You may ask to have your entry removed

You may ask to have your entry removed from the Register in one of two ways. The way you request to be removed affects whether or not you can have your entry restored at a later stage. 

You respond to a Council request for removal 

The Council may, at any time, ask whether you wish to have your entry in the Register removed in accordance with section 144 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the Act). For example, we ask you about removal each year on the application form for your annual practising certificate (APC) or retention. You may complete an APC or retention form at any time stating that you wish to be removed.

If you submit your APC form and select the option to be removed from the Register, we will start the removal process under section 144 of the Act. You will receive a letter from us once this process has been completed that confirms your removal from the Register.

If you are removed from the Register under section 144, and at a later stage wish to be restored to the Register, you have the right to apply to be restored to the Register.

You tell us in writing that you wish to have your entry removed  

You can write to us at any time, by letter or email, and ask to be removed from the Register. You can also elect to be removed from the register at the time you renew your annual practising certificate. This is called ‘voluntary removal’. Approaching us to have your entry removed, rather than replying to a request to have your entry removed, means that section 142 of the Act applies, instead of section 144. Section 142 does not give you the right to apply to have your entry restored.

If you are removed from the Register under section 142 of the Act, and wish to return to the Register at a later date, you will need to apply for registration.

You can find details on the various registration pathways for your profession at the following section.  

We may remove your entry if we are unable to contact you 

If we are unable to contact you, or you have not maintained a current registration status with the Council, the Registrar may write to you at any time and ask whether you wish to be removed from the Register.

If you do not reply to this letter within six months, or if the letter is returned to us undelivered, and you do not respond within 10 working days to a follow-up notice, your entry may be removed under section 144(5) of the Act.

If your name is removed under section 144(5), you have the right to apply to be restored to the Register.

Recency of practice

If you wish to be restored to the Register or apply for registration at a later date, and you have not practised in your scope of practice for more than three years, your application may be subject to our recency of practice policy.