Fitness to Practise Questions

Below is a series of questions you will be required to answer in your application to help us determine if you are fit to practise as a physiotherapist.

Convictions, Investigations or Pending Charges
- Are there any current or historical conviction(s), investigation(s), or charge(s) against you in any country from any police force or regulatory authority?
Physical or Mental Health
- Do you have any physical or mental health condition(s) that impair or may impair your ability to practise physiotherapy?
Communication
- Are there any current issues with your ability to easily communicate in English in a physiotherapy environment?
Professional Misconduct or Complaints
- If not previously disclosed to the Board in another application (APC, registration, or other), are you aware of any current or historical complaint(s) or adverse finding(s) against you from an employer, organisation you have contracted to or volunteered with, professional body, disciplinary tribunal, the Health and Disability Commissioner, ACC, or similar authority in any country?

Saying YES to any of these questions does not mean that you are immediately ineligible for registration, it does mean that we will request additional information from you to determine how, if at all, your ability to practise is impacted.

If in doubt, select YES. We may ask you for a document outlining the issue, the circumstances in which it arose, and your assessment of whether it affects your ability to practice physiotherapy.

Examples of what we may request

FTP Topic	Evidence	Notes
Convictions	A signed reflective statement	When completing this statement, describe: the circumstances leading to the conviction(s); the impact that this experience has had on you as a result; how the experience will influence your future behaviour and choices; and why you believe that each or any conviction does not reflect adversely on your fitness to practise as a physiotherapist in the future You may include any further information you believe is relevant.
	Referee statement	You will need to provide the name and contact details of the referee who will be providing a character reference in support of your application. Refer to the Board requirements for suitable referees and character references detailed under this table. You must arrange for a current character reference to be emailed directly to the Board by a suitable referee. This reference must: show that the referee is aware of the circumstances and events leading to your conviction explain why they consider your conviction does, or does not, reflect adversely on your fitness to practise as a physiotherapist in New Zealand.
Physical and/or Mental Health	Personal Statement	Please include the following: details of your condition, including duration and treatment of your condition; your insight and understanding of your health condition and its triggers, if any; and your plan to manage your condition within your future practice of physiotherapy to ensure safe practice. You may include any further information you believe is relevant.
	Letter of Support from your treating physician	A current original supporting letter (or certified copy) signed by your treating practitioner confirming the details of your management, including an explanation as to whether your condition does, or does not, impair your ability to perform the functions required to practise as a physiotherapist in New Zealand.
Communication	Personal Statement	Please include the following: details of your condition, including duration and treatment of your condition; your insight and understanding of your health condition and its triggers; and your plan to manage your condition within your future practice of physiotherapy to ensure safe practice. You may include any further information you believe is relevant.
Risk Declaration	A signed reflective statement	A personally signed reflective statement detailing: your insight and understanding of the risk factor(s) and the triggers; details of strategies utilised in managing the risk factor(s); and your plan to manage your risk factors within your future practice of physiotherapy.
Professional Misconduct	A signed reflective statement	Please describe the incident(s) or offences.
	Referee statement	You will need to provide the name and contact details of the referee who will be providing a character reference in support of your application. Refer to the Board requirements for suitable referees and character references detailed under this table. You must arrange for a current character reference to be emailed directly to the Board by a suitable referee. This reference must: show that the referee is aware of the circumstances and events leading to your conviction explain why they consider your conviction does, or does not, reflect adversely on your fitness to practise as a physiotherapist in New Zealand.
	Supporting evidence	Provide certified copies of each of the following documents (where applicable): relevant reports; findings; decisions (including reasons); orders; endorsements on registration certificates.

Who can serve as a referee?

A suitable referee is a person who is in a position of responsibility who has known you for a minimum of 1 year (i.e. in their capacity as your employer, manager, supervisor or educator).

This referee must have knowledge of the declaration you are making regarding your fitness for registration. Family members, friends and colleagues are not suitable referees.

What to include in a character reference

Your referee may supply their character reference in any format they prefer provided it meets the following criteria:

the full name of the referee is clearly stated;
it is labelled as a character reference in support of your application for registration;
it indicates the referee’s relationship to you as the applicant;
it indicates the length of time the referee has known you;
it is signed and dated by the referee; and
if the reference is completed by your referee in their professional capacity, then it must be on the letterhead of their employing organisation.