Mental Health Licensing & Regulation in New Zealand: 2025 Guide

This guide covers two things: how to check a practitioner's credentials in New Zealand, and what registration requires of practitioners themselves. Where a claim below rests on a statute or regulator, the source is named.

The short answer: who is regulated in New Zealand

New Zealand protects some therapy titles by law and not others. Knowing which titles are protected helps when you assess a practitioner.

• Psychologist is a protected title. Section 7 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the HPCA Act) restricts it to registered, qualified practitioners. Breaching section 7 is an offence with a fine not exceeding $10,000¹ (New Zealand dollars).
• Psychotherapist is regulated under the same Act. Only psychotherapists registered by the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand (PBANZ) can use the title.²
• Social worker is subject to a stricter rule. Since 27 February 2021, no person may practise as a social worker without registration and a current practising certificate.³
• Counsellor is not a protected title. Counsellors who join NZAC take on its membership standards voluntarily. Their clients also keep legal rights under the HDC Code of Rights.

How to verify a practitioner right now

Three official registers cover the regulated professions.

1. Psychologists. Search the New Zealand Psychologists Board register. Only currently registered practitioners can legally use the title "Psychologist".⁴ A valid entry shows a registration number, name, and a status such as "Registered, current practising certificate".⁴
2. Psychotherapists. Search the PBANZ register of psychotherapists. Clicking a name shows practising status, scope of practice, any conditions, location, and training background.⁵
3. Social workers. Search the SWRB public register.⁶ The register is at swrb.govt.nz/search-the-register. If anything about a person's status is unclear, contact the Registrar directly.

Check two things, not one: registration and the certificate. A psychologist must also hold a current practising certificate to lawfully practise. A name can be temporarily absent while a certificate is under review.⁴ So ask the Board before drawing a conclusion.

Becoming a registered psychologist: requirements by scope

Every psychologist scope shares one base. You need at least a Master's degree in Psychology from a Board-accredited organisation, or an overseas equivalent. You also need a Board-approved practicum or internship involving 1500 hours of supervised practice.⁷

Two special-purpose scopes cover the training period itself. Intern Psychologist covers postgraduate internships undertaken as part of a Board-accredited postgraduate diploma or doctoral course.¹¹ Trainee Psychologist covers agency-based, Board-approved supervision-to-registration schemes.¹² You must be registered in one of them before your 1500 hours of practical training begin.¹³

Registration is not the end of it. Each year psychologists renew a Practising Certificate and declare that they have met the Board's Continuing Competence Programme.¹⁴ The Board sits under the HPCA Act, whose principal purpose is protecting public health and safety.¹⁵

Psychotherapists, social workers, and the counselling difference

Psychotherapists: regulated, with three scopes

Psychotherapists are qualified health practitioners regulated by the HPCA Act.² The regulator is Te Poari o ngā Kaihaumanu Hinengaro o Aotearoa,¹⁶ the Psychotherapists Board. To practise, you must be registered and hold a practising certificate.¹⁷

The Board has published three scopes of practice: Psychotherapist, Interim Psychotherapist, and Psychotherapist with a Child and Adolescent specialism. The Interim scope carries a five-year limit. Newly qualified psychotherapists with under 900 hours of clinical experience must have weekly supervision.¹⁸

Title protection works as it does for psychologists. Section 7 of the HPCA Act protects the title itself. Approved qualifications include AUT's Master of Psychotherapy¹⁷ and several accredited society training pathways.

Social workers: registration is compulsory

Social work moved to full mandatory registration in 2021. Sections 6AA and 6AAB of the Social Workers Registration Act 2003, inserted on 27 February 2021,³ protect the title and require registration to practise. The SWRB puts it plainly: registration is required to practise social work in New Zealand.¹⁹

Registered social workers renew a practising certificate each year. They also follow a Code of Conduct and complete continuing professional development.¹⁹

Counsellors: voluntary, but not standards-free

The HPCA Act regulates a profession by appointing an authority for it. Schedule 2 names the bodies continued in existence and appointed as authorities in respect of health professions, among them the Psychologists Board for the practice of psychology. The Act also provides a route for adding new professions, designated by Order in Council.²¹ Counselling is not among the professions listed in Schedule 2.²⁰

NZAC membership is one marker of standards. Provisional membership has four qualification pathways,²² with CPD duties attached. Full membership requires at least 18 months as a provisional member, plus 300 counselling hours and 30 supervision hours.²³ All practising members must have regular supervision from outside their own workplace.²⁴

So when meeting a counsellor, ask two things. Which professional body are they registered with, and who supervises their work?

