Variations to provisional and special purpose scopes
You cannot work outside the requirements of your scope of practice and any requirements set by Council specific to you. These are shown on your practising certificate.
If you are registered within a provisional general, provisional vocational or a special purpose scope of practice, you need our approval of any change to your employment, supervision, position or location.
Once we've received and approved your variation application we will issue you a new practising certificate.
Changes in employment or supervision
If you are registered and practising in the provisional general scope, a provisional vocational scope or a special purpose scope of practice, your practising certificate will show the position and supervision that has been approved by Council.
Any changes to your position or supervision must be approved in advance as a ‘change of scope’. If a change is approved, you will be issued with an updated practising certificate.
Please allow at least 20 working days for your application to be processed. If your application does not meet our policy requirements, you make disclosures, or there are any performance concerns, we may need more time to assess your application.
If you make a change of scope application, you must wait for an outcome on your application before commencing your new position. Practising outside the approvals shown on your practising certificate, is a breach of your professional obligations. It can have an adverse impact on your patients’ care and can also expose you to legal action. If you have any questions about what you are approved to do, please contact your registration coordinator.
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Tell us who you are so we can better direct your enquiry
Application forms
The application form you need to complete depends on your scope of practice:
- provisional general - COS1 form
- provisional vocational - COS2 form
- special purpose - COS7 form
Refer to section two on your form for a list of documentation you will need to submit with your application.
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Provisional general scope - application to vary practising certificate
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Provisional vocational scope - application to vary practising certificate
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Special purpose scope - application to amend practising certificate
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Application for a practising certificate for doctors registered in a provisional or special purpose locum tenens scope who are returning to medical practice in New Zealand. This form supersedes the REG9 and REG11 forms.
Applying for a change of scope at end of provisional period
If you are registered and practising in the provisional general scope or a provisional vocational scope, you can apply for a change of scope to the General scope, or the relevant vocational scope, once you have completed the requirements. Progression is not automatic.
Progression to the General scope
You can apply for a change of scope from provisional general to the General scope once you have completed the requirements set by Council. To apply, complete a COS4 form and send this to us.
Progression to a vocational scope
You can apply for a change of scope from provisional vocational to a vocational scope once you have completed the requirements set by Council. To apply, complete a COS5 form and send this to us.