Scopes of Practice and Qualifications Prescribed by the Physiotherapy Board
This notice comes into force on 13 December 2022.
Pursuant to section 14(1) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (“Act”), the Physiotherapy Board replaces all previous notices that describe the following scopes of practice with the respective descriptions below:
Physiotherapists provide person and whānau-centred healthcare and work with people and populations to develop, maintain, restore, optimise, and understand health and function throughout the lifespan. Physiotherapists identify and maximise quality of life and movement potential encompassing physical, psychological, emotional, and social well-being. Physiotherapists should also be cognisant of Māori health models. Physiotherapists provide evidence-informed care as autonomous practitioners.
Physiotherapists may practise in a variety of contexts depending on their educational preparation and practice experience. The practice of physiotherapy is not confined to clinical practice and encompasses all roles that a physiotherapist may assume including health management, research, policy making, educating, and consulting, wherever there may be an issue of public health and safety.
Physiotherapy specialists are expert physiotherapists who have advanced education, knowledge and demonstrated competence to practise beyond the level of an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist in a specified vocational area. Physiotherapy specialists provide person and whānau-centred healthcare to manage the most complex, difficult or critical patient presentations in their area of practice, often as a point of expert review, opinion or referral.
Physiotherapy specialists demonstrate leadership in consultancy, education and research. Physiotherapy specialists work collaboratively with the physiotherapy profession and within the wider health system. Physiotherapy specialists utilise their physiotherapy knowledge and expertise to actively participate and take a leadership role in professional activities, including local and national strategy and policy development.
3. Replacement Qualifications for Scopes of Practice
Pursuant to section 14(1) of the Act, the Physiotherapy Board replaces all previous notices that prescribe qualifications for the following scopes of practice with the respective qualifications prescribed below:
Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy), Auckland University of Technology; or
Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy Honours) – BHSc(PhtyHons), Auckland University of Technology; or
Bachelor of Physiotherapy, University of Otago; or
Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours, University of Otago; or
Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Waikato Institute of Technology; or
Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours, Waikato Institute of Technology; or
Master of Physiotherapy Practice, University of Auckland; or
General Pathway for internationally-qualified physiotherapists
A pass in an assessment set by the Physiotherapy Board for persons holding a physiotherapy qualification gained overseas; or
Express Pathway for internationally-qualified physiotherapists
Registration without conditions as a physiotherapist with the following authorities which perform functions that correspond wholly or partly to those performed by the Physiotherapy Board:
Health Care Professions Council;
Health and Social Care Professionals Council / An Chomhairle um Ghairmithe Sláinte agus Cúraim Shóisialaigh;
Health Professions Council of South Africa;
College of Physiotherapists of Alberta;
Newfoundland and Labrador College of Physiotherapists;
College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia;
College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba;
College of Physiotherapists of New Brunswick;
Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists;
College of Physiotherapists of Ontario;
Prince Edward Island College of Physiotherapy;
Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec;
Saskatchewan College of Physical Therapists; or
Government of Yukon; or
A physiotherapy degree which is:
1. issued by a university in the United Kingdom, Eire, South Africa or Canada; and
2. approved by the authority responsible for the regulation of physiotherapy in the jurisdiction in which the institution is located as a pre-registration qualification; or
Registration as a physiotherapist with an authority in an Australian jurisdiction that performs functions that correspond wholly or partly to those performed by the Physiotherapy Board under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997.
successful completion of a minimum of a Master’s degree that:
requires a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (or equivalent) for entry to the degree programme; and
is relevant to clinical physiotherapy practice; and
successful completion of the assessment set by the Physiotherapy Board for registration as a Physiotherapy Specialist.
4. Scope of Practice – Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP)
Pursuant to section 11(1) of the Act, the Physiotherapy Board describes the following scope of practice:
Scope of Practice – Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP):
Advanced Practice Physiotherapists (APPs) have advanced education, clinical training and demonstrated competence to practise clinically beyond the level of a general scope physiotherapist in a specified vocational area. APPs manage or lead episodes of care in partnership with health consumers, their whānau and other health professionals.
APPs combine advanced physiotherapy knowledge and skills with advanced clinical reasoning to provide person and whānau-centred healthcare. APPs provide advanced assessment and management interventions such as triage for specialist clinics and second opinions for complex cases.
As APPs, they work across healthcare settings, influence health service delivery and the wider profession, and are involved in mentoring, supervision, teaching, or research.
5. Qualifications for APP Scope of Practice
Pursuant to section 12(1) of the Act, the Physiotherapy Board prescribes the following qualifications for the scope of practice Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP):
Scope of Practice – Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP) - Qualifications:
successful completion of a minimum of a Master’s degree that:
requires a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (or equivalent) for entry to the degree programme; and
is relevant to clinical physiotherapy practice; and
at least five years of post-qualification full-time equivalent (FTE) clinical experience with at least three years of full-time equivalent clinical experience relevant to a nominated area of physiotherapy practice in the six-year period immediately prior to the date of the application.
Dated at Wellington this 15th day of November 2022.
JAMES DUNNE, Registrar, Physiotherapy Board.
Note: The following notices are being replaced and consolidated: