Competency Assessment Programme (CAP) for New Zealand Registered Nurses

Certificate in Professional Practice for Registered Nurses

Are you a New Zealand registered nurse who requires a Competency Assessment Programme to obtain a current Annual Practising Certificate?

Gain the most up-to-date skills and knowledge required to be part of a healthcare team in New Zealand during this theoretical and applied programme. Successful completion of a Competency Assessment Programme enables you to demonstrate your ability to meet the Nursing Council of New Zealand Competencies for the registered nurse (2007). The theory courses within this programme may also be used for professional development purposes and you may enrol in one or both of these. Successful completion enables the nurse to demonstrate their ability to meet the Nursing Council of New Zealand competencies as a Registered Nurse scope of practice.

Entry requirements

• All New Zealand registered nurses who meet the requirements of the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) will be accepted into this programme. However, acceptance is dependent on the availability of places in the requested intake.
• You must provide a curriculum vitae detailing your professional nursing experience as this will help us to negotiate an appropriate clinical placement for you.
• You must consent to police vetting (upon acceptance into the programme, the paperwork for this will be sent to you).
• You must provide a verification letter from Nursing Council of New Zealand of your registration.
• You must provide your immunity status - please see this document for further details.
• You must be computer literate and preferably have access to a laptop. 
• If English is not your first language, you must provide:
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 7.0 with no individual band score lower than 7.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
  • Occupational English Test (OET) with a B band/score in each section, OR
  • Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.

For enquiries about requirements for obtaining an Annual Practising Certificate, please contact the Nursing Council of New Zealand (Te Kaunihera Tapuhi o Aotearoa).

www.nursingcouncil.org.nz

Telephone +64 4 385 9589
Fax +64 4 801 8502
Email [email protected]

Postal Address

PO Box 9644, Wellington,
6141, New Zealand

Completing your application

You can enter information and upload documents directly into the application form. You may wish to prepare some of the required documentation beforehand.

To begin your application, click the Apply button at the top of this page.

You will need to provide:

1. Proof of registration or expired practising certificate from the Nursing Council of New Zealand
2. A written statement about your skills and experience (cover letter)
3. Submit a curriculum vitae
4. A health declaration
5. Evidence of your immunisation status
6. Police vetting and declaration of any criminal convictions. (Applicants who have lived in countries other than New Zealand need to provide a Police Clearance from each country.)
7. Contact details for two referees - (one employer and one senior work colleague.)
8. Certified copies of proof of identity

You will also need to attend an interview as part of the application process. We will contact you to arrange this.

Selection procedure

There is a maximum number of students accepted per intake. Once each intake has been filled, qualified applicants will be placed on a waitlist and notified of their status.

Additional costs

You are responsible for clinical costs such as transport and accommodation.

Further study options

Advance your skills and increase your career prospects with postgraduate Nursing studies in New Zealand.

You will study

You will need to demonstrate the ability to meet Competencies for registered nurses (Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2007) at the completion of this programme to be eligible for an Annual Practising Certificate.

Courses

Theory: BN721001: Contemporary Nursing Practice in New Zealand (10 Credits) (Level 7)

The aim of this course is to enable learners to meet selected registered nurse competencies through updating their health assessment and fundamental nursing skills. 

Clinical: BN722001: Professional Assessment: Clinical Practicum (30 Credits) (Level 7) 

This clinical course commences immediately after the two theory courses. Through work-based learning, orientate yourself to nursing practice in New Zealand and demonstrate your ability to meet the Nursing Council Registered Nurses Competencies. Successful completion of this course, as well as the theory courses, will mean you are able to apply for registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand. If you do not achieve the competencies by the end of the clinical course, you may apply to re-enrol. This course involves at least 120 hours of full-time rostered duties at an approved clinical provider.

Otago Polytechnic has clinical placements around New Zealand and you may be placed in a clinical facility outside Dunedin. Candidate preferences will be taken into account by the Programme Leader.

Your workload

This programme includes ten days of theory followed by 120 hours (three weeks) in clinical practice. Five weeks is the minimum duration, eight weeks the maximum, for successful completion of the theory and clinical courses. The Nursing Council allows one re-enrollment for the clinical course if you are unsuccessful. Candidates will need to anticipate studying in evenings and weekends to be successful in the theoretical component.