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.

You must apply to Council for a variation to your practising certificate if:

  • you are changing work locations
  • your employer changes
  • your supervisor changes
  • your level of appointment changes

You must wait for Council to approve your variation before you can start practising under the proposed new arrangements. Practising outside the approval 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. Time worked in breach will not count towards the requirements you must complete to gain a general or vocational scope of practice.  If you have any questions about what you are approved to do, please contact your registration coordinator.

To apply for a variation, please complete the relevant application form and submit it through Council’s online portal, myMCNZ .

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.

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
  • COS1

    Provisional general scope - application to vary practising certificate

  • COS2

    Provisional vocational scope - application to vary practising certificate

  • COS7

    Special purpose scope - application to amend practising certificate

  • REG12

    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 submit it through Council’s online portal, myMCNZ .

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 submit it through Council’s online portal, myMCNZ .