Glossary
Types of registration
General
General scope of practice
A type of registration. A doctor who has completed the requirements of the Provisional General scope of practice can then be registered within the General scope of practice. Examples are doctors who have completed their first post-graduate year and may be in vocational training, and doctors who have not yet started, or have chosen not to do, vocational training.
"General scope of practice" does not mean the doctor is working in general practice. General Practice is a specialty area of practice. Doctors registered in the General scope of practice can work in any area of medicine. They are required to participate in an approved recertification programme to assist them in maintaining their competence.
Provisional General
Provisional General scope of practice
A type of registration. All new registrants, regardless of seniority, must work under supervision approved by us for at least 6 to 12 months to become familiar with New Zealand practice and culture.
During the supervised period, these registrants are registered within the Provisional General scope of practice and their performance is assessed by their supervisor approved by us, in collaboration with senior colleagues. They will be required to complete certain requirements to be eligible for registration within the General scope.
The only exception to this supervised period is for New Zealand and Australian graduates who have already completed their internship in Australia.
Provisional Vocational
Provisional Vocational scope of practice
A type of registration. A doctor who has completed their formal vocational training overseas, and whose qualifications, training and experience are considered either equivalent to, or as satisfactory as, that of a New Zealand-trained specialist may obtain Provisional Vocational registration. They must work under supervision for at least 6 to 18 months and complete our requirements for registration in a vocational scope. Those requirements may include undertaking some form(s) of assessment.
Vocational
Vocational scope of practice
A type of registration. A doctor who has completed their vocational training as a specialist and has appropriate qualifications and experience can be registered within a vocational scope of practice.
This form of registration recognises the doctor as a specialist and allows them to work independently in New Zealand. A doctor registered in a vocational scope must participate in an approved recertification programme to assist them in maintaining their competence.
Suspended
A doctor suspended from practising by us or by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.
Holds a practising certificate/Practising
A register status. Indicates the doctor has a current practising certificate and is permitted to practise medicine in New Zealand.
Inactive
A register status. Indicates a doctor has a current practising certificate and is permitted to practise medicine in New Zealand, but has advised us they are not currently practising.
Not practising
A register status. Indicates a doctor does not hold a current practising certificate and is not practising medicine in New Zealand.
A - Accreditation to Australasian qualification
Accreditation of medical schools
We, jointly with the Australian Medical Council, review university medical school courses to ensure they give graduates the skills and knowledge required to practise medicine competently.
Accreditation/College recertification programmes
Accreditation is the process used to approve the College recertification programmes that doctors participate in to ensure that they continue to be competent to practise within the scopes of practice in which they are registered.
Affidavit
An affidavit is a formal sworn / affirmed statement of fact by an official such as a lawyer or notary public.
Approved medical qualification
The approved medical qualification is a recognised primary medical qualification or postgraduate medical qualification, that we consider suitable for registration in some of the scopes of practice.
Australasian qualification
A qualification awarded by an Australasian or New Zealand Medical College.
B - No results
C - Certificate of registration to credentialing
Certificate of registration
A letter confirming the registration status of a doctor who is registered with us or has been registered in the past.
Certificate of good standing (CGS) or Certificate of professional status (COPS)
A CGS or COPS confirms a doctor's registration and whether or not there are any current notifications, investigations, or disciplinary action. It is different from certificate of registration, as it provides details of current or recent practice-related investigations or concerns.
Certifying official
A person who is legally able to certify and witness original documents such as a Justice of the Peace (JP).
Chief Medical Advisor (CMA)/Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
A doctor who is the liaison person between the clinical and administrative professions and the medical functions of the DHBs.
Clinical audit
A systematic process used to assess, evaluate and improve the care and health of by objectively measuring performance against standards and if needed making recommendations for change.
Clinical Practice
Means any work undertaken by a doctor that relates to the care of an individual patient.
Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights (The Code)
The Code offers a number of rights to all patients and health consumers of health and disability services in New Zealand. It also places obligations on providers of those services.
Collegial relationship
A collegial relationship ensures a doctor is not professionally isolated. The colleague is expected to help the doctor to plan and undertake continuing professional development (CPD).
Comparable health system
A country that we have assessed as having a health system and structure comparable to that in New Zealand for the purposes of general registration.
Competence
We define the standard of competence expected of a doctor as the knowledge, skills, attitudes and judgement to practise within his or her scope to a standard acceptable to reasonable peers.
Competence or conduct disclosure
Anything a doctor tells us about a criminal investigation, professional or work-related disciplinary proceeding, investigation by the Health and Disability Commissioner, or investigation by an employer or a professional body into the doctor's competence or conduct.
Competent authority
We recognise the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland as competent authorities for the purposes of general registration.
Conditions on scope of practice
A condition is a legal requirement that a doctor must do something or cannot do something, or otherwise comply with other set requirements, as part of their medical practice.
Consultant (see also Specialist)
Titles commonly used by senior doctors, with a particular expertise or working in a specialist area of medicine. that is interchangeable and has certain special responsibilities.
Continuing medical education (CME)
Educational activities undertaken to maintain competence, ensure medical skills and knowledge are up to date, and improve clinical effectiveness. Also known as continuing professional development (CPD) or maintenance of professional standards (MOPS).
Continuing professional development (CPD)
CPD is involvement in clinical audit, peer review and continuing medical education, aimed at ensuring a doctor is competent to practise medicine.
CPD associate
A senior doctor who agrees to provide assistance and guidance to a doctor practising in the same scope of practice, relating to that doctor's practice and relevant CPD.
Credentialling
A process used to assign specific clinical responsibilities to doctors on the basis of their training, qualifications, experience and current practice within an organisational context.