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Social Workers Registration Act 2003

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

36: Surrender of practising certificates

You could also call this:

"What to do with your social worker certificate if it's cancelled or changed"

Illustration for Social Workers Registration Act 2003

If you have a practising certificate and it is cancelled or suspended, you must give it back to the Registrar. This also applies if your registration is cancelled or suspended under sections like section 24, 83(1)(a)(i), or 133(6)(b)(ii), or if you need to make changes to your social work services or conditions as stated in section 35A(2). You must do this within 14 days if you have a hard copy certificate.

If you have an electronic practising certificate, you must acknowledge that you received the notice from the Registrar within 7 days. This is so the Registrar knows you are aware of the changes to your certificate. You must do this if your certificate is cancelled, suspended, or if you need to make changes to your social work services or conditions.

You or your personal representative must give back the certificate or acknowledge the notice if you are the holder of the certificate and you have died. The Registrar will let you know what to do with your certificate if it is cancelled, suspended, or if you need to make changes.

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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=DLM190205.

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

36Surrender of practising certificates

  1. This subsection applies to a practising certificate if—

  2. it is cancelled or suspended; or
    1. it is required for endorsement of changes to social work services or conditions under section 35A(2); or
      1. its holder's registration is—
        1. cancelled under any of sections 24, 83(1)(a)(i), 127, 128, 129, 131, 132, and 133(6)(b)(ii); or
          1. suspended under any of sections 45(1)(b)(ii), 49(2)(b), 57(2)(b)(ii), 57A, 77(1)(a), 83(1)(a)(i), and 133(6)(b)(i).

          2. If subsection (1) applies to the holder of a practising certificate that was issued in hard copy, the holder (or, in the case of a holder who has died, the holder’s personal representative) must deliver it to the Registrar within 14 days of receiving from the Registrar notice of the cancellation, suspension, or requirement for endorsement of changes to social work services or conditions (unless any of the things referred to in that subsection have been lifted or revoked).

          3. If subsection (1) applies to the holder of a practising certificate that was issued electronically, they (or, in the case of a holder who has died, their personal representative) must, within 7 days of receiving notice of the cancellation, suspension, or requirement for endorsement of changes to social work services or conditions, acknowledge receipt of that notice to the Registrar.

          Notes
          • Section 36(1)(b): amended, on , by section 54(1) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
          • Section 36(1)(c)(ii): amended, on , by section 53(2) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
          • Section 36(1)(c)(ii): amended, on , by section 53(3) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
          • Section 36(2): amended, on , by section 23 of the Social Workers Registration Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 17).
          • Section 36(2): amended, on , by section 54(2) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
          • Section 36(2): amended, on , by section 53(4) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
          • Section 36(2): amended, on , by section 53(5) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
          • Section 36(3): inserted, on , by section 53(6) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).
          • Section 36(3): amended, on , by section 54(2) of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).