Clients of unregistered practitioners are not left without protection. The HDC Code of Rights applies to providers of health and disability services, paid or unpaid. It extends to those who hold themselves out as providing health services.²⁵ That includes the right to services of an appropriate standard, and the right to complain.²⁶

What registered practitioners can and cannot do

Registration ties each practitioner to a defined scope of practice. Section 8 of the HPCA Act bars practice outside that scope.²⁷ It also requires a current practising certificate from the responsible authority.

Some activities can be declared restricted to particular practitioners. Performing a restricted activity outside your scope is an offence, with a fine not exceeding $30,000.²⁷

Psychologists also answer to a shared Code of Ethics, formally adopted by the Board in 2002.²⁸ One of its stated purposes is informing the public of the profession's ethics.²⁹ The gazetted psychologist scopes describe psychological services: assessment, formulation, and therapeutic intervention.

A note on New Zealand's Mental Health Act

New Zealand's Mental Health Act is a different law from practitioner licensing. The Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992³⁰ sets out when a person may be compulsorily assessed and treated. It defines the rights of such persons and provides better protection for those rights.³¹ The Act is administered by the Ministry of Health.³⁰

It does not license or register any practitioner. The HPCA Act regulates practitioners. This Act governs compulsory assessment and treatment. If you are supporting someone under compulsory care, the official Act text is the reliable source.

Trained overseas? Registration for internationally qualified practitioners

Each regulator runs an overseas route. The Psychologists Board accepts an overseas equivalent psychology qualification⁷ for its scopes. The SWRB lists an overseas social work qualification as one of its three pathways.¹⁹ NZAC's fourth provisional pathway covers counselling qualifications gained outside New Zealand.²²

A translation note for readers using United States terms. "Licensed professional counselor" is a US credential; New Zealand has no equivalent licence. The markers to look for here are Board registration for psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers, plus NZAC membership for counsellors.

Red flags, complaints, and where to go next

Treat these as prompts to check, not proof of wrongdoing:

• Someone using the title "psychologist" or "psychotherapist" whom you cannot find on the register.
• No current practising certificate, or vague answers when you ask about scope of practice.
• A counsellor who names no professional body, no supervisor, and no complaints route.

If something has gone wrong, there is more than one place to take it. Concerns about a registered practitioner can go to the responsible Board. Anyone using health or disability services can also complain to the Health and Disability Commissioner.²⁶ NZAC provisional members are covered by the NZAC complaints process.²² Full NZAC members are covered by it as well.²³

When you are ready to choose someone, weigh fit as well as credentials. Our guide on how to find the right therapist explains what to look for. TherapyRoute also lists therapists practising across New Zealand.

This guide is information, not legal advice. Registration status changes, so check the official register at the time you engage a practitioner. The sources below were last verified in July 2026.

