Practitioners | Maintain Competency

Please also refer to other pages in this section.

Under Section 40 (1) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act, the Dietitians Board has established a competency programme to maintain, examine or improve the competence of dietitians to practise their profession.

The Board's role is to protect the health and safety of the public, and, in a joint initiative with the New Zealand Dietetic Association (NZDA), the Board operates a Continuing Competency Programme (CCP) for dietitians practising in New Zealand. Participation in this programme by registered dietitians is a requirement for the continuing issue of Annual Practising Certificates.

Dietitians will need to keep a record of their continuing competency activities (as outlined in the CCP Manual) by completing the CCP Audit Template - revised June 2007 (Word Version). NB: The CCP Audit Template was upgraded, and some columns have been deleted.  Either template is acceptable. The Word version of the CCP Audit template can be saved onto your own computer so you can write on the form. This must be sent to the Board when you are audited. If you still have a problem writing on the form, please email the Registrar to send you one.

Documents that may help you, include: 

• Continuing Competency Programme Manual - Revised June 2007 (PDF, 696KB). Warning: This file may take some time to download.  Contact the Registrar if you wish for a copy to be posted.
• The CCP Audit Template, revised June 2007 (Word version).
• The Board has a manual setting out its policies and procedures for the administration of the Continuing Competency Programme.  This manual was updated in August 2006: Manual for Policy and Procedures to Administer New Zealand Dietitians Board Continuing Competency Programme. (PDF, 132 KB)
• Sample Learning Plans

Dietitians needing advice on the Continuing Competency programme, their credit summary forms and / or being audited, are welcome to contact the nearest Continuing Competency Resource person for assistance.

The Board published its Guidelines for Cultural Competency.(PDF).  Dietitians are being encouraged to start including Cultural Competency activities within their Continuing Competency Programme.  Further information on Cultural Competency is available on page 11 of the revised CCP Manual.

Frequently Asked Questions - Maintain Competency

1. Who can I ask for help?
   Please contact the Resource person in your area - names and e-mail contacts are listed above. Otherwise please contact the Registrar who will assist you find a mentor.
   
2. Do I need to send in the four page CCP Audit Template form with my APC Renewal forms?
   NO. We only need the one page APC Credit Summary returned with APC Renewal application forms. Please only send the four page CCP Audit Template in if you are being audited.

(You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the PDF files; it's available to download for free. It may take a while to download.)

These documents are also available from the Registrar of the Dietitians Board on request.