New Zealand
Medical Radiation
Technologists Board
Te Poari Ringa Hangarua Iraruke
Guide for Registered
Medical Imaging
and
Radiation Therapy
Practitioners
www.mrtboard.org.nz
Guide for Registered
Medical Imaging and
Radiation Therapy Practitioners
© This publication is copyright to the New Zealand
Medical Radiation Technologists Board
July 2014
THE MEDICAL RADIATION TECHNOLOGISTS BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE TO THE MINISTER OF HEALTH FOR ADMINISTRATION
OF THE HEALTH PRACTITIONERS COMPETENCE ASSURANCE ACT 2003 IN RESPECT OF THE PROFESSION OF MEDICAL
RADIATION TECHNOLOGY (MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION THERAPY).
THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD IS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC
BY ENSURING PRACTITIONERS REGISTERED IN THE PROFESSION OF MEDICAL RADIATION TECHNOLOGY (MEDICAL
IMAGING AND RADIATION THERAPY) ARE COMPETENT AND FIT TO PRACTISE.
PO Box 11-905, Wellington 6142
F: +64 4 381 0270 www.mrtboard.org.nz
E: mrt@medsci.co.nz
What is Covered in this Booklet
About the Board
4
The Board’s Functions
5
Code of Ethics
6
Registrations
7
Scopes of Practice
8
Keeping the Board Informed
9
Annual Practising Certificates
Clinical Practice Hours
Practising Without an APC
Declarations Continuing Professional
Development
What is CPD?
The Value of CPD
CPD and the APC
CPD Providers
Practitioner Audits
Board Audits: What Happens
Your Responsibility
What Would be Required?
Exemption from Audits
10
10
11
11
12
12
12
12
13
14
14
14
15
16
Changing your Scope of Practise 17
Training Scopes of Practice:
Clinical Hours Requirement
Adding a Scope of Practice:
How to Apply for Registration
in Another Scope of Practice
17
18
18
18
Supervision
19
Professional Standards
20
Competency to Practise
Making a Notification
Competence Review Process
Professional Conduct
A Mental or Physical Health
Condition What Happens if the Board
Decides to do a Health Review?
Ceasing to Practise and
Returning to Practise
Ceasing to Practise
Returning to Practice
Absence of Less than 3 Years
Frequently Asked Questions
20
20
21
22
22
23
24
24
24
24
26
About the Board
The Medical Radiation Technologists Board
(The Board) is one of sixteen New Zealand
health regulatory authorities appointed
by the Minister of Health under the Health
Practitioners Competence Assurance Act
2003 (the Act). The Board is responsible for
the administration of the Act in respect of the
profession of medical radiation technology
(encompassing the practices of medical
imaging and radiation therapy).
The primary responsibility of the Board is
to protect the health and safety of the New
Zealand public by ensuring practitioners
registered in the profession of medical
imaging and radiation therapy are competent
and fit to practise.
Values
Consultation
Fairness
Consistency
Honesty
Approachability
Impartiality
Natural Justice
Vision
Mission
Enable the implementation of the
HPCA Act 2003 and so mitigate
the risk to the public, the Board,
and the profession within a
social, ethical, and financially
viable framework
To protect the health and safety
of the New Zealand public,
by ensuring practitioners are
competent and fit to practise.
Page 2 of 24
Medical Radiation Technologists Board
The Board’s Functions
In accordance with Section 118 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance
Act 2003, the Board is responsible for fulfilling a number of functions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Guide for Registered Practitioners
Page 3 of 24
Code of Ethics
This Code of Ethics is to act as a guide to any medical radiation
technologist (medical imaging and radiation therapy) practitioners
registered with the Medical Radiation Technologists Board. It is to
assist practitioners working in all modalities of medical radiation
technology in maintaining a high level of ethical conduct.
Medical Radiation Technology Practitioners will:
•
Act in such a manner to justify public trust and confidence. This will be achieved
through high standards of professional competency as well as through professional
conduct and appearance.
•
Demonstrate commitment to the provision of the best possible service to patients.
