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Social Workers Registration Act 2003

Registration, authorisation to practise within scope of practice, and practising certificates - Practising certificates

32: Procedure for consideration

You could also call this:

"What happens when the Board looks at your application for a practising certificate and might say no or add conditions."

Illustration for Social Workers Registration Act 2003

If the Board decides to consider your application for a practising certificate, they might think about giving you a certificate with conditions or refusing to give you one. You will get a chance to tell the Board what you think about this in writing or in person. The Board will also give you a notice that explains what is happening and why.

The notice will tell you that you can make written submissions and be heard on the matter, either by yourself or with a representative. You will also get a copy of any written information and a summary of any other information the Board is using to make their decision. The notice must say why the Board is considering taking action.

If you want to be heard in person, you can bring one person with you who agrees to attend. The Board might also let you bring more people if you want to.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM190201.

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31: Board to consider certain applications, or

"The Board checks your social worker application to see if you can work as a social worker."

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33: Decisions of Board as to practising certificates, or

"The Board decides who gets a practising certificate to work as a social worker"

Part 2Registration, authorisation to practise within scope of practice, and practising certificates
Practising certificates

32Procedure for consideration

  1. Subsections (2) and (3) apply if the Board decides that it should consider whether to direct the Registrar to—

  2. issue a practising certificate with conditions in the applicant’s individual scope of practice; or
    1. refuse to issue a practising certificate.

      1. The Board must give the applicant concerned a reasonable opportunity to make written submissions and to be heard on the matter, either personally or by a representative.

      2. The Registrar must give the applicant—

      3. written notice that—
        1. the Board is considering whether to direct the Registrar to issue a practising certificate with conditions in the applicant’s individual scope of practice, or to direct the Registrar to refuse to issue a practising certificate; and
          1. the applicant has a reasonable opportunity to make written submissions and to be heard on the matter, either personally or by a representative; and
          2. a copy of any written information and a written summary of any other information on which the Board is relying.

            1. The notice must also state the substance of the grounds on which the Board is considering whether to act.

            2. A person exercising the person’s right to be heard personally is entitled to be accompanied by 1 person of the person’s choice who agrees to attend.

            3. The Board may permit a person exercising the person’s right to be heard personally to be accompanied by any number of people of the person’s choice who agree to attend, in addition to the person by whom the person is entitled to be accompanied by subsection (5).

            Notes
            • Section 32(1)(a): amended, on , by section 46(1) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
            • Section 32(3)(a)(i): amended, on , by section 46(2) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
            • Section 32(3)(b): amended, on , by section 45(3) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
            • Section 32(5): amended, on , by section 23 of the Social Workers Registration Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 17).
            • Section 32(6): amended, on , by section 23 of the Social Workers Registration Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 17).