GUIDANCE NOTES FOR EXPRESS PATHWAY APPLICATIONS

Thank you for considering applying for registration as a physiotherapist in New Zealand.
These Guidance Notes are for applicants preparing applications for registration as a
physiotherapist under the Express Pathway.
Who is eligible?
You are eligible to apply for registration under the Express Pathway if:
• you currently hold unrestricted registration as a physiotherapist in the United Kingdom,
Ireland, Canada, or South Africa; or
• you have a physiotherapy qualification from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada or
South Africa that is recognised as a pre-registration qualification by the relevant
physiotherapy regulator.
You must also meet the Board’s recency of practice requirements – this means that you must
have either:
a. completed your primary physiotherapy qualification within the three years before the
date on which you apply; or
b. practised physiotherapy within the three years before the date on which you apply; or
that you can:
c. provide evidence that you have been participating in a formal course of university-level
physiotherapy study during the three years immediately prior to application for
registration.
How do I apply?
You can apply online via the Physioboard Website. The Physiotherapy Board does not accept
applications in any other format.
Once you have completed the form and submitted your documents, the Board will send you
an email acknowledging the receipt of your application.
What documents do I need?
In addition to completing the online application form, you will be required to submit the
following documents:
• A certified copy of the photo and signature page of your current passport or your birth
certificate; and
• A certified copy of your criminal record from each country you have lived in for more
than 12 months while aged 18 years or over, which must be no more than 3 months
old at the time you apply; and
• Proof that you are eligible for registration under the Express Pathway, which is either:
o A certified copy of a current certificate of registration or annual practising
certificate issued by HCPC, CORU, HPCSA, or a Canadian physiotherapy
regulator; or
 o A certified copy of a physiotherapy qualification from the United Kingdom,
Ireland, Canada or South Africa that is recognised as a pre-registration
qualification by the relevant physiotherapy regulator; and
o Certificates of Good Standing from every country in which you have been
registered to pratice physiotherapy; and
o Evidence to show that you understand the five principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
in the context of healthcare and are able to practise in a way which is culturally
safe in New Zealand, being certificates showing that you have completed any
two of the following:
• Cultural Competency (Māori) course offered by Mauri Ora Associates;
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi and The Treaty of Waitangi and Healthcare offered by
Mauri Ora Associates;
• Compliance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi requirements in Ngā Paerewa offered
by the New Zealand Ministry of Health.
How do I get my documents certified?
A certified copy is a copy of the original document which has been certified as a true copy by
somebody who is legally able to do so, such as a lawyer, a court registrar, or a Justice of the
Peace.
There may be other people in your current jurisdiction who can certify copies of documents.
You are welcome to submit documents certified by such people, but there may be delays in
the processing of your application while the Board verifies their credentials.
Certified copies must be clear and legible. The certification must be signed by and clearly
state the name of the person certifying the document and their entitlement to do so.
What will the Board accept as evidence of my qualification?
The Board requires a certified copy of your degree certificate.
The Board may, in its discretion, accept other documents, such as an academic transcript that
shows a conferral date, or a letter from an institution, as evidence of qualification, but there
may be a delay while this is considered.
What will the Board accept as evidence of registration?
The Board requires either a Certificate of Good Standing or a current certificate of registration
or a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC) from at least one of HCPC, CORU, HPCSA,
or a Canadian physiotherapy regulator.
How do I pay?
You must pay the application fee, which is $1734.50 incl GST, before your application will be
considered. This fee is non-refundable even if your application is declined or withdrawn.
You can pay the application fee through the Board’s payment portal at the time you apply. The
Board does not accept payment any other way.
What happens after my application has been considered?
To practice as a physiotherapist in New Zealand you need to be both registered as a
physiotherapist and hold a current valid APC issued by the New Zealand Physiotherapy Board.
Once registration is granted you are able to apply for an APC.
You cannot practise as a physiotherapist:
• while your registration application is being considered; or
 • if you do not hold a current APC.
What if I have any questions about the Express Pathway?
Please contact the Physiotherapy Board at registration@physioboard.org.nz

We wish you all the best for your application.

EXPRESS PATHWAY APPLICATION PROCESS

•Read eligibility crtitera for the Express Pathway

•Refer to Express Pathway guidance notes
•Collect and certify all necessary documentation
•Complete cultural competence and Māori Cultural Competence requirements
Preparing and •Go to the online application form
Submitting •Complete application form and upload documents
•Pay fee
application

•We check that your application is complete, that you are eligible for the Express Pathway (i.e. that you meet the eligibility criteria) and seek further
information from you if necessary
•We consider any fitness to practice issues you have identified and seek further information if necessary
•We decide if and how any fitness to practice issues need to be addressed
Application •We either progress your application, refer it to the General Pathway, or return it to you (if further information is not provided)
processing

•We approve your application, register you as a physiotherapist, and invite you to apply for an APC
•We may propose and include conditions on your registration to address any fitness to practice issues
•We may propose to decline your registration (if any outstanding issues cannot be resolved)
Application
granted