Recertification
The Dental Council has two recertification programmes; a programme for new overseas registrants, and an annual programme for all practitioners to demonstrate that they are keeping up to date with contemporary practice.
All oral health practitioners who hold a current APC must:
- have and interact with a professional peer recorded with the Council
- have a professional development plan (PDP)
- participate in professional development activities (PDAs)
- reflect on their professional development in writing
- have their professional peer submit an annual online confirmation of their professional development
- declare the recertification requirements have been met when submitting their APC application online.
The recertification programme is designed to be flexible, so you can design it to suit your own professional development needs and adapt your learning activities as required.
Recertification handbook
The handbook is the main guide to the recertification programme. It explains the programme requirements, outlines each step, and includes guidance, examples, decision tools, templates, and answers to common questions. Quick guides and templates are also available below.
Manage your peer relationships
You can volunteer to be a professional peer for other practitioners.
You update your professional peer relationship and complete peer confirmations for practitioners who you have agreed to be a peer for, in the practitioner portal.
You can also use the practitioner portal to withdraw from or change your peer relationships.
Guides on actioning recertification tasks in the practitioner portal
Recertification templates
Templates are available to help you plan, record and reflect on your professional development. You can use these templates as a starting point or choose your own format.
This programme is for overseas qualified practitioners registering via the competent authority qualification or examinations pathways, and those registration via Trans-Tasman mutual recognition.
Practitioners will have six months from being granted their first practising certificate to complete the Oral health practice in New Zealand course, a series of e-learning modules designed to understand the regulatory, professional and practice requirements that will support their entry to the New Zealand practice environment.
Overseas qualified practitioners registering on other pathways to registration will also complete the e-learning modules as part of their oversight or supervision requirements.
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.
Completing recertification requirements is a legal requirement and is necessary to hold an annual practising certificate.
When a practitioner does not meet their recertification requirements, the Council will usually begin with an educational approach, particularly if it is the first instance of non-compliance and there are no immediate concerns about public safety. This may involve informal or formal follow-up and support to help the practitioner meet their obligations.
Some compliance actions are set out in legislation, while others provide an opportunity for practitioners to address issues before statutory action is considered.
If a practitioner does not sufficiently respond to support and follow-up efforts, the Council may take further regulatory action. This can include placing conditions on their scope of practice or suspending their registration.
Suspension is a last resort. It is only considered when a practitioner has not engaged with the opportunities and support provided to help them meet their recertification requirements.