•
Maintain a working knowledge of all legislation pertinent to their practise and
operate within such legislation.
•
Ensure they operate within their scope of practice, delivering only those services
for which they are registered and competent to do so.
•
Demonstrate commitment to keeping the radiation dose as low as reasonably
achievable to produce diagnostic results or for treatment needs.
•
Provide services in such a manner as to show respect for each individual.
•
Act in the best interests of each patient and will maintain their standards of
practice for all patients.
•
Have regard for a patient’s religious and political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation,
race/ethnicity, nationality, social or economical status, and the nature of the
person’s health problems.
5
•
Protect the patient’s right to privacy and keep all patient information in the strictest
confidence.
6
•
Continually strive to improve their knowledge and skills of their profession.
7
•
Be respectful of fellow workers and work in a professional and co-operative
manner with other health care workers.
8
•
Be responsible for reporting any unethical conduct, unsafe practise, or illegal
professional activities to the appropriate bodies.
9
•
Be accountable for their clinical decision making.
1
2
3
4
Page 4 of 24
Medical Radiation Technologists Board
Registrations
Under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act 2003), the
Board is required to maintain a register of the practitioners it regulates. The register is
accessible to the public and employers.
Registration with the Medical Radiation Technologists Board is a one off process. You
will remain on the register for life unless you request to be removed or are removed
for disciplinary reasons. You can be registered in more than one scope of practice
providing you meet the requirements of registration in each scope.
Periodically the Board will conduct a review of the register, and will contact practitioners
who have not held an APC for five consecutive years asking if they wish to remain on the
register.
Now that you have been registered your name has been entered into the register and
can be found on the Boards website:
www.mrtboard.org.nz/the-register.
Now that you have been registered you will need to apply for an annual practising
certificate before you commence practising. To do so, go to the website and click on
apply for APC:
www.mrtboard.org.nz
Within a scope of practice, a practitioner may have a condition that restricts them to
working within a particular area of work, for example a Medical Imaging Technologist
may have a condition restricting their practice to mammography; a Medical Radiation
Technologist—Medical Imaging Technologist (Mammography only).
If you intend to practise in New
Zealand, you must hold a current
annual practising certificate.
It is illegal to practise as a Medical Radiation Technologist
(Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy) without an APC
Guide for Registered Practitioners
Page 5 of 24
Scopes of Practice
The Medical Radiation Technologists Board has specified eight scopes of practice within
the profession of medical radiation technology:
Medical Imaging Technologist:
1
2
Is responsible for the outcome of the diagnostic imaging examination. The outcome of
the evaluation is recorded electronically to allow for consultation with other health and
medical practitioners.
Radiation Therapist:
Is responsible for the planning and delivery of radiation treatment. Creates and evaluates
images for the localisation, planning and delivery of radiation treatment.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist:
3
Is responsible for the outcome of the nuclear medicine examination. The outcome of the
examination is recorded electronically to allow for consultation with other health and
medical practitioners.
Sonographer:
4
Is responsible for the outcome of the diagnostic ultrasound examination. The outcome
of the examination is recorded electronically to allow for consultation with other health
and medical practitioners
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist:
5
6
7
8
Page 6 of 24
Is responsible for the outcome of the MRI examination. The outcome of the examination
is recorded electronically to allow for consultation with other health and medical
practitioners.
Trainee Nuclear Medicine Technologist:
A trainee nuclear medicine technologist undertakes training in an approved medical
radiation technology programme in nuclear medicine imaging.
Trainee Sonographer:
A trainee sonographer undertakes postgraduate training in an approved medical
radiation technology programme in ultrasound.
Trainee Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist:
A trainee magnetic resonance imaging technologist undertakes postgraduate training in
an approved medical radiation technology programme in magnetic resonance imaging.
Medical Radiation Technologists Board
Keeping the Board Informed
You are required to notify the Board
of any changes to your residential,
postal or work address within one
month of the change.
You can do this by logging into “ My Profile ” on the website.
