Overseas Trained
Gaining Registration with the Dietitians Board in New Zealand requires an assessment of your dietetic qualifications and Board Examinations be sat. You must clear each stage successfully to progress to the next.
Overseas trained dietitians who wish to apply for an assessment of their qualifications must:
- have completed undergraduate and/or postgraduate nutrition and dietetic training of at least four years.
- hold current registration/credential or can demonstrate eligibility for registration/credential as a dietitian with the dietetic credentialing body in the country of tertiary education or practice.
- have practiced as a dietitian within the last 3 years in the country where the practitioner holds registration/credential, or have completed their qualification within the past 2 years.
- meet the Dietitians Board’s English Language Requirements for practice as a dietitian in New Zealand.
There are TWO steps to achieve registration eligibility:
- Recognition of Qualifications Assessment
- Board Examinations
- Written examination
- Oral examination
STEP ONE – Recognition of Dietetic Qualifications
- Click the "Apply for Recognition of Overseas Qualification" button at the top of this page to create a portal login, complete the Recognition of Dietetic Qualifications application, and pay the application fee of NZD $1,710.
- Please do not submit your application until you have all required documents. Only completed submissions with all required documents will be processed.
- Ensure ALL your documentation is CORRECTLY certified (by a Justice of the Peace or Solicitor).
NB: The Recognition of Qualifications assessment process can take up to 6-8 weeks depending on the documentation provided.
What MUST be provided?
The application requires you to provide the documents listed below. For more details about the required supporting documentation see the Recognition of Qualifications checklist. Note that we no longer require a visa.
- Birth certificate or current passport (certified copy)
- Marriage or other certificate demonstrating change of name (certified copy)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Current dietetic registration license/credential/certificate (certified copy)
- Current Certificate of Good Standing from dietetic credentialing body* - note this needs to be emailed to us directly at [email protected] from the issuer
- Professional reference from current/last employer - emailed directly to us from the referee to [email protected]
- Two references from registered/credentialed dietitians - emailed directly to us from the referee to [email protected]
- Academic transcripts (certified copy)
- Academic syllabi (certified copy)
- Certificate/s of dietetic qualifications (certified copy)
- Placement/internship information (certified copy)
- Criminal record checks (certified copies)
- English Language test results (if applicable - please see the English Language Requirements policy)
- MauriOra Cultural Competency course - Certificate of completion
* In countries with no credentialing body, please provide documentation from a professional dietetic association or an institution where the candidate last worked or trained as a dietitian for at least a year.
Please ensure your documentation is complete and accurately certified and your referees also submit their references promptly. This will enable you to meet the appropriate application deadline and ensure your assessment can be completed in time for you to apply to sit the next MCQ.
If your qualifications are successfully recognised and you are deemed eligible, you will be invited to apply for the first Board Examination.
STEP TWO – Board Examinations
The Board Examinations consist of two stages; you must pass the written exam to be eligible to sit the oral exam. Once you have sat and passed both then you will be eligible to apply for registration.
See Board Registration Examination for further information about the exams.
Timing your Application
You need to time your application carefully as the written examination is only held twice a year, generally in March and September.
To be considered for the March written exam, the application form and supporting documents are due November 1st of the previous year.
To be considered for the September written exam, the application form and supporting documents are due May 1st of the same year.
The written exam is held in March and September.
The OSCE is held in May and November.
Please contact us if you require any further information at [email protected].
The Dietitians Board is required by law to ensure that all candidates for registration are fit in accordance with sections 15 and 16 of the HPCA Act 2003.
The Act requires the Board to assess:
- prescribed qualifications or their equivalents,
- competence to practice as a dietitian,
- ability to communicate effectively for the purposes of practicing as a dietitian,
- proficiency in the English language,
- absence of qualifying criminal convictions for the purposes of section 16(c),
- physical and mental fitness to practice,
- professional disciplinary proceedings or investigations which may be the subject of such proceedings, and
- likelihood of the applicant endangering the health or safety of the New Zealand public.