On completion of the required qualification, the pharmacist will be eligible to apply for registration in the Pharmacist Prescriber scope of practice.  Applications can be made online, which includes submitting a Practice Plan.  Additional information relating to the content of the Practice Plan can be found here.

Once registered in the Pharmacist Prescriber scope of practice, pharmacists will be entitled to use RegPharmNZ(Prescriber) as a post-nominal.

Competence Standards for Pharmacist Prescribers

The revised Competence Standards for Aotearoa New Zealand Pharmacist Prescribers (and accompanying comprehensive guidance) published on 15 June 2023 came into force and became mandatory from 1 April 2024. The Competence Standards and Guidance for Pharmacist and Pharmacist Prescribers should be read in conjunction with the Code of Ethics 2018. These specify the minimum core foundational knowledge, skills and attributes required of all pharmacist prescribers.

Ongoing registration requirements

Pharmacist Prescribers will, from time-to-time, amend or expand their defined area of practice or change the collaborative health team in which they work. For pharmacist prescribers to demonstrate competence, safety and accountability for expanded or modified practice, Council requires pharmacist prescribers to complete a practice review prior to such changes. This is a reflective exercise (self-directed with input from professional peers) using the competence standards to identify areas where further learning and professional development is required. A new or modified practice plan is declared at the time of application for a new practising certificate.

Overseas-qualified pharmacist prescribers

In New Zealand, pharmacist Prescribers, are registered in a separate scope of practice, working a collaborative health team environment, and prescribing within their area of speciality and in accordance with the Competence Standards and Guidance for pharmacist prescribers and legislation.

Some overseas pharmacist prescribing models do not have an equivalent model in New Zealand, and some overseas prescribers will not be eligible to register here. New Zealand Pharmacist prescribers are legally classed as Designated Prescribers, (defined list of medicines). They can write a prescription for a patient in their care to initiate or modify therapy (including discontinuation or maintenance of therapy originally initiated by another prescriber). Pharmacist prescribers are operating at an advanced level of practice, where they are practising in a multidisciplinary team where clinical governance arrangements are well embedded.

The Council will assess your prescribing qualification to ensure that if it is equivalent to, or as satisfactory as a prescribed qualification, and that your experience is suitable for New Zealand context. Currently we recognise prescribers from the United Kingdom who meet the following criteria:

• Hold a practising certificate in the Pharmacist scope of practice in New Zealand, AND
• Have been registered and worked in the previous (2) years as a prescriber at an overseas jurisdiction and have evidence of recency of practice, AND
• Has evidence of prescribing mentoring and support from a prescribing colleague within your intended collaborative practice in New Zealand, AND
• Has identified a collaborative practice that fits the criteria for your prescribing practice.

Overseas prescribers meeting these criteria can initially register in the Pharmacist Prescriber Scope of Practice with conditions to manage their practice as they become familiar with the New Zealand context.

If you do not meet the above criteria but consider that you have overseas qualification and experience as a pharmacist prescriber that matches the level of practice and the requirements to practice as a pharmacist prescriber in New Zealand, you should contact us via [email protected] if you wish to progress to register as prescriber.