Application Process

The following outlines some of the benefits to joining Hand Therapy New Zealand and the process for doing so:

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION ARE:

  • To advance the specialty of Hand Therapy.
  • To promote expertise in the treatment of hand and upper limb conditions by therapists.
  • To encourage interchange of techniques and ideas by both occupational therapists and physiotherapists working in this field.
  • To organise seminars and meetings to educate and inform those interested in hand therapy.
  • To foster a link between the New Zealand Association of Hand Therapists and the New Zealand Society for Surgery of the Hand.
  • To circulate a regular newsletter informing of recent advances both in New Zealand and Internationally.
  • To promote and facilitate the advancement of education in the field of Hand Therapy.
  • To support undergraduate and postgraduate academic programmes in Hand Therapy.
  • To advance recognition of and interest in Hand Therapy by other health professionals.
  • To promote and support the interests of members of the group.
  • To do such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of these objectives.

 

 

HTNZ Inc. Membership

The HTNZ Inc. has a multi-tiered structure of membership including Registered, Associate, Newsletter, Life and Honorary members.

Classes of Membership include:

1. Associate of HTNZ

Entry Requirements:

  • Registered Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist who is a current member of their parent body (supply copy of annual parent body membership certificate, and copy of registration certificate or annual practicing certificate as verification of professional registration).
  • Payment of annual subscription fee
  • To bill under the ACC Hand Therapy Allied Health contract you will need to have a supervisor who has been an HTNZ Registered member for 2 years or more, and submit a completed Supervision Agreement with HTNZ signed by this supervisor.

Maintenance Criteria and Termination of Membership

  • Accrue a minimum of 45 points in each 2 year period (refer to Schedule of Points) Points Structure If an associate joins between January & September then the 2 years to accrue points are the calendar year they join and the following calendar year. If an associate joins between October and December then the 2 years to accrue points will be the following 2 calendar years. If an associate is not able to accrue the points required they should submit a letter to the membership coordinator by November of their second year outlining reasons why and when they anticipate being able to complete the points. The executive will assess eligibility for extensions on a case by case basis.
  • Payment of an annual subscription fee.
  • Membership of the Association shall be terminated
    (a) Upon the member’s resignation.
    (b) If the member ceases to be a member of the appropriate parent body.
    (c) If the member remains un-financial by 31 March.
    (d) Members may be readmitted to the association on payment of the annual subscription and providing they meet the criteria already set out in Clause 4A(a) Registered Maintenance Criteria and 4A(b) Associate Maintenance Criteria.

2. Registered Member of HTNZ Entry Requirements

Pathway1:

As for an Associate plus:

  • Evidence of 1,800 work hours in the treatment of a variety of hand and upper limb conditions accumulated within the last 3 year period. Conditions involving the forearm and hand should comprise a minimum of 70% of the case log.
  • Completed a HTNZ Inc. approved Hand Therapy Training Program within the last five years. The currently approved training programme is the Hand and Upper Limb Module (HAUL), 45 credits, run through the Auckland University of Technology, (AUT)
    Register now with AUT to secure your place on this course.
    To find out more information about this course click here
  • A written case presentation (as per guidelines)
  • Completion of an approved static and dynamic splinting course.
  • Evidence of 2 peer reviews by a HTNZ Registered Hand Therapist external to your own, or your supervisors organisation - please use the HTNZ Approved Peer Review form and submit a separate form for each peer review
  • A letter of recommendation of a New Zealand Registered Hand Therapist or Hand Surgeon.

Pathway 2:

As for an Associate plus:

  • Current membership of an overseas Hand Therapy Association with equivalent entry requirement as the HTNZ Inc or Certified Hand Therapist Qualification (CHT).
  • Supporting evidence and CV.
  • A letter of recommendation of a New Zealand
     Registered Hand Therapist or Hand Surgeon .

Pathway 3:

As for an Associate plus:

  • Evidence of 1,800 work hours in the treatment of a variety of hand and upper limb conditions accumulated within the last 3 year period. Conditions involving the forearm and hand should comprise a minimum of 70% of the case log.
  • Completed a HTNZ Inc approved Hand Therapy Training Program within the last five years. The currently approved training programme is the Hand and Upper Limb Module (HAUL), 45 credits, run through the Auckland University of Technology, (AUT), Register now with AUT to secure your place on this course.

