Newsletter: November 2017

All oral health practitioners have recently received communication from the Council setting out requirements under the current recertification programmes.

Council decision

In 2015, the Council began a review of the way it recertifies practitioners. It anticipates completing the review in 2019. 

The Council has determined that in the meantime, all recertification programmes set for registered oral health practitioners in the current format should be completed by 31 December 2019. 

As a consequence, Council has determined:

• that the new programme for dentists and dental specialists is for a period of three years, from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019
• that the next programme for dental therapists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists, orthodontic auxiliaries, clinical dental technicians and dental technicians would be for a period of two years, from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019
• the required number of continuing professional development (CPD) hours and peer contact activities would be pro-rated to take account of the reduced time frame
• that it would continue the current waiver of the policy requirement that CPD must be verified.

While CPD activities do not need to be verified, they still must be verifiable. That means you must be able, if called upon to do so, to provide documentary evidence of attendance, and documentation that shows the activity or the training provided is approved for verifiable CPD purposes by an approved CPD provider or verifier.

This decision was made in accordance with section 41(6) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, at the full Council meeting on 3 July 2017.

Requirements of the recertification programme

The requirements for the current cycles are below.

Requirements of the recertification programme – dentists and dental specialists

The programme is a departure from previous recertification programmes which have required 80 hours of continuing professional development and 12 per contact activities over a four year cycle. This is because the cycle has been shortened in recognition of the fact we are currently consulting on a new recertification framework and we anticipate implementing the new framework in 2020. The requirements have been pro-rated to reflect the shortened timeframe.

Requirements of the recertification programme – all other oral health practitioners

The current recertification programme for dental hygienists, dental therapists, oral health therapists, orthodontic auxiliaries, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians ends on 31 December 2017.

At the end of the cycle, you will be required to provide a self-declaration to confirm you have completed the minimum prescribed number of CPD hours and peer contact activities for your profession.

The Council will not require a detailed CPD activities schedule or log to be submitted but we strongly recommend you maintain one for your records and as preparation for a possible audit following the end of your CPD cycle.

After the cycle has concluded, the Council will select a random sample of 10 percent of practitioners who will be subject to a CPD audit. Practitioners selected for audit will be required to submit their schedules together with evidence of activity completion or course attendance. Practitioners who have had their required CPD verified by the New Zealand Dental & Oral Health Therapists Association will be exempt from random audits.

We will provide you with more information about the new recertification cycle before the end of this year.