Policy for Assigning Learning Periods and Associated Recertification
POLICY FOR ASSIGNING LEARNING
PERIODS AND ASSOCIATED
RECERTIFICATION
1. POLICY STATEMENT
The Pharmacy Council’s (Council) Recertification Policy 1 states that “It is a professional
obligation to remain competent to practice, and pharmacists that are newly registered or
have recently returned to practice may need to complete more professional development
than pharmacists established in their practice. Learning activities completed for registration
or return to practice which are over and above Council's set requirements, can count
towards the recertification requirements.”
2. PURPOSE
This policy states the minimum requirements to enable pharmacists to clearly identify what
they need to do to meet the requirements of Council’s Recertification policy1.
3. SCOPE
This policy defines the parameters and variations of learning periods for pharmacists:

currently on the Practising Register

moving from the Non-Practising Register to the Practising Register

moving between the Practising and Non–Practising register within any three year learning
period

new to the Practising Register (either through the EVOLVE intern programme or an overseas
registered pharmacist)
Not in scope are the recertification requirements for pharmacists where there is a break in
practice of over three years, or if a pharmacist has worked less than 450 hours in the previous
Page1
three years.2
1
Policy - Recertification for Practising Pharmacists, Pharmacy Council of New Zealand 1 July 2015
2
‘Minimum 450 hours Practice’, Pharmacy Council of NZ Statement May 2016
I:\Policies & Guidelines\04 Participation, Monitoring Pharmacists CPD\Policies\Policy for Assigning Learning
Periods and Returning to the Practising Register Version 3.docx © Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand I
Policy for Assigning Learning Periods and Associated Recertification
4. DEFINITIONS

Annual Practising Certificate Year (APC): 1 April to 31 March.

Three year learning period: The time over which a pharmacist is required to complete a
minimum of 20 points annually and 70 points in total including a maximum of 35 group 1
points (50%), a minimum of 10 points from completing two group 3 (significant) learning
goals.

