Physiotherapists

The salary, leave and benefits of physiotherapists practising in New Zealand are covered by either the APEX or PSA collective agreement.

Individual districts may have variations or additional provisions under their collective agreements. The information below outlines the general provisions that apply across most agreements.

APEX Physiotherapists Collective Agreement

Salary

• 10-step progression scale; Steps 1–7 increase automatically each year.
• Salary range: NZD $77,078–$116,390.
• Designated Physiotherapists have a 10-step scale: NZD $111,240–$151,410.
• Overtime and penal rates apply.

Allowances

• Higher duties and night shift allowances.

Leave

• Annual leave: 4 weeks, increasing to 5 weeks after 5 years of service.
• Shift work: Up to 5 additional days after 12 months on a shift roster.
• Sick leave: Minimum 10 days per year plus up to 10 discretionary days.
• Parental leave: 6–12 months depending on length of service; up to 14 weeks paid.
• Public holidays: 12 paid days plus time in lieu or an alternative holiday if rostered on.

Additional benefits

• Reimbursement of professional registration costs and annual practising certificates.
• Professional indemnity insurance is covered by Health NZ.
• Minimum of 5 days CPD leave per year.
• If eligible, a minimum 3% employer superannuation contribution.

PSA Allied Health, Scientific and Technical Collective Agreement

Salary

• 10-step progression scale; Steps 1–7 increase automatically each year.
• Salary range: NZD $77,078–$116,390.
• Designated Physiotherapists have a 10-step scale: NZD $111,240–$151,410.
• Overtime and penal rates apply.

Allowances

• Higher duties and night shift allowances.

Leave

• Annual leave: 4 weeks, increasing to 5 weeks after 5 years of service.
• Shift work: Up to 5 additional days after 12 months on qualifying shifts.
• On-call leave: Up to 3 additional days per year for required on-call duties.
• Sick and domestic leave: 10 days per year plus up to 10 discretionary days; can accumulate up to 260 days.
• Parental leave: 6–12 months depending on length of service; up to 14 weeks paid. Applies to birth, adoption and Whāngai arrangements.
• Public holidays: Paid leave or an alternative holiday if rostered to work.

Additional benefits

• Reimbursement of professional registration costs and annual practising certificates.
• Professional indemnity insurance is covered by Health NZ.
• If eligible, a minimum 3% employer superannuation contribution.

Employment agreements — Health New Zealandexternal link

Governance and professional standards

• Work within the scope of practice defined by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand,
• maintain competence in line with the Board’s standards and recertification requirements,
• comply with supervision requirements, particularly for new graduates and return-to-practice clinicians,
• hold an approved qualification and a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC).

Cultural competency and community engagement

• Understand and apply Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in clinical practice,
• engage respectfully with Māori, Pacific peoples and other local communities to support equitable health outcomes,
• support culturally safe care through reflective practice and ongoing learning.

Assessment and rehabilitation planning

• Conduct functional, neurological and musculoskeletal assessments,
• develop, implement and review individualised treatment and rehabilitation plans,
• collaborate with patients and whānau to set achievable therapy goals.

Therapeutic intervention and education

• Deliver evidence-based physiotherapy interventions to improve mobility, strength and function,
• provide education on injury prevention, self-management and assistive equipment use,
• prescribe exercises and activities tailored to individual needs and goals.

Monitoring and outcomes tracking

• Monitor progress against treatment goals using clinical outcome measures,
• adapt interventions based on response, recovery and feedback,
• contribute to discharge planning and recommendations for ongoing care or community support.

Interdisciplinary collaboration

• Work as part of multidisciplinary teams across hospital, outpatient and community settings,
• liaise with medical, nursing and allied health professionals to support integrated care,
• contribute to team meetings, case discussions and discharge planning.

Emergency and acute care support

• Respond to referrals for acute physiotherapy input such as respiratory care and mobility assessments,
• support early mobilisation and fall prevention strategies in hospital settings,
• contribute to safe transfer and discharge decisions.

Documentation and professional conduct

• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records in line with organisational policies,
• respect patient confidentiality and comply with data privacy legislation,
• communicate clearly and professionally with patients, whānau and team members.

Teaching, leadership and quality improvement

• Supervise students and junior physiotherapists in clinical settings,
• participate in peer review, in-service education and continuing professional development,
• contribute to audits, research, risk management and service improvement activities.

Expanded scope and advanced practice

• Develop advanced clinical skills in areas such as cardiorespiratory, neurology or pain management,
• explore extended scope roles such as prescribing, advanced assessment and vocational rehabilitation,
• undertake postgraduate training and credentialling for advanced practice positions.

Physiotherapist qualification

You must hold an approved qualification in physiotherapy. Common pathways include:

• A Bachelor of Physiotherapy or Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) from a New Zealand institution, such as University of Otago, Auckland University of Technology or Wintec, or
• an internationally recognised physiotherapy qualification assessed as equivalent by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand.

Registration with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand

All physiotherapists must be registered with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand to practise legally.

Applicants must submit evidence of qualifications, identification and fitness to practise. International applicants may be required to complete an assessment process, including supervised practice.

Annual Practising Certificate (APC)

To practise as a physiotherapist in New Zealand, you must hold a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC), renewed annually.

To maintain your APC, you must:

• Demonstrate ongoing competence,
• participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Useful links

Physiotherapy Board of New Zealandexternal link

Physiotherapy New Zealandexternal link

Internationally qualified candidates

Internationally qualified physiotherapists include practitioners who hold recognised physiotherapy qualifications from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and South Africa, and:

• Have at least 2 years (approximately 3,680 hours) of relevant post-qualification clinical experience,
• are registered and in good standing with their home country’s regulatory authority, for example, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in the UK.

Applicants with less than 2 years’ experience can still apply and will be individually assessed by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand. This assessment may include a period of supervised practice or additional evaluations.

Qualifications from other countries are assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine if they meet New Zealand registration requirements. The Physiotherapy Board uses a standard set of criteria for this assessment. Learn more about how to register.

Physiotherapists with different or overlapping scopes of practice may be eligible to work within the boundaries of their approved scope as defined by the Board.

Find out more about life in New Zealand

We have pages dedicated to providing candidates with information about the recruitment process, requirements to work in New Zealand, and key details about relocating.

Our recruitment process

Information for international candidates