To find out more information about this course click here

  • An additional approved 15 credit paper (post graduate level), relevant to hand therapy practice, within the last five years.
  • Completion of an approved static and dynamic splinting course.
  • Documentation / evidence of regular formal supervision.
  • Evidence of 2 peer reviews by a HTNZ Registered Hand Therapist external to your own, or your supervisors organisation - please use the HTNZ Approved Peer Review form and submit a separate form for each peer review
  • A letter of recommendation of a New Zealand Registered Hand Therapist or Hand Surgeon.

Exemptions:
Please note: any requests for exemptions must be made to the HTNZ Education Committee via the HTNZ administrator. Please accompany any requests with detailed information on: the exemption requested, the date the course/s was completed, the organisation that ran the course, detailed outline of course content, and clear evidence of full attendance. Any applications will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed.

Maintenance Criteria and Termination of Membership

Must accrue 80 points in every 2 year period (log book to be submitted)

Payment of an annual subscription fee.

Membership of the Association shall be terminated
(a) Upon the member’s resignation.
(b) If the member ceases to be a member of the appropriate parent body.
(c) If the member remains un-financial by 31 March.
(d) Members may be readmitted to the association on payment of the annual subscription and providing they meet the criteria already set out in Clause 4A(a) Registered Maintenance Criteria and 4A(b) Associate Maintenance Criteria.

Points Structure

If a registered membership is conferred between January & September then the 2years to accrue points are that calendar year and the following calendar year. If registered membership is conferred between October and December then the 2 years to accrue points will be the following 2 calendar years.

Use of points accrued via the HTNZ Inc. Hand Therapy Training Program

Points obtained from each module and the exam of the training program can be used either:

Towards maintenance points for associate membership in that current 2 year period.

OR

Providing the associate has enough other points to cover their associate membership, can be accumulated and reassigned towards maintenance points for the first two year period of registered membership.

N.B. Points from the training program must be used in their entirety for one of these 2 options (i.e. they cannot be split to be used for both options).

If a registered member is not able to accrue the points required they should submit a letter to the membership coordinator by November of their second year outlining reasons why and when they anticipate being able to complete the points. The executive will assess eligibility for extensions on a case by case basis.

Payment of an annual subscription fee. A lapse of Registered membership can be re-established by the accumulation of 45 points within a one year period and a penalty payment.

Life Membership Criteria

Outstanding contribution during a minimum period of 10 years of continuous membership. To be awarded by a consensus vote at an Annual General Meeting.

Honorary Membership Criteria

Outstanding contribution to the association by a member or non member. To be awarded by a consensus vote at an Annual General Meeting.

 

New Associate Subscription Rate:

Associate membership $120.00                                  (Pro-rata of $60 if application is received between October 1st and December 31st for the current calendar year)       

 

Annual Subscription Renewal Rates:

Registered membership $150.00

Associate membership $150.00

 

To apply for either Associate or Registered membership, please complete the relevant form below and email it along with supporting documents to HTNZ Admin

Application for HTNZ Associate Membership Or Newsletter Subscriber
Supporting documents: Supervision Agreement, Annual Practicing Certificate and proof of Parent Body Membership

To bill under the ACC Hand Therapy Allied Health contract you will need to have a supervisor who has been an HTNZ Registered member for 2 years or more, and submit a completed Supervision Agreement with HTNZ signed by this supervisor

Application for Registered Membership Pathway 1: Case Study please include cover sheet and $500 fee payment with application email

Application for Registered Membership Pathway 2: Certified Hand Therapist or Equivalent

Application for Registered Membership Pathway 3: Additional Post-Graduate Paper
 

Once completed, please email your form and supporting documents to HTNZ Admin

Supporting documents needed for your application are listed on the application form and can include:
Proof of AUT HAUL paper completion, within last 5 years
Evidence of completion of an HTNZ approved additional post graduate level paper relevant to Hand Therapy Practice, within last 5 years
Verification of completed supervised clinical hours
Case log onsite
Case log offsite
Verification of formal supervision
HTNZ log book for continuing professional development
Letter of recommendation from a HTNZ Registered Hand Therapist or Orthopaedic or Plastic Hand Surgeon
Evidence of two peer reviews by a HTNZ Registered Hand Therapist external to your own, or your supervisors organisation
Clinical Case Presentation Marking Schedule (will be sent to you by the Case Study marker)
Completion of HTNZ approved static and dynamic splinting course
 

For Registered membership applications, please note that all applications are reviewed for approval at the next upcoming Executive Committee meeting, this meeting date is 6/9/22 and the due date for applications to be reviewed at this meeting is 12pm, 2/9/22

Please find HTNZ's most up to date rules document here, the above information may paraphrase or directly copy from the HTNZ rules however the rules themselves are your best resource for understanding the legal requirements of HTNZ membership and operational structure of HTNZ