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Social Workers Registration Act 2003

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

6AAB: Key requirements for practising as social worker

You could also call this:

"Rules for being a social worker in New Zealand"

Illustration for Social Workers Registration Act 2003

To practise as a social worker, you must be registered and your registration must not be suspended. You must also practise within the terms of your individual scope of practice, which is authorised under section 8A, and comply with any conditions that apply to your practice. You need to hold a current practising certificate issued by the Board, and it must not be suspended.

If you are a social worker, you do not have to follow these rules in an emergency. You also do not have to follow them if you are doing an examination, assessment, or competence review that the Board requires or orders.

You have to meet these requirements to practise as a social worker, unless you are in one of these special situations.

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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=LMS456239.

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"Only registered people can call themselves social workers"

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

6AABKey requirements for practising as social worker

  1. No person may practise as a social worker unless—

  2. they are registered as a social worker (and their registration is not suspended); and
    1. they practise within the terms of their individual scope of practice (authorised under section 8A), including complying with any conditions to which their practice is subject; and
      1. they hold a current practising certificate issued by the Board (and their practising certificate is not suspended).

        1. Nothing in this section applies to a social worker who performs social work services—

        2. in an emergency; or
          1. in the course of an examination, an assessment, or a competence review required or ordered by the Board.

            Notes
            • Section 6AAB: inserted, on , by section 11 of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 3).