Your professional responsibilities
Oral health practitioners have a legal and professional responsibility to practise only within their authorised scope of practice and according to the standards that the Dental Council has set.
You need an annual practising certificate to practise, and you need to renew your intentions annually, even if you are not practising in New Zealand.
The standards framework describes the minimum standards of ethical conduct, and clinical and cultural competence that oral health practitioners must meet, and that patients and the public can expect.
Recertification programmes help practitioners keep their skills and knowledge up to date so they can continue to practise safely and competently within their scope of practice.
Each year the Council undertakes a random audit of practitioners’ compliance with the practice standards, to help us understand how well practitioners are applying the standards framework in their day-to-day practice.
Read here for information on:
- changing your details
- removing registration conditions
- removing exclusions from your scope of practice
- applying for an additional scope of practice
- leaving or returning to the register
You can request a certificate of standing to provide to another regulator or organisation about your registration and professional standing with the Dental Council.
Standards framework for oral health practitioners
All oral health practitioners are responsible for meeting their legal and professional obligations, set out in the standards framework.
