NOTICE OF SCOPES OF PRACTICE AND RELATED QUALIFICATIONS
PRESCRIBED BY THE PODIATRISTS BOARD
The Podiatrists Board ("the Board") will assume its full responsibilities under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 ("the Act") on 18 September 2004. This notice will take effect from that date.
SCOPES OF PRACTICE
Pursuant to section 11 (1) of the Act, the Board specifies four scopes of practice as follows:
1. Scope of Practice - Podiatrist
A registered primary health care practitioner (including those previously registered as a chiropodist) who utilises medical, physical, palliative and surgical means other than those prescribed in the Podiatric Surgeon Scope of Practice, to provide diagnostic, preventative and rehabilitative treatment of conditions affecting the feet and lower limbs.
2. Scope of Practice - Podiatric Surgeon
A registered primary health care practitioner who holds the scope of practice of podiatrist and is further qualified to perform foot surgery by way of sharp toe nail wedge resection; surgical correction of lesser digital deformities affecting the phalanges, metatarsals and associated structures; surgical corrections of deformities affecting the first toe, first metatarsal and associated structures; surgical correction of osseous deformities of the metatarsus, mid-tarsus, rearfoot and associated structures; surgical correction and removal of pathological subcutaneous structures such as tendinous and nervous tissues and other connective soft tissue masses of the foot.
3. Scope of Practice - Podiatric Radiographic Imager
A registered primary health care practitioner who holds the scope of practice of podiatrist, who is qualified to use radiological equipment, and is licensed by the National Radiation Laboratory, to obtain plain radiographic images of the foot, ankle and lower leg.
4. Scope of Practice - Podiatric Prescriber
A registered primary health care practitioner who holds the scopeof practice of podiatrist and is further qualified to prescribe a list of medications approved by the Podiatrists Board. (Subject to prescribing rights being granted by the New Prescribers Advisory Committee).
Qualifications Prescribed for Registration in a Scope of Practice
1. Podiatrist Scope of Practice
Pursuant to section 12 of the Act, the following qualification has been prescribed for registration as a podiatrist:
A Bachelor of Health Science in Podiatry from an accredited New Zealand University or equivalent overseas qualification as determined by the Podiatrists Board.
2. Podiatric Surgeon Scope of Practice
Pursuant to section 12 of the Act, the following qualification has been prescribed for registration as a podiatric surgeon:
A Post Graduate qualification in Podiatric Surgery as determined by the Podiatrists Board or equivalent overseas qualification.
3. Podiatric Radiographic Imager Scope of Practice
Pursuant to section 12 of the Act, the following qualification has been prescribed for registration as a podiatric radiographic imager:
This qualification is either part of the New Zealand undergraduate Bachelor of Health Science in Podiatry or the satisfactory completion of an accredited post graduate training course in podiatric radiography.
4. Podiatric Prescriber Scope of Practice
Pursuant to section 12 of the Act, the following qualification has been prescribed for registration as a podiatric prescriber:
A Post Graduate qualification in Podiatric Prescribing as determined by the Podiatrists Board or equivalent overseas qualification.

Dated at Wellington this 30th day of July 2004
ANNABEL WHINAM, Registrar, Podiatrists Board