Nursing Council of New Zealand to introduce New Application Process for Overseas Registered Nurses

Nursing Council of New Zealand is to introduce New Application Process for Internationally Qualified Nurses (IQNs) from 15 October 2019 and according to their website “this change will offer a more efficient and timely service to IQNs”. KenyanNurse representative in New Zealand reports that the registration process for IQNs was halted at 8:30 am on Monday 30 September 2019 and the link was made unavailable. This was to ensure a smooth transition for applicants.

Most Countries are remodelling their registration process for Internationally Qualified Nurses, this is to ensure that their registration processes are much faster, easier and cheaper, to attract and retain more overseas nurses and Nursing Council of New Zealand has not been left behind after Nursing and Midwifery Council of UK (NMC) and Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) radically changed their registration process for their overseas applicants

From 15 October 2019, the registration process for internationally qualified nurses (IQNs) will require three steps:-

Step 1: IQNs must first apply to CGFNS International, Inc (CGFNS), who will verify and authenticate all documents through its Credentials Verification Service; this means that there will be an extra cost, however, unlike before where NCNZ used to take long to evaluate the applicants documents, CGFNS will fasten the process since CGFNS International offers a CES Expedited Review Service to all applicants once all required documents are received at an extra cost. The CGFNS Credentials Verification Service fee will be US$300, the NCNZ application and assessment fee will be NZ$485. Document verification will take approximately 30 days once after all required documentation has been received by CGFNS.

“From 15 October 2019 IQNs applicants should apply to CGFNS to have their documents verified and authenticated. Details about the CGFNS application process will be available on both the Nursing Council (NCNZ) and CGFNS websites from 15 October 2019. Once this step is complete, applicants will be notified that they are able to apply to the Nursing Council for assessment of registration” this is according to NCNZ

Step 2: IQNs will then apply directly to the Nursing Council, who will assess the application using the New Zealand registration standards and issue a decision to the IQN. The NCNZ assessment and registration process is expected to take up to 20 working days.

Step 3: Competence to practise

Many nurses who have been registered overseas will need to successfully complete a Competency Assessment Programme (CAP) before they are granted New Zealand registration. The CAP programme prepares overseas registered nurses for the registered nurse role and the healthcare context of New Zealand, which is different from many other countries. Competency assessment programmes are offered by Council-accredited providers, including schools of nursing, district health boards and other health service providers If you hold current registration in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Singapore, the United States of America or Canada, you may not need to complete a CAP programme because the registered nurse role and healthcare context in these countries are similar to New Zealand. We will advise you if you need to complete a competency assessment programme after we assess your

application.

CAPs are generally six to twelve weeks long and include theory and clinical components. Applicants are given two years from the date of notification to begin a CAP.

Note:

• There are waiting lists for entry into CAPs

• CAP providers charge fees for the programme. You must pay this fee to the provider, not the Nursing Council

• Fees and entry requirements are set by individual CAP providers.

Immediately after you pass your CAP course NCNZ will receive your CAP report and contact you by email advising you on the next steps you need to take.

KenyanNurse is a Healthcare Recruitment, Training and Consultancy Company in Kenya owned by Intergeneration Nursing and Health Consultants Ltd Reg No. PVT/2016/029812. KenyanNurse is managed by a team of Overseas Nurses whose mission is to offer support to Nurses relocating to Overseas countries. Currently, we are supporting and recruiting nurses relocating to the US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland by offering the following set of training:- IELTS, NCLEX-RN (US), NMC CBT (UK), NMBA CBT (Australia) and Aptitude Test (Ireland). If you are interested in our services please WhatsApp Simiyu Paul_RN on +254716192248 or email us kenyannurse17@gmail.com