Prescribed paramedic qualifications - 2026
Whakamārama | Background
Te Kaunihera Manapou | Paramedic Council (Te Kaunihera) is a responsible authority, which regulates paramedics in Aotearoa New Zealand. We do this under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act)
The HPCA Act requires Te Kaunihera to define paramedics’ areas of mahi | work (known as “scopes of practice”). Every paramedic is assigned a scope of practice. Specialist paramedic practice endorsements (known as “endorsements”) were introduced in Hune | June 2025 and recognise paramedics with additional qualifications working within an expanded area of paramedic practice. Currently, there are three specialist paramedic practise endorsements:
The HPCA Act requires Te Kaunihera to define paramedics’ areas of mahi | work (known as “scopes of practice”). Every paramedic is assigned a scope of practice. Specialist paramedic practice endorsements (known as “endorsements”) were introduced in Hune | June 2025 and recognise paramedics with additional qualifications working within an expanded area of paramedic practice. Currently, there are three specialist paramedic practise endorsements:
- Critical care paramedics (also known as CCPs)
- Extended care paramedics (also known as ECPs)
- Intensive care paramedics (also known as ICPs)
Only paramedics who hold the relevant specialist endorsement can use these specialist titles.
We are seeking your input into Te Kaunihera's proposal to recognise the new Postgraduate Diploma in Specialty Care (Paramedicine) from Whitireia as a new qualification and pathway for paramedics in Aotearoa New Zealand for gaining a specialist paramedic practise endorsement in extended care paramedicine.
We encourage paramedics, employers, educators, ākonga | students and other stakeholders to share their insights to help Te Kaunihera make informed decisions. Your feedback is vital, and we welcome your thoughts.
Where can you find more information?
The Kōrerorero tahi | Consultation can be found on our website here.
Feedback and submissions
Te Kaunihera is committed to collaboration and engagement and welcomes responses to this consultation from the public, paramedics, ākonga | students, employers, educators, and interested parties.
The consultation period will close on Rāpere, te 9 o Hūrae 2026 | Friday, 9 July 2026.
At the close of the consultation period, Te Kaunihera will carefully review all feedback using the information received to make informed decisions. Decisions will be shared via a consultation response document.
The Kōrerorero tahi | Consultation can be found on our website here.
Feedback and submissions
Te Kaunihera is committed to collaboration and engagement and welcomes responses to this consultation from the public, paramedics, ākonga | students, employers, educators, and interested parties.
The consultation period will close on Rāpere, te 9 o Hūrae 2026 | Friday, 9 July 2026.
At the close of the consultation period, Te Kaunihera will carefully review all feedback using the information received to make informed decisions. Decisions will be shared via a consultation response document.