Competency Assessment Programme (CAP) for New Zealand Registered Nurses

Your workload

This programme includes ten days of theory followed by 240 hours (six weeks) in clinical practice. Otago Polytechnic will organise your clinical placement provider (predominantly in Dunedin or the Otago region).

Five weeks is the minimum duration, eight weeks the maximum, for successful completion of the theory and clinical courses.

The Nursing Council allows one re-enrolment for the clinical course if you are unsuccessful. Candidates will need to anticipate studying in evenings and weekends to be successful in the theoretical component.

Entry requirements

All New Zealand registered nurses who meet the requirements of the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) will be accepted into this programme. However, acceptance is dependent on the availability of places in the requested intake.

• You must:
  • provide a verification letter from Nursing Council of New Zealand of your registration
  • provide a Criminal Conviction History Report 
  • give a conviction declaration and consent to police vetting (upon acceptance into the programme, the paperwork for this will be sent to you)
  • provide a health declaration and your immunity status - please see this document for further details (and more info below)
  • provide a CV detailing your professional nursing experience as this will help us to negotiate an appropriate clinical placement for you
  • give us two referee reports, one from your most recent employer 
  • provide a cover letter summarising your reasons for wanting to study this programme and any skills and experience.
• If English is not your first language, you must provide:
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 7.0 with no individual band score lower than 7.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
  • Occupational English Test (OET) with a B band/score in each section, OR
  • Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.

For enquiries about requirements for obtaining an Annual Practicing Certificate, please contact the Nursing Council of New Zealand (Te Kaunihera Tapuhi o Aotearoa).

www.nursingcouncil.org.nz 

PO Box 9644, Wellington,
6141, New Zealand

Phone +64 4 385 9589
Fax +64 4 801 8502
Email nzreg@nursingcouncil.org.nz

Health and immunisation status

You must be physically and psychologically able to engage in diverse clinical nursing practice in New Zealand, including acute hospital, community and mental health settings during this programme.

Covid-19 vaccination information

You don’t need to supply evidence of your Covid-19 vaccination status to apply for this programme. However, most placement providers will require evidence from you that you are fully vaccinated before allowing you to complete a placement at their organisation. Placements are an integral part of this programme and you’ll need to complete these to be able to successfully achieve your qualification.

Risks and immunisation status

Clinical Placement Providers require Otago Polytechnic to hold documentary evidence (ie a copy of current laboratory results) of your immune status and vaccination history for certain diseases before commencement of program. This information may be shared as necessary with clinical placement providers. The infectious diseases which we are required to hold immune status information for include:

• Varicella Zoster Ig G
• Varicella Zoster Ig G
• Rubella antibody test (Rubella Ig G)
• Hepatitis B surface antigen test
• Hepatitis B surface antibody test
• Tuberculosis:  Quantiferon Gold – TB
• Measles Ig G

You are required to provide recent lab blood-test results that outline your current immune status in relation to the above infectious diseases. Immune status can only be ascertained by blood test. These are mandatory tests required for applications to be considered – it does not guarantee acceptance into the competence assessment program.

Please also provide a copy of your immunisation record with your application documents and your blood test results.

Lab results must be in English and on official laboratory results forms. Quantiferon results should be from within the past 12 months.

MRSA (nasal swab) is only required if applicants have previously tested positive for MRSA.

Recommended vaccinations

• It's strongly recommended that candidates are vaccinated for pertussis. The prevalence of this infectious condition is on the rise and health authorities are recommending booster vaccination for adults.
• It's also strongly recommended that candidates are vaccinated annually against influenza.

Selection process

There is a maximum number of students accepted per intake. Once each intake has been filled, qualified applicants will be placed on a waitlist and notified of their status. 

Tuition fees

The tuition fees shown above are approximate only. There may be a slight fee increase per year once Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) rules and guidelines are applied. These fees also don’t include additional costs or living costs.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees you will be charged an admin fee of $300. 

You are also responsible for clinical costs such as transport and accommodation.

Student Services Fee

For most students, your tuition fee shown above includes a Student Services Fee – also known as the Student Levy. This compulsory fee covers your access to the student services we offer. This cost is tailored depending on how you're studying.