Dentists Society

Dental Council of New Zealand (DCNZ)

The Dental Council of New Zealand (DCNZ) is constituted under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the Act) as the registration authority for the dental professions. The Act requires registration authorities to protect the health and safety of members of the public by providing for mechanisms to ensure that health practitioners are competent and fit to practice their professions. To achieve this, the Dental Council provides a framework for the regulation of the dental professions.
 
The dental professions regulated by the Council are dentists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and clinical dental technicians. The professions include dental specialists and orthodontic auxiliaries.
 
The Dental Council is appointed by the Minister of Health. It has ten members including seven practitioner members (three dentists, one dental therapist, one dental hygienist and one dental technician - one of whom is a dental education specialist) and three lay members. Members are appointed for a term of three years and may be reappointed for further terms but may not serve for more than nine consecutive years. Each year the Council elects two of its members as chair and deputy.

Registration

The Dental Council of New Zealand is the body that registers dentists, dental specialists, dental hygienists, orthodontic auxiliaries), dental therapists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians in New Zealand.
Links to registration information, application forms and policy guidelines for each practitioner group are provided below.

• Dentists and Dental Specialists
• Dental Hygienists
• Orthodontic Auxiliaries
• Dental Therapists
• Dental Technicians and Clinical Dental Technicians
• Oral health practitioners applying for registration under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act (TTMRA)

All registration applicants will need to complete an application form, referee reports and the relevant self-assessment form.
 

Scopes of Practice

Under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCAA) oral health practitioners may be registered in one or more scopes of practice. A "scope of practice" describes what a practitioner is entitled to do. Practising outside a designated scope of practice will attract significant penalties. Under the Act the Council has defined the following scopes of practice:

• General Dental Practice
• Dental Specialist Practice
• General Dental Hygiene Practice
• Orthodontic Auxiliary Practice
• General Dental Therapy Practice
• Dental Technology Practice
• Clinical Dental Technology Practice

 
To be registered in a scope of practice, applicants must:

• have a prescribed qualification for that scope of practice
• be competent to practise in the scope(s) of practice
• be fit for registration

Applicants who hold prescribed qualifications and satisfy all the competence and fitness for registration requirements of the HPCAA can expect to gain registration in the scope of practice they apply for.
 

Qualifications and Examinations

A pass in the New Zealand Dental Registration Examinations is a prescribed qualification for registration. Overseas-qualified practitioners with non-prescribed undergraduate qualifications who meet the registration entry criteria (including English language competence) may apply direct to the NZDREX examination process and avoid the costly qualifications assessment process.
 
Applicants with non-prescribed qualifications can also apply for registration and individual consideration by Council if they believe that special circumstances exist in respect of their qualifications and that the Council might therefore consider these to be equivalent to a prescribed qualification (s15(2)). Such applications are subject to additional fees to cover the costs of the individual assessment of the applicant's qualifications and experience.

Overseas Registration

Applicants with overseas qualifications must be currently registered with a regulatory authority, and be in a position to provide Council with a certified copy of a registration certificate and an original certificate of good standing from the relevant Board/Council where registration is, or has been held, in the last seven years.

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