Please note: email address changes cannot be altered using
the “ My Profile ” portal and must be emailed to
mrt@medsci.co.nz
MRTB registered practitioner booklet
Page 7 of 24
Annual Practising Certificates
If you wish to work in New Zealand as a Medical Radiation Technologist
practitioner you must hold a current annual practising certificate (APC).
An APC is valid for a maximum of twelve-months between 1st April of one year and 31st
March of the next year. An APC may be issued for part of the relevant twelve-month
period.
You can apply for an APC in either one or multiple scopes of practice, provided you are
registered in each of those scopes and meet the Board's criteria for clinical practise
hours.
Clinical Practise Hours
If you apply for an APC in one scope of practice you must have completed, within the
three-years prior to your application, a minimum of 800 clinical hours with at least 360 of
those involving patient contact.
Should you wish to apply for an APC in more than one scope of practice you must have
completed, within the three-years prior to your application, at least 360 hours of patient contact
for each scope of practice and an additional 440 clinical hours across any of the scopes of
practice that you hold an APC for. This balance of 440 hours may include any combination of:
• Patient contact;
• Direct supervision of staff in clinical practise;
• Delivery of educational activities;
• Quality assurance directly related to the delivery of medical radiation technology/
radiation therapy;
• Research activities which inform practice.
New Graduates
If you are a newly graduated practitioner, you will not have completed the required clinical
hours, and therefore need to answer the question in the declaration section truthfully.
You will need to state your recent graduation status within the comment box provided on
the APC application screen before the Board can issue you with an APC.
The Board only accepts APC applications through its on-line
system. Go to the Board’s website and click on the “Apply for
APC” button and follow the instructions provided on the screen.
Page 8 of 24
Medical Radiation Technologists Board
Practising Without an APC
As a registered Medical Imaging Practitioner or Radiation Therapist (any scope of
practice) you are responsible for ensuring you are issued an APC, and work within the
scope of that APC, and an application renewal is submitted to the Board for each year
you intend to work in a New Zealand medical imaging industry; accompanied by the
appropriate payment.
It is illegal to practise without an APC and you
could be fined up to $10,000, should the Board
have it confirmed that you have been working
without a current APC.
Declarations
When you apply for an APC you are required to make a number of declarations including
that you :
• Receive a satisfactory performance evaluation during the previous twelvemonths; and
• Meet the requirements for clinical work experience; and
• Are enrolled in a Board-approved recertification programme; and
• Have no criminal convictions recorded against your name and/or no criminal
charges pending that are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 3 months
or longer*; and
• Are competent and fit to practise, and have no mental or physical or conditions
that may compromise your competency.
Please note : Declarations must be truthful. The Board may take action under section
172 of the Act if it discovers any declarations are false.
*This may include convictions that have not resulted in an imprisonment term, but could have been; for example a
Guide for Registered Practitioners
Page 9 of 24
Continuing Professional Development
Active engagement in continuing professional development (CPD) is
a way for you to demonstrate your on-going competence to be re-issued
with an APC. Each year you must declare your enrollment in a
Board-approved CPD programme.
What is CPD?
The ultimate purpose of CPD is to contribute to high-quality patient care. While the
definitions of CPD are many they tend to be based on a number of common themes.
“Continuing professional development is a range of learning activities through which
health professionals maintain and develop throughout their career to ensure they
retain their capacity to practise safely, effectively and legally within their evolving
scope of practice”
Health Professions Council (United Kingdom)
The Value of CPD
CPD will help you to maintain high levels of professional competence through continually
upgrading your skills and knowledge.
CPD:
• Ultimately benefits patients as it should lead to improved services
• Gives the Board, the public, and the health sector confidence that you are
continuously improving your skills, knowledge and expertise
• Allows for you to take responsibility for your lifelong learning
• Helps you to be accountable for remaining current in your practise
CPD and the APC
CPD is the term used for the process through which you demonstrate your competence
to practise, and for the Board to issue you with an APC. Before the Board issues you with
an APC, you must be able to demonstrate that you are participating in CPD.
