Kia ora, the office is closed over Easter weekend.  

Annual Practising Certificate (APC) renewals: we will, however, be processing completed APC renewal applications during the Easter break but we won’t be able to respond to emails or phone calls. If we need more information about your application we’ll let you know next week (from 2 April). 

If you’ve provided additional information at our request, this will be reviewed and processed over the weekend. If we need more information we’ll be in touch next week (starting Tuesday 2 April).

Note: if you’ve paid and provided all other necessary information, we may be waiting on your supervisor to confirm your continued competence and fitness to practise. Please follow up with them if that’s the case. 

BMLSc Graduates

If you hold a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc) from a New Zealand university accredited by the Council or are eligible to graduate with the BMLSc, then you can apply for registration for Medical Laboratory Scientist.

The Council receives from the education providers an official list of students who are eligible to graduate and uses this information to process registration applications. When you receive your degree certificate, you must send a certified copy to the Council. This may be in the form of a digitally certified e-qualification.

Applying for an APC

Once you are registered, and before you begin working as a registered medical laboratory scientist, you must apply to the Council for an annual practising certificate (APC).

Provisional registration and supervision period

You will initially be granted provisional registration and are required to practice under the supervision of a registered health practitioner. The Council must approve your supervisor and workplace. Provisional registration is for a minimum of three months and up to a maximum of 24 months.

If your period of provisional registration is for more than six months, your supervisor may be required to provide the Council with interim progress reports. You and your supervisor will be notified of the timing of these reports when your first annual practising certificate is issued.

Obtaining full registration

At the end of your provisional registration period, your supervisor will complete a Final Supervisor Report and submit this for review by the Council. If the Council is satisfied with the supervisor’s report, full registration will be granted. Your APC will be re-issued at no cost.

Registration Timeframe

Providing your application is received with all the required documentation and the full registration fee payment it will take ten working days to process and confirmation of registration will be within 15 working days from the day your application was received by the Council unless otherwise advised.

Required Documentation

To apply for registration, please provide the following:

Qualification

A certified copy of your qualification. A photocopy may be certified as a true copy by a solicitor, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, or an Officer of the Court.

Character and Experience

Two Certificates of Standing and Experience (personal and professional) completed by persons unrelated to you.

Identity

Evidence of name change if applicable.

Criminal conviction
  • A criminal conviction notice that is no more than six months old issued by the Ministry of JusticePlease note, criminal check certificates issued by a third party will not be accepted.
  • A criminal conviction notice that is no more than six months old from each country you have lived and worked in for more than 12 months.
  • Please ensure all current and previous names are included in the check.

Please note: Only the following criminal history checks will be accepted by the Council:

For countries not on this list, please check with the Council. The Immigration New Zealand website may provide some guidance. 

Please note, criminal check certificates issued by a third party will not be accepted.

Evidence of Good Standing

If applicable: Certificate of Good Standing from each licensing/registration authority you are or have been registered with in NZ or any other country. The Certificate of Good Standing should state that there are no outstanding complaints against you in regard to your conduct as a health professional. The certificate must not be more than 6 months old at the date of your application.

Fee payment

You must pay the required fee when you submit your application.