Team TherapyRoute

References

1. [1] HPCA Act 2003 s 7: only a registered, qualified person may use a title implying they are a health practitioner of a particular kind; contravention is an offence with a fine not exceeding NZD 10,000 (version as at 6 June 2026). legislation.govt.nz.
2. [2] PBANZ: psychotherapists are regulated by the HPCA Act 2003 and only psychotherapists registered by the Board can use the title 'psychotherapist'. pbanz.org.nz.
3. [3] Social Workers Registration Act 2003 ss 6AA-6AAB (inserted 27 February 2021 by the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act 2019): 'social worker' is a protected title and no person may practise as a social worker unless registered with a current practising certificate (version as at 28 February 2026). legislation.govt.nz.
4. [4] NZ Psychologists Board public register: only currently registered practitioners can legally use the title 'Psychologist'; entries show registration number, name and status (e.g. 'Registered, current practising certificate'). searchregister.psychologistsboard.org.nz.
5. [5] PBANZ maintains a public register of psychotherapists; an entry shows practising status (Annual Practising Certificate), scope of practice, conditions, location and training background. pbanz.org.nz.
6. [6] SWRB maintains a public register; the public can check whether a social worker is registered, and registered social workers adhere to a Code of Conduct with a complaints and disciplinary process. swrb.govt.nz/search-the-register.
7. [7] NZ Psychologists Board: every psychologist scope requires a minimum of a Master's degree in Psychology from a Board-accredited organisation and a Board-approved practicum or internship of 1500 hours of supervised practice. psychologistsboard.org.nz.
8. [8] New Zealand Psychologists Board, Accreditation Standards and Procedures (January 2016), Appendix 4, items 3-4 (Clinical Psychologist and Counselling Psychologist vocational scopes and prescribed qualifications) psychologistsboard.org.nz.
9. [9] New Zealand Psychologists Board, Accreditation Standards and Procedures (January 2016), Appendix 4, item 5 (Educational Psychologist scope and prescribed qualifications) with footnote defining Board accreditation psychologistsboard.org.nz.
10. [10] New Zealand Psychologists Board, Standards and Procedures for the Accreditation of Programmes and Schemes Leading to Registration as a Psychologist in Aotearoa New Zealand (January 2016), Appendix 4 - Gazetted Scopes of Practice and Related Qualifications, item 1 (Psychologist, general scope) psychologistsboard.org.nz.
11. [11] New Zealand Gazette, Notice of Replacement Scopes of Practice and Related Qualifications Prescribed by the Psychologists Board for Intern Psychologists and Trainee Psychologists (Notice 2010-gs9520, 23 December 2010), Intern Psychologist special purpose scope gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2010-gs9520.
12. [12] New Zealand Gazette, Notice of Replacement Scopes of Practice and Related Qualifications (Notice 2010-gs9520, 23 December 2010), Trainee Psychologist special purpose scope gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2010-gs9520.
13. [13] New Zealand Psychologists Board, Accreditation Standards and Procedures (January 2016), Standard 4.1 (Selection), clause 4.1.3 - registration in the Intern or Trainee Psychologist scope before beginning the 1500 hours of practical training psychologistsboard.org.nz.
14. [14] New Zealand Psychologists Board, Continuing Competence Programme Guide for Participants (January 2024), Overview - declaration of fitness and competence on applying for and renewing a Practising Certificate, and the annual CCP cycle psychologistsboard.org.nz.
15. [15] New Zealand Psychologists Board, The Continuing Competence Programme for Psychologists Practising in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Guide for Participants (January 2024), Introduction - Practising Certificates and the CCP as the Board's recertification programme psychologistsboard.org.nz.
16. [16] PBANZ (Te Poari o ngā Kaihaumanu Hinengaro o Aotearoa) is the authority responsible for the registration of psychotherapists; its duties and functions are set out in s 118 of the HPCA Act 2003. pbanz.org.nz.
17. [17] PBANZ: to practise as a psychotherapist in Aotearoa you must be registered with the Board and hold a practising certificate; eligibility rests on ss 12-17 of the HPCA Act (approved qualification, fitness and character, fees). pbanz.org.nz.
18. [18] PBANZ has published three scopes of practice: Interim Psychotherapist (5-year limit), Psychotherapist, and Psychotherapist with Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist Specialism. pbanz.org.nz.
19. [19] SWRB: to practise social work in New Zealand you are required to register with the SWRB; title protection and mandatory registration were introduced in February 2021. swrb.govt.nz/registration.
20. [20] HPCA Act 2003 Schedule 2 lists the Psychologists Board (continued from the Psychologists Act 1981) as the appointed authority for the practice of psychology; psychotherapy is not in Schedule 2 (it was designated later by Order in Council under s 115). legislation.govt.nz.
21. [21] HPCA Act 2003 ss 114-116: existing authorities are appointed by Schedule 2; the Governor-General may by Order in Council designate additional health services as a health profession and appoint an authority, subject to the s 116 risk-of-harm test (version as at 6 June 2026). legislation.govt.nz.
22. [22] NZAC Teina | Provisional Membership: four qualification pathways, may use the title 'registered with NZAC', covered by the NZAC complaints process, and required to do CPD. nzac.org.nz.
23. [23] NZAC Tuakana | Full Membership requires at least 18 months as a Provisional Member, at least 300 counselling hours and 30 supervision hours with an NZAC Supervisor; Full Members use MNZAC and are covered by the complaints process. nzac.org.nz/site/membership/categories/member.
24. [24] NZAC: all practising members must have regular professional supervision with a supervisor outside their workplace; supervisors also sign off CPD and the Annual Practicing Certificate. nzac.org.nz.
25. [25] HDC: the Code of Rights applies to all health and disability service providers, paid or unpaid, including providers outside mainstream registered practice (anyone who holds themselves out as providing health services). hdc.org.nz/your-rights/about-the-code.
26. [26] HDC Code of Rights (Regulations 1996): every consumer has rights and every provider is subject to the duties in the Code, including services of an appropriate standard (Right 4) and the right to complain (Right 10). hdc.org.nz.
27. [27] HPCA Act 2003 s 8: practitioners must hold a current practising certificate and practise within their scope; s 9: restricted activities carry a fine not exceeding NZD 30,000 (version as at 6 June 2026). legislation.govt.nz.
28. [28] Code of Ethics for Psychologists Working in Aotearoa/New Zealand (2002; Te Reo/English edition 2012), title page - joint preparation by the New Zealand Psychological Society, New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists and New Zealand Psychologists Board, and formal adoption by the Psychologists Board on 6 December 2002 psychologistsboard.org.nz.
29. [29] Code of Ethics for Psychologists Working in Aotearoa/New Zealand (2002), Preamble - Declaration and Purposes of the Code psychologistsboard.org.nz.
30. [30] Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 No 46 (New Zealand, version as at 26 January 2025), title and long title legislation.govt.nz.
31. [31] Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 No 46 (New Zealand, version as at 26 January 2025), long title - purpose of the Act legislation.govt.nz.