Page 10 of 24
Medical Radiation Technologists Board
CPD Providers
The Board has approved the following eight providers of CPD programmes for medical
radiation technologists, (medical imaging and radiation therapy):
Provider
Programme
Scope of Practice
New Zealand Institute
of Medical Radiation
technology (NZIMRT)
Continuing Professional
Development Programme
All
Australia & New Zealand
Society of Nuclear
Medicine (ANZSNM
Continuing Professional
Development Programme
Sonography
Australasian Society for
Ultrasound in Medicine
(ASUM)
MOSSIP Continuing Professional
Development Programme
All
American Society of
Radiologic Technologists
(ASRT)
Continuing Education Programme
All
Christchurch Radiology
Continuing Professional
Development Programme
All
Australian Institute of
Radiography
(AIR)
Continuing Professional
Development Programme
All
Continuing Professional
Development Programme
Sonography
Continuing Professional
Development Programme
Sonography
Australian Sonographers
Association
(ASA)
Australian Sonographer
Accreditation registry
(ASAR)
Continuing professional development should be:
• Continuous - professionals should always be looking for
ways to improve performance;
• The responsibility of the individual to own and manage;
• Driven by the learning needs and development of the
individual;
• Evaluative rather than descriptive of what has taken
place;
• An essential component of professional life, never an
optional extra.
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
(United Kingdom)
Guide for Registered Practitioners
Page 11 of 24
Practitioner Audits
An essential component of the Board’s CPD framework is an audit of practitioners
compliance with the Boards requirements for holding an APC.
Audits provides the Board and members of the public with
reassurance that practising medical imaging and radiation
practitioners are engaging in an on-going process to maintain
their competence within their relevant scope of practice.
Board Audits: What Happens
The Board undertakes an annual audit of approximately 10% of registrants who hold a
current practising certificate to assess the level and quality of their CPD. Audit participants maybe selected randomly or be called for audit for a specific purpose.
If you have been audited within the previous three-year period and passed all of the
audit requirements, with no issue for remediation, your name will not be included in the
current audit. However if you were exempted or failed the previous audit, you can expect
to be included in the next audit.
You will be notified by email if your name has been selected for audit. You are given 7-8
weeks within which to provide the Board with all requested documentation in regard to
the CPD programme you are enrolled in, and verification by yourself and employer of
your APC declarations.
The audit is carried out by Board members and practitioners nominated by invited
organisations (e.g. CPD programme providers), all of whom are registered medical
imaging and radiation practitioners. All documentation is evaluated against a standard
set of criteria.
Your Responsibility
It is your responsibility as a medical imaging or radiation therapy practitioner to maintain
a complete and accurate record of your CPD activities for three-years. A copy of these
records will be required should you be called up for an audit.
The MRTB audit is separate from
any audit process undertaken by
the CPD programme provider.
Page 12 of 24
Medical Radiation Technologists Board
What Would be Required?
If you are selected for an audit, you must be able to provide complete and
accurate information pertaining to your last three years of CPD activities.
The document's required include but are not limited to:
• Certificate of CPD
enrollment
• CPD activity
• Certificate of previous
CPD cycle completion
• Evidence of attendance
of CPD events
• Evaluations or reflections
of CPD events
• Declaration verification
An unsuccessful audit may result
in your next APC not being issued
Guide for Registered Practitioners
Page 13 of 24
Exemption from Audits
You may be exempted from a Board audit if you are currently:
• On maternity leave for greater than three-months;
• Working overseas;
• On long-term sick leave (i.e. more than three-months) and provide a medical
certificate;
• Experiencing a family bereavement that results in non-practice for a period of
greater than three-months.
You may also be exempted from an audit if you provide proof that you are currently,
or have within six-months prior to the Board audit, being/been audited by your CPD
provider.
All requests to be exempted from an audit must be forwarded in writing to the Board
within 14 working days of your having received notification that you have been selected
Failure to respond to the audit
could result in your next
application for an APC being
declined until you meet the
requirements of the audit
Page 14 of 24
Medical Radiation Technologists Board
Changing your Scope of Practise
Once you have gained the relevant qualification,
and required clinical experience you may apply
for registration in another scope of practice.
