Ngā Tohu Manapou nō tāwāhi
Overseas-qualified paramedics
Please note that you are not eligible to apply for registration as an overseas-qualified paramedic if you do not hold an appropriate qualification.
Applying for registration using an overseas qualification
People who have undertaken their paramedicine training overseas and whose qualification is not approved by Te Kaunihera Manapou Paramedic Council (Te Kaunihera) or able to be assessed via the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 can apply to have their qualification considered on a case-by-case basis.
Under section 15(2) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act), Kaunihera can treat any overseas qualification as a prescribed qualification (approved qualification) if, in our opinion, the qualification is equivalent to, or as satisfactory as, a prescribed qualification.
Te Kaunihera does this by requiring you to provide evidence describing recent experience in the delivery or management of paramedic services or in paramedic education and research. You are also asked to match the learning objectives of your qualification against Kaunihera’s competence standards for paramedics (see the guide below).
Te Kaunihera professional advisors will use this information to assess whether your qualification for registration is equivalent to, or as satisfactory, as an Aotearoa New Zealand approved qualification.
Documents to support your application
Prior to applying for registration via this pathway, it is important to ensure you have provided the required documentation/evidence to support your application. We have the following documents and guides to help with preparing your application:
- This guide contains useful information on the documents that are needed for your registration application.
- This guide has advice on the declarations you will need to complete so that we can consider your fitness for registration.
If you have completed an overseas paramedic qualification and can provide the required documents, you can apply for registration online here. Your supporting documents will need to be uploaded with your online application.
You should allow for a minimum of 8 weeks for Te Kaunihera to process a fully completed overseas-qualified application.
If you have a job opportunity waiting on registration approval, please ensure you let Te Kaunihera know.
Possible outcomes for applications submitted to Te Kaunihera
If Te Kaunihera professional advisors cannot reach a decision based on the information in your application, we may ask you to provide further information. We do this only in justified cases and it is in your interest to provide all relevant information when you first submit your application.
If after reviewing your application and any further information submitted the advisors believe there are standards that have not been demonstrated, we may invite you to undertake a competence assessment. This assessment will be at your own expense and is held in Aotearoa at either Auckland University of Technology (AUT) or Whitireia. Te Kaunihera does not hold competence assessments at international venues.
Te Kaunihera will provide you with more information on the competence assessment if this is necessary to continue your application.
If we are satisfied that your qualification, training and experience meet Te Kaunihera’s standards and that you meet the fitness for registration requirements under the HPCA Act, we will be able to complete the registration process.
Following a competence assessment if you are not able to meet Te Kaunihera’s standards or fitness for registration requirements, we will propose to decline your application. You will be given the chance to make a submission on the proposed decision before a final determination is made.
Fees
Click here to view assessment fees.
English language requirements
You must provide evidence that you can communicate and comprehend English to an acceptable level, and can meet Te Kaunihera’s English language requirements. Click here for more information on Te Kaunihera’s English language requirements.
Translations
Please note that documents not written in English must be accompanied by a translation on official translation service letterhead and bear the appropriate signature or stamp, together with full address details.
Public register
An overseas qualification accepted by Te Kaunihera will be recorded on the public register as a comparable qualification accepted by Te Kaunihera under section 15 of the HPCA Act.