Kia ora. Please note that we’re closing on 20 Dec 2024/opening 6 Jan 2025 – all APC applications must be completed, paid, and submitted no later than Monday 16 December 2024. Thank you!

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What we do

The Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand is one of eighteen New Zealand health responsible authorities appointed by the Minister of Health under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the Act). 

The Council is responsible for the administration of the Act regarding two separate health professions:

  • Medical laboratory science; and
  • Anaesthetic technology.

The primary responsibility of the Council is to protect the health and safety of the New Zealand public. The Council ensures this by:

  • Prescribing the qualifications required for scopes of practice within the professions of medical laboratory science and anaesthetic technology, and for that purpose, to accredit and monitor educational institutions and degrees, courses of studies or programmes.
  • Authorising the registration of health practitioners under the Act, and to maintain registers.
  • Considering applications for annual practising certificates.
  • Reviewing and promoting the competence of health practitioners registered with the Council.
  • Recognising, accrediting, and setting programmes to ensure the ongoing competence of health practitioners registered with the Council.
  • Receiving and acting on information from health practitioners, employers, and the Health and Disability Commissioner about the competence of health practitioners registered with the Council.
  • Notifying employers, the Accident Compensation Corporation, the Director-General of Health, and the Health and Disability Commissioner that the practise of a health practitioner registered with the Council may pose a risk of harm to the public.
  • Considering the cases of health practitioners registered with the Council who may be unable to perform the functions required for the practice of their relevant profession.
  • Setting standards of clinical competence, cultural competence, and ethical conduct to be observed by health practitioners registered in each of the professions regulated by the Council.
  • Liaising with other authorities appointed under the Act about matters of common interest.
  • Promoting education and training in each of the professions regulated by the Council.
  • Promoting public awareness of the responsibilities of the Council.
  • Exercising and performing any other functions, powers, and duties that are conferred or imposed on it by or under the Act or any other enactment.
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