The Board has defined eight scopes of practice for registration in
the profession of medical radiation technology (medical imaging
and radiation therapy):
•
Medical Imaging Technologist
•
Radiation Therapist
•
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
•
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist
•Sonographer
•
Trainee Nuclear Medicine Technologist
•
Trainee Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist
•
Trainee Sonographer
Training Scopes of Practice:
Suitably qualified registered health practitioners can apply for registration in a trainee
scope of practice. You will be required to undertake a course of study as approved by the
Board and complete a minimum number of supervised practise hours in a clinical setting.
Upon completion of the relevant training programme, and meeting the requirements
for demonstrating clinical competence, you are eligible to apply for registration in that
scope of practice.
Alternatively, if you are not registered in the profession of medical radiation technology
but hold either an undergraduate degree in an appropriate health science as approved by
the Board, and/or are registered with another New Zealand health registration authority,
you may apply for a training scope of practice.
Practitioners registered in a training scope of practice must work under supervision for
the duration of their training. The Board must be advised of:
• the name of the clinical site where you will be working while undertaking the
training programme; and
• the name of the registered medical radiation technologist who will supervise you
throughout your training period. Your supervisor must hold a current practising
certificate in the scope of practice for which you are seeking registration.
Guide for Registered Practitioners
Page 15 of 24
Clinical Hours Requirement
If your qualification did not include an assessment of your clinical competence you will
need to provide evidence you have completed 3360 clinical hours of practical clinical
experience in the relevant scope of practice. You will also be required to undergo an
Registration Examination Assessment (REA) at your own cost.
Adding a Scope of Practice:
After gaining your postgraduate qualification in Nuclear Medicine, Sonography, or
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and completing the required number of clinical hours,
you may apply to the Board for registration in the relevant scope of practice.
Remember; if your qualification did not include an assessment of your clinical competence
you will need to provide evidence you have completed 3360 clinical hours of practical
clinical experience in the relevant scope of practice. You will be required to undergo an
Registration Examination Assessment (REA) at your own cost.
You are not permitted to practise in an additional scope of practice until registration
in that specific scope of practice has been approved, and an APC has been issued.
However once you have completed your training you must apply for the Board to have
the trainee condition removed from your APC.
How to Apply for Registration in Another Scope of
Practice
To apply for a training scope of practice or to add another scope of practice, you must
log onto “My Profile” and click on ‘Add Scope’ button and follow the prompts.
More information regarding training scopes of practice is available on the website:
www.mrtboard.org.nz
Page 16 of 24
Medical Radiation Technologists Board
Supervision
Under Section 22 (3) of the Act the Council can place a condition on a practitioner’s
scope of practice to ensure the competent practise of the applicant to protect the safety
and well-being of the New Zealand public. This can include:
A condition that the applicant practise subject to the supervision of one or
more nominated health practitioners or health practitioners of a stated class
(Section 22 [3] [a])
The Board has a separate booklet called “ Working Under Supervision ”, that can be
found on the Board’s website, or requested by emailing:
mrt@medsci.co.nz
Guide for Registered Practitioners
Page 17 of 24
Professional Standards
As a registered health professional you have a responsibility to notify the Board if you
have any concerns about either your own or another practitioner’s:
• Competence to practise; and/or
• Professional conduct; and/or
• A mental or physical health condition
When concerns are raised about a registered health practitioner's standards of
professional practise, the Board is required, under the Health Practitioners Competence
Assurance Act 2003 to respond to such concerns, and at times will refer notifications to
the Board’s Professional Conduct Committee.
Competency to Practise
If concerns are raised about your competence as a registered medical radiation
technologist, the Board is compelled to make enquiries and consider whether a review
of your competence is necessary.
A competence review is not disciplinary in nature. Rather, it is designed to protect the
public by making an assessment in a collegial manner and to be educative with a focus
on assisting you to improve your standard of practise.
Competence reviews undertaken by the Board will be fair, constructive, supportive and
educative.