Practice Review: A review of pharmacy practise against the Competence Standards
and/or relevant other standards, at the beginning of each three year learning period or
when there has been a change in individual practice.
5. POLICIES
5.1. Pharmacists registered in the Pharmacist Scope of Practice.
Council’s recertification requirements are that for each three year learning period at
least 20 ENHANCE points are to be completed and documented each year (in any or all
of groups 1,2,3 and Recognised Activities); and ten group 3 points3.
5.2. Pharmacists (NOT interns) new or returning to the Practising Register during the
recertification year.
These pharmacists have already met Council’s requirements for registration in the
Pharmacist Scope of Practice in New Zealand 4 . The Council may set learning as a
condition of registration and this learning is not eligible for inclusion in CPD for
recertification.
Only learning activities that are over and above Council's set
requirements for registration can count towards CPD for recertification.
The Council has not specified the minimum CPD points for these pharmacists, but a prorata equivalent to pharmacists registered in the Pharmacist Scope of Practice is
expected as the absolute minimum. Council expects that pharmacists new (or returning)
to practice in New Zealand to complete more professional development than
pharmacists who have been in continuous practice in New Zealand to enable any
adjustment to the changes in pharmacy practice or a new pharmacy practice
environment.5
The learning period will commence at the start of the next full recertification year
(1 April).
Page2
I.
Recertification for Practising Pharmacists Policy, Pharmacy Council of New Zealand July 2015
to Practice Policy, Pharmacy Council of New Zealand September 2013
5
Section 15.3.3, Recertification for Practising Pharmacists Policy, Pharmacy Council of New Zealand July 2015
3
4 Return
I:\Policies & Guidelines\04 Participation, Monitoring Pharmacists CPD\Policies\Policy for Assigning Learning
Periods and Returning to the Practising Register Version 3.docx © Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand I
Policy for Assigning Learning Periods and Associated Recertification
II.
Pharmacists entering the Practising Register between April and September are
strongly encouraged to record at least 20 points before recertification the
following March, but the minimum of points (pro-rata) is:
April
June
August
III.
20 points
17 points
13 points
May
July
September
18-19 points
15 points
11 points
Pharmacists entering the Practising Register after September are strongly
encouraged to record a minimum of 10 points before recertification the following
March, but the minimum of points (pro rata)is:
October
December
February
10 points
7 points
4 points
November
January
March
9 points
5 points
2 points
5.3. Interns new to the Practising Register during the recertification year.
Pharmacists who have successfully completed the EVOLVE Intern programme and passed
the Pharmacy Council requirements for registration in the Pharmacist Scope of Practice
must meet the following requirements for recertification.
5.3.1.June registration
Interns registering in June have to complete 10 (extra) points between the date of
registration and recertification in March the following year.6 The start date for the part
year will be on the day of the month of registration (eg 10 June 20XX) to enable ENHANCE
points to be recorded before recertification (01 April). The recertification declaration on,
or before, 01 April of the following year will require a minimum of 10 points from any of
group 1, 2 and/or 3. These points will sit outside the formal three year learning period but
may be included in any Group 3 goal of that learning period.
There is no expectation that any identified group 3 goals will be completed.
The first three year learning period will start on 1 April of the year following initial registration
in the Pharmacist Scope and finish on 31 March three years later.
A full Practice Review (self-assessment against the Competence Standards) must be
completed within three months of registration i.e. by the end of September as it relates to
6
Section 15.2, Recertification for Practising Pharmacists Policy, Pharmacy Council of New Zealand July 2015
I:\Policies & Guidelines\04 Participation, Monitoring Pharmacists CPD\Policies\Policy for Assigning Learning
Periods and Returning to the Practising Register Version 3.docx © Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand I
Page3
In total this means that at the end of the first three year learning period pharmacists will
have completed a minimum of 80 points (comprising 10 points in the recertification year
of registration, and 20 points in each of the following three years of their learning period
and 10 points from group 3).
Policy for Assigning Learning Periods and Associated Recertification
their new role in the Pharmacist Scope of Practice. Pharmacists need to identify which
domains and competencies relate to their current practice, and any learning they need
to undertake.
5.3.2.December registration
Interns registering in December have no formal documentation requirements until 1 April
of the following year.7 The start date for the part year will be on the day of the month of
registration (e.g. 10 December 20XX) to enable ENHANCE points to be recorded before
recertification (01 April). The declaration on 1 April will not require any points to have been
documented.
The first three year learning period will start on 1 April of the year following initial registration
in the Pharmacist Scope, and finish on 31 March three years later.
In total this means at end of the first three year learning period, pharmacists will have
completed a minimum of 70 points (comprising 20 points in each of the three years of their
learning period and 10 points from group 3).
A full Practice Review (self-assessment against the Competence Standards) must be
