How Agency Nurses in New Zealand Can Meet Their CPD Hours
Working as an agency nurse means flexibility, freedom, and variety — but it also means you’re in charge of tracking your own professional development. That includes meeting your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements to maintain your annual practicing certificate.
Whether you’re working in aged care, palliative care, or general health settings, keeping your CPD up-to-date doesn’t have to be difficult — even with a busy agency schedule.
In this guide, we’ll explain what’s required and where you can easily earn CPD hours online or locally, with a focus on aged care nurses in New Zealand.
How Many CPD Hours Do NZ Nurses Need?
According to the Nursing Council of New Zealand, every nurse must complete the following over a 3-year period:
📌 60 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
📌 450 practice hours
That breaks down to approximately 20 hours of CPD per year. You must also be able to show evidence of your learning, including:
Date of activity
Duration (in hours)
Topic covered
Key learning points
How it applies to your nursing practice
This information is required in the event you’re selected for a random audit during your APC renewal.
💡 Note: While our agency supports your professional growth, we do not provide CPD hours directly. However, we’ve made it easy by listing reputable platforms below that offer flexible, accredited training relevant to aged care nurses.
🎓 Where to Earn Your CPD Hours (NZ + AUS Platforms)
These sites offer flexible, affordable — and sometimes free — CPD courses ideal for agency nurses in aged care.
Ausmed - Some free but most are only available with an annual subscription
Best for: Flexible, all-in-one CPD tracking
Wide range of courses: aged care, palliative care, dementia, wound care, etc.
Free and paid options
Comes with a CPD tracking app
Ideal for agency nurses on the go
Altura Learning NZ
Best for: Aged care-specific training
Video-based modules with certificates
Topics include elder care, infection control, medication safety
Often used in residential aged care – check if your facility already provides access
HealthLearn (NZ)
Best for: Free local training options
CPD courses on elder abuse, infection prevention, falls management, and cultural safety
Free for most healthcare workers in NZ
Login may require a health board email
Hospice New Zealand
Best for: Palliative and end-of-life care CPD
Offers free webinars, short courses, and training sessions
Relevant to aged care and community nurses
Includes reflective practice, communication, and bereavement care
NurseCPD (AUS)
Best for: Quick, pay-per-module learning
Bite-sized topics: nutrition in aged care, continence, medication management
Downloadable certificates
Affordable, no subscription needed
Australian College of Nursing (ACN)
Best for: High-level courses and career development
Topics include wound care, dementia, leadership in aged care
Accredited by AHPRA, respected across Australasia
Some courses cost more but offer significant value
NPS MedicineWise
Best for: Medication safety and evidence-based prescribing education
Topics include adverse event reporting, safe prescribing practices, medication reviews
AHPRA and relevant Australian health bodies
Free, flexible learning designed for nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals
ThinkGP
Best for: Free medical learning (with aged care relevance)
Modules on dementia, chronic disease management, pain and wound care
Suitable for nurses in aged or general care
Provides CPD hours and certificates
Other Ways to Gain CPD Hours
Don’t forget — CPD isn’t just formal online courses. You can also gain hours through:
Case study discussions with peers or supervisors
Reflective journaling about new experiences or challenges
In-service training sessions at facilities (request a certificate)
Podcasts, webinars, and seminars from accredited providers
Self-directed reading of clinical guidelines