Making a Notification
A notification is a formal written complaint made against a practitioner registered with
the Board. The Board may review the competence of a practitioner if there is reason
to believe that they have not maintained the required standard of competence, and/or
there is evidence to suggest they pose a risk of harm to the public
• An employer must notify the Board when a practitioner has resigned or been
dismissed for reasons relating to competence;
• Any health professional may notify the Board of a competence issue;
• Professional Conduct Committees appointed by the Board may also recommend
a competence review.
The notification is to be in writing to the Registrar and include the reasons why the
person making the notification believes that the practitioner may pose a risk of harm to
the public by practising below the required standard of competence.
Page 18 of 24
Medical Radiation Technologists Board
Competence Review Process
The Board will inform the practitioner of the notification and make further inquiries
before deciding if a review is required. The Board may choose to make further inquiries
through:
• Interviews with the practitioner concerned, colleagues, employers or patients;
and/or
• Observations of the practitioner concerned.
Competence reviews are undertaken by a Board-appointed panel of at least two people,
one of whom is a registered medical imaging or radiation therapy practitioner who holds
a current practising certificate in the same scope of practice under review.
It is important to note that competence reviews are rehabilitative in nature; that is,
they are aimed at working together with the practitioner to find ways to assist them to
bring their standards of practise in line with the Board’s competencies required for the
particular scope of practice.
Competency review panels are provided with a detailed terms of references within which
the review is to be conducted and the practitioner under review has an opportunity to
comment on both the membership of the competence review panel and the terms of
reference.
Following a review, the panel may make one or more of the following recommendations
to the Board:
• A competence programme designed to assist the practitioner to address the
areas identified; and/or
• A referal to the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal; and/or
• An alteration on the practitioners scope of practice by including:
• Conditions on their practise; and/or
• Changing the health services a practitioner may perform; or
• The practitioner be suspended.
The practitioner will have an opportunity to respond to any order proposed by the Board
following its consideration of the panel’s recommendations, and prior to any order being
put into effect.
Guide for Registered Practitioners
Page 19 of 24
Professional Conduct
Should the Board receive a complaint alleging that a practitioner’s practise or conduct
as a registered medical radiation technologist may pose a risk of harm or serious harm
to the public, the Act enables the Board to appoint a professional conduct committee
(PCC) to investigate that complaint, who will conduct its investigation independently to
the Board.
Should the Board be notified that a practitioner, having been convicted in a New Zealand
Court of an offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of three-months or longer
or any other offence as per section 67 of the Act, they will immediately refer them for
investigation by a PCC. For example a drink driving conviction, even though it may not
be imposed, can result in three-months imprisonment.
A Mental or Physical Health Condition
If a registered practitioner cannot make safe judgments, demonstrate acceptable levels
of competence or behave appropriately in accordance with ethical, legal and practise
guidelines because of a mental or physical condition, they can expect to be investigated
by the Board.
In determining if an investigation into a practitioner’s health is appropriate, the Board’s
Professional Standards Committee may consider the following factors as increasing the
likelihood for a health review to be undertaken:
• An incident directly involving the use or misuse of drugs and/or alcohol;
• Evidence of stress factors in the practitioner’s personal and/or work environments;
• Evidence of physical or mental illness;
• Evidence of a previous mental or physical episode which adversely affected the
practitioner’s practise
Page 20 of 24
Medical Radiation Technologists Board
What Happens if the Board Decides to do a Health Review?
You will be invited to comment on the health concern that was brought to the Board’s
attention including whether there are factors that may adversely affect your ability to
practise. If you acknowledge that your practise is affected by a health condition, the Board may
discuss an option for you to voluntarily either limit your practise or cease practising
while the situation is investigated further. The focus will be on assisting you to address
any mental or physical health issues which may be affecting your practise. You may
be asked to surrender your annual practising certificate or to put into effect any agreed
limitation on practise. (If appropriate a replacement annual practising certificate with
conditions will be issued at a later point at no extra cost to you.)
If satisfied that it is appropriate to investigate the matter as a health issue, the Board
will require you to undergo a medical examination by a medical practitioner approved
by the Board. You will be able to have a support person of your choosing attend the
examination as an observer.