completed within three months of registration i.e. before recertification in March the
following year) as it relates to their new role in the Pharmacist Scope of Practice.
Pharmacists need to identify which domains and competencies relate to their current
practice, and any learning they need to undertake.
5.3.3.Variations in Learning Periods for Pharmacists returning to Practice after breaks
totaling no more than 3 years
This section should be read in conjunction with the section 5.2 Pharmacists (NOT interns)
new or returning to the Practising Register during the recertification year above, AND
Return to Work Algorithm (refer Appendix 1).
Page4
Where the break in practice commences during a recertification year, it is expected that
they will have met the pro-rata equivalent ENHANCE requirements before transferring to
the non-practising register i.e. a person leaving in August of their second year will have
completed and declared 20 points for year 1, and pro rata points for April – August of their
second year (9 points).
7
Section 15.1, Recertification for Practising Pharmacists Policy, Pharmacy Council of New Zealand July 2015
I:\Policies & Guidelines\04 Participation, Monitoring Pharmacists CPD\Policies\Policy for Assigning Learning
Periods and Returning to the Practising Register Version 3.docx © Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand I
Policy for Assigning Learning Periods and Associated Recertification
5.3.3.1. Break(s) from practice for less than one year during a single three year period
(Pharmacist remains on Practising Register)
The three year Learning Period is not extended. All recertification requirements must be
met in order to maintain an APC without conditions ie a minimum of 20 points in any
combination of groups. If the break falls within the final year of a learning period, then it is
also expected that the two group 3 goals will be complete.
From 2017, in order to obtain an APC without conditions, pharmacists will be required to
have practised for a minimum of 450 hours over the previous three years e.g. between
April 2014 and March 2017.
5.3.3.2. Complete break from practice for one year (Pharmacist moved to Non-Practising
Register)
The three year learning period is extended by one year. For example: a pharmacists
began a three year learning period on April 2013, then moved to non-practising register
for 2014/15 recertification year and returned to practice for the 2015/16 recertification year.
The learning period is extended to March 2017.
From April 2017 a pharmacist must have worked at least 450 hours in the previous three
years to be eligible for an APC without conditions. In this case, this means that to be eligible
for an APC without conditions they must have worked at least 450 hours in the two years
prior to ceasing practice (i.e. over the three years prior to returning to practice, they will
have worked 450 hours, as required.)
If they have not worked these minimum hours, then the Pharmacy Council will issue an APC
with conditions which could affect the statements in this policy. In this case, the pharmacist
and their learning period dates and recertification requirements will be dealt with on an
individual basis.
They must review any Group 3 goals they have started for relevance, and, in conjunction
with their learning partner, consider whether these should be continued or new ones
started.
They must undertake a Practice Review if their role is substantially different.
recommended that they do this anyway as best practice.
It is
5.3.3.3. Complete break from practice for two consecutive years (Pharmacist moved to
Non-Practising Register)
From April 2017 a pharmacist must have worked at least 450 hours in the year prior to
ceasing practice, to be eligible for an APC without conditions (i.e. over the three years
prior to returning to practice, they will have worked 450 hours, as required.)
I:\Policies & Guidelines\04 Participation, Monitoring Pharmacists CPD\Policies\Policy for Assigning Learning
Periods and Returning to the Practising Register Version 3.docx © Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand I
Page5
The three year learning period is restarted.
Policy for Assigning Learning Periods and Associated Recertification
If they have not worked these minimum hours, then the Pharmacy Council will issue an APC
with conditions which could affect the statements in this policy. In this case, the pharmacist
and their learning period dates and recertification requirements will be dealt with on an
individual basis.
They must undertake a structured review of their practice if their role is substantially
different from their previous one. It is recommended that they do this anyway as best
practice.
5.3.3.4. Complete break from practice for three or more consecutive years
The three year learning period is restarted on return to practise.
5.3.3.5. Other circumstances
Pharmacists whose situations fall outside the scenarios described above (but meet the
Council’s requirements for minimum number of hours worked each year) may have
additional CPD requirements imposed on a case by case basis.
6. RELATED DOCUMENTS

HPCA Act 2003 Sections 27(1)(a); 41;43

Recertification for Practising Pharmacists Policy July 2015 Pharmacy Council of NZ

Recertification Framework and Guidelines June 2012, Pharmacy Council of NZ

Return to Practice Policy Pharmacy Council of NZ (September 2013)
7. STORAGE
Available online on the ENHANCE website
8. DOCUMENT CONTROL
Position Responsible: Programme Manager
Date Approved: September 2014
Review Date: April 2016
Signed:
September 2014
November 2015
September 2016
Reformatted.
Updated to reflect revised PCNZ policy
Page6
Version 1
Version 2
Version 3
I:\Policies & Guidelines\04 Participation, Monitoring Pharmacists CPD\Policies\Policy for Assigning Learning
Periods and Returning to the Practising Register Version 3.docx © Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand I