Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Practice in Health (Specialty)

• You must hold a bachelor's degree OR qualifications accepted by the appropriate professional registration board.
• International students will be individually assessed to ensure you meet the entry requirements. 
• If English is not your first language, you must provide:
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 6.5 with no individual band score lower than 6.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), 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.

You must supply certified copies of proof of identity, academic records, proof of residency (where appropriate) and curriculum vitae.

If you want to apply for this programme, we’ll need to see evidence of your Covid-19 vaccinations (including types and dates). You need to have had three doses. We’re legally obliged to collect this additional information from you as this programme is covered by the Covid-19 Public Health Response (Vaccination) Order 2021. 

Please just complete our online application process as normal. As part of the application process, you’ll be asked to provide your vaccination record. 

The Government have advised that the only proof of vaccination that we can accept is a vaccination record PDF from your My Covid Record. 

Find out how to get your vaccination record here >

You will work with the Postgraduate Coordinator to tailor an individual study pathway that is right for you. You will undertake existing courses from the School of Occupational Therapy postgraduate programme to complement your current knowledge and experience.

To gain the Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Practice in Health (Specialty), you must achieve 60 credits at Level 8. You will therefore complete two 30 credit courses from the following postgraduate courses: 

For the full-time programme, it is advisable to allow 18 - 19 hours per week, per course. As the full-time qualification involves two courses, you would be expected to spend approximately 30-36 hours per week studying.  

Jackie Herkt - Academic Leader/Acting Postgraduate Programme Lead (Jackie.herkt@op.ac.nz)

Helen Jeffery- Senior Lecturer (Helen.jeffery@op.ac.nz)

Debbie Davie - Administrator, Postgraduate Programmes (Debbie.davie@op.ac.nz)

Sian Griffiths - Principal Lecturer/Honours Coordinator (Sian.griffiths@op.ac.nz)

Dr Rita Robinson - Principal Lecturer (Rita.robinson@op.ac.nz)

Dr Ema Tokolahi - Lecturer (Ema.Tokolahi@op.ac.nz)

For more details, please visit our staff page. 

Student loans and allowances are for domestic students only. For information about student loans and allowances please visit the Studylink website. It is important to apply for your student loan/allowance at the same time as you apply for this programme, due to the length of time Studylink take to process. Loan/allowance applications can be cancelled at any time if you decide to withdraw your programme application or if it is unsuccessful. 

If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, enquire about our recognition of prior learning process at Capable NZ. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification.

Looking for a job as an occupational therapist? Check out New Zealand Careers or Health Careers. 

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