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Social Workers Registration Act 2003

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

34: Currency of practising certificates

You could also call this:

"How long a social worker's practising certificate is valid for"

Illustration for Social Workers Registration Act 2003

A practising certificate is valid for a certain period of time decided by the Board. You will know how long it is valid for because the period is stated on the certificate. The certificate is usually valid for no longer than one year from the day it is issued, but it can be valid for a shorter period of time, such as four months, in some cases.

If you are a social worker and your registration is cancelled, your practising certificate will also be cancelled. If your registration is suspended, your practising certificate will also be suspended. The Board decides how long a practising certificate is valid for, and this can be different for each social worker.

You can find more information about changes to the rules for social workers in the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019, which made some changes to the Social Workers Registration Act.

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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=DLM190203.

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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"

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35: Conditions on practising certificates, or

"Rules social workers must follow to keep their practising certificate"

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

34Currency of practising certificates

  1. A practising certificate is in force for a period decided by the Board (generally or in any particular case).

  2. The period must be stated in the certificate, and must be—

  3. no longer than 4 months from the day the certificate is issued, in the case of an interim practising certificate; and
    1. no longer than 1 year from the day the certificate is issued, in any other case.

      1. If a social worker’s registration is cancelled, their practising certificate is also cancelled and if a social worker’s registration is suspended, their practising certificate is also suspended.

      Notes
      • Section 34(3): replaced, on , by section 49 of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).