Registration Processes
To achieve Hospital Play Specialist Registration (NZHPSReg) an individual must meet the requirements outlined in the Hospital Play Specialist Registration Council (HPSRC) Registration Handbook.
Categories of Registration:
There are three categories of Registration:
Eligibility
Requirements have been established by the Hospital Play Specialist Registration Council (HPSRC) and approved by the Hospital Play Specialist Association of Aotearoa/New Zealand. These requirements are reviewed on an ongoing basis and revised as necessary. The current eligibility requirements, and the requirements for Registration and renewal of Registration are provided within the HPSRC Hospital Play Specialist Registration Handbook
Members of the Hospital Play Specialist Association will be advised of any changes well in advance of their implementation.
Qualification requirement
Individuals seeking Registration as a Hospital Play Specialist (HPS) must hold a minimum Level 7 qualification or above on the NZQA framework. This will most commonly be a Bachelor of Education or equivalent as approved by the NZQA.
Other qualifications at level 7 will be considered on application, but such applicants must provide evidence demonstrating that their qualification has a relevant core focus such as education, play, and child and adolescent development.
Where an applicant's base level 7 qualification does not have a relevant core focus, they may apply for special consideration based on documentation of relevant additional completed qualifications. e.g. a Bachelor degree in Social Work, together with a NZ Playcentres Federation Diploma in Early Childhood and Adult Education (NZQA accredited Level 6).
Employment requirement
Individuals seeking Registration must have completed 3000 employment hours within a hospital play specialist role in the five years prior to application.
Referee Reports
Registration processes includes a confidential Referee Reports which has two sections.
Section A must be completed by a fully Registered HPS who can attest to the applicant’s competency, having known and observed the applicant’s practice for at least six months.
For Renewal of Registration where a Registered HPS is working in professional isolation there is special consideration (see Registration Handbook section 2.5). Note.This consideration does not apply within an initial Registration application.
Section B is an endorsement of Section A. It must be signed by the applicant’s professional leader who is familiar with the applicant’s good character and professional practice. Further information is within Appendix F of the HPS Registration Handbook.
Maintaining Registration
Renewal of Registration is required every three years, except in special circumstances where renewal may be deferred.(See Section 3.0) in the Registration Handbook.
Renewal of Registration under section 2.0 of the Registration Handbook is a process of peer review and continuing professional growth and development. Further information on the specific requirements are in the HPSRC Registration Handbook.
Registered Hospital Play Specialists ( Full and STC) must maintain membership of the Hospital Play Specialist Association throughout each of the years of Registration. If they do not, applications for Renewal of Registration under section 2.0 and section 4.0 of the Registration Handbook will not be accepted. Renewal of Registration will then be required under section 1.0 which is the clinical practice portfolio process.
Application for Registration
All applications must be made on the appropriate HPSRC forms (see Official documents below). The HPSRC now also provide cover sheets to assist HPS gain verification when making professional practice observations.
Progressing your Registration applications
A variety of Registration resources are being developed to assist developing HPS and those supporting their learning. A variety of resources have been developed and are available on the Registration Resources page.
Application closing dates
The Registration Council meets three times a year to assess Registration applications.
Application closing dates are
5th March; 5th July; 5th November.
All applications for Registrations must now be sent email as PDF documents with the name of the individual and the category of Registration placed in the subject line.
Further information on submitting Registration applications digitally and registration requirements are in the HPSRC Registration Handbook.
The Hospital Play Specialist Registration Council will audit 20% of applications annually to ensure accountability within all Registration processes.
To achieve Hospital Play Specialist Registration (NZHPSReg) an individual must meet the requirements outlined in the Hospital Play Specialist Registration Council (HPSRC) Registration Handbook.
Categories of Registration:
There are three categories of Registration:
- Full -Hospital Play Specialists with Full Registration may put NZHPSReg after their name
- Subject to Confirmation (STC) for those who have held Full Registration and wish to maintain Registration but are unable to meet the requirements for Full Registration. Hospital Play Specialists Registered STC may put NZHPSReg (STC) after their name.