Following the examination, the medical practitioner is required to advise the Board in
writing:
• The existence of the alleged condition;
• The results of all tests carried out as part of the examination;
• The extent to which they believe any condition found to exist affects your ability
to practise the functions of your profession safely and competently;
• Any recommendations for on going monitoring.
Following receipt of all relevant information and hearing the response of the practitioner,
the Professional Standards Committee prepares a recommendation report for
consideration by the Board.
If the Board finds you are suffering from a mental or physical condition that affects your
ability to practise, they may impose one of the following:
• Suspension or conditions on practise;
• Variation of conditions on practise;
• Monitoring
The Board may revoke conditions placed on an APC under s51 of the Act if the Board is
satisfied you are again able to practise at a satisfactory standard.
Guide for Registered Practitioners
Page 21 of 24
Ceasing to Practise and Returning to Practise
Ceasing to Practise
If you intend to stop practising you are not required to hold an APC;
however you must contact the Board to advise the date you intend to
stop practising, and whether you wish your name to remain on the
register.
Returning to Practise
If you are registered but have not held an APC for the last three-years, you will be required
to demonstrate to the Board that you are competent and fit to practise before being
issued with an APC. The Board uses a number of mechanisms to ensure you are competent and fit to practise
depending on the number of years you have been absent from the profession. Please
note the following mechanisms are guidelines only and each application is considered
on an individual basis.
Absence of Less than Three-Years
If you have not practised for less than three-years immediately prior, you can log into
your profile on the Boards website and apply for your APC.
Absence of Between Three to Five Years:
If you have not practised medical radiation technology for the last three to five years
you may be required to work under the supervision of another registered medical
radiation technologist. The period of supervision allows you to update your knowledge and skills in the relevant
scope of practice. Throughout the period of supervision you will be required to maintain
a logbook to be submitted at the completion of the supervision period.
Page 22 of 24
Medical Radiation Technologists Board
Absence of Between Five to Ten Years:
If you have not practised in New Zealand for the last five to ten years, the Board may
offer you the opportunity to sit a registration examination assessment (REA) to evaluate
your competence in the relevant scope of practice.
Absence of Over Ten Years:
If you have not practised as a medical radiation technologist for more than ten-years, the
Board may recommend you undertake re-training. Currently Practising in one Scope but have not Practised in Another
Scope for Over Ten Years
If you are currently registered and practising in one scope of practice and wish to
apply for an APC in another scope of practice for which you hold registration but have
not practised for more than ten years, the Board will consider your application on a
case-by-case basis.
You must hold an APC before
you commence working.
Guide for Registered Practitioners
Page 23 of 24
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.
What does APC stand for?
A.
APC is an abbreviation commonly used amongst all health regulation authorities.
It stands for Annual Practising Certificate
Q.
Does an APC have any time limitations
A.
Yes. An APC is issued for up to a maximum of twelve-months, and is valid from
1 April (or application date) to 31 March of the following calendar year.
Q.
What’s the difference between registration and an APC?
A.
Once you are registered with the Medical Radiation Technologists Board, you do
not have to re-apply for future registration in that scope.
An APC allows you to practise in your registered scope of practice in New Zealand.
For each year you want to practise you will need to hold a current APC.
Q.
Can I be registered and not hold an APC?
A.
Yes. You can be registered without having to hold an APC. However, as soon as
you want to practise in a New Zealand, you must hold an APC.
Q.
I’m currently overseas. Do I have to apply for an APC once I’m registered?
A.
No. You may be registered with the Medical Radiation Technologists Board while
living outside of New Zealand. However, an APC is only issued if you are resident in
New Zealand. The Council may issue you with an APC in anticipation of your moving
to New Zealand on the proviso of receiving appropriate supporting documentation.
Q.
Can I refuse to have my name published on the register?
A.
No. The HPCA Act 2003 requires the Board to publish and maintain a public register
of all practitioners registered with the Medical Radiation Technologists Board.
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New Zealand Medical Radiation Technologists Board