-to-date and safe. Any return to practice conditions will appear on your renewed APC. Once you have met the requirement you can apply to have the condition lifted from your APC, either straight away or at your next APC renewal.

Return to Practice policies

Some societies have published Return to practice policies on their website. Click on the below links to those available for download:

Renal physiologist Return to practice - NZASRDP

Cardiac Physiologist Return to Practice - SCT

Cardiac Physiology Return to Practice - SCT