- Lapsed: Hospital Play Specialists who do not renew their Registration as required by the HPSRC will be considered to have lapsed and will be recorded as such on the HPSRC register. They may not put NZHPSReg after their name
Eligibility
Requirements have been established by the Hospital Play Specialist Registration Council (HPSRC) and approved by the Hospital Play Specialist Association of Aotearoa/New Zealand. These requirements are reviewed on an ongoing basis and revised as necessary. The current eligibility requirements, and the requirements for Registration and renewal of Registration are provided within the HPSRC Hospital Play Specialist Registration Handbook
Members of the Hospital Play Specialist Association will be advised of any changes well in advance of their implementation.
Qualification requirement
Individuals seeking Registration as a Hospital Play Specialist (HPS) must hold a minimum Level 7 qualification or above on the NZQA framework. This will most commonly be a Bachelor of Education or equivalent as approved by the NZQA.
Other qualifications at level 7 will be considered on application, but such applicants must provide evidence demonstrating that their qualification has a relevant core focus such as education, play, and child and adolescent development.
Where an applicant's base level 7 qualification does not have a relevant core focus, they may apply for special consideration based on documentation of relevant additional completed qualifications. e.g. a Bachelor degree in Social Work, together with a NZ Playcentres Federation Diploma in Early Childhood and Adult Education (NZQA accredited Level 6).
Employment requirement
Individuals seeking Registration must have completed 3000 employment hours within a hospital play specialist role in the five years prior to application.
Referee Reports
Registration processes includes a confidential Referee Reports which has two sections.
Section A must be completed by a fully Registered HPS who can attest to the applicant’s competency, having known and observed the applicant’s practice for at least six months.
For Renewal of Registration where a Registered HPS is working in professional isolation there is special consideration (see Registration Handbook section 2.5). Note.This consideration does not apply within an initial Registration application.
Section B is an endorsement of Section A. It must be signed by the applicant’s professional leader who is familiar with the applicant’s good character and professional practice. Further information is within Appendix F of the HPS Registration Handbook.
Maintaining Registration
Renewal of Registration is required every three years, except in special circumstances where renewal may be deferred.(See Section 3.0) in the Registration Handbook.
Renewal of Registration under section 2.0 of the Registration Handbook is a process of peer review and continuing professional growth and development. Further information on the specific requirements are in the HPSRC Registration Handbook.
Registered Hospital Play Specialists ( Full and STC) must maintain membership of the Hospital Play Specialist Association throughout each of the years of Registration. If they do not, applications for Renewal of Registration under section 2.0 and section 4.0 of the Registration Handbook will not be accepted. Renewal of Registration will then be required under section 1.0 which is the clinical practice portfolio process.
Application for Registration
All applications must be made on the appropriate HPSRC forms (see Official documents below). The HPSRC now also provide cover sheets to assist HPS gain verification when making professional practice observations.
Progressing your Registration applications
A variety of Registration resources are being developed to assist developing HPS and those supporting their learning. A variety of resources have been developed and are available on the Registration Resources page.
Application closing dates
The Registration Council meets three times a year to assess Registration applications.
Application closing dates are
5th March; 5th July; 5th November.
All applications for Registrations must now be sent email as PDF documents with the name of the individual and the category of Registration placed in the subject line.
Further information on submitting Registration applications digitally and registration requirements are in the HPSRC Registration Handbook.
The Hospital Play Specialist Registration Council will audit 20% of applications annually to ensure accountability within all Registration processes.
Registration Official Documents
| HPSRC Registration Handbook |
| Registration Referee Reports Form |
| Record of Professional Development Form |
| Initial Registration Application Form |
| Renewal of Registration Form |
| Renewal of Registration - Subject to Confirmation STC Form |
| Coversheet -Procedural Accompaniment Observation |
| Coversheet Professional Practice Observation |
