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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

You cannot practise as a social worker unless you are registered and your registration is not suspended. You must also practise within the terms of your individual scope of practice, which is authorised under section 8A. You need to hold a current practising certificate issued by the Board and it must not be suspended. You do not have to follow these rules if you are a social worker who performs social work services in an emergency. You also do not have to follow these rules if you perform social work services as part of an examination, assessment, or competence review required by the Board. This means you can still do social work in these situations even if you do not meet the other requirements.

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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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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).