Notice Title

Notice Under the Legislation Act 2019 of Prescribed Qualifications and Scope of Practice for a New Scope of Practice in Teaching and Research

Under the Legislation Act 2019, notice is given of the making of the following secondary legislation:

Title

Empowering provision(s)

Administering agency

Date made

Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003

Section 12

Dental Council

31 March 2026


This secondary legislation can be accessed at: https://dcnz.org.nz/resources-and-publications/resources/gazette-notices/.

The following describes the scope of practice for teaching and research and the related prescribed qualifications under sections 11 and 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.

The competencies for teaching and research are related to the relevant dental discipline within which teaching and research is conducted.

Competencies as published in the following New Zealand Gazette notices:

This notice comes into effect on 1 November 2026.

Scope of Practice for Teaching and Research

The scope of practice encompasses the responsibilities and actions of educators and researchers related to the gazetted scope of practice(s) identified by the practitioner. For teaching the scope includes creating inclusive learning environments, designing and providing effective instruction, assessing student learning, and fostering professional relationships with learners and colleagues. For research this involves participation in a research project that has been approved by a formally constituted ethics committee in New Zealand, and that clinical practice is only related to the research project.

Prescribed Qualifications for Teaching and Research1, 2

  • Current registration with a recognised overseas oral health registering or licensing body in a Dental Council recognised scope of practice, that allows the practitioner to conduct oral health research and/or teaching relevant to the oral health profession.

Dated at Wellington this 31st day of March 2026.

MARIE MACKAY, Chief Executive, Dental Council.

Endnotes

1. To apply for registration in the teaching and research scope of practice, the practitioner must have confirmation of employment by a New Zealand tertiary education and/or research provider for New Zealand accredited oral health programmes.

2. Upon commencement of practice in New Zealand the practitioner must work under the supervision of a council-approved practitioner. Supervision is a permanent feature of the teaching and research scope of practice; this pathway does not lead to unconditional registration and the practitioner cannot undertake any individual or private clinical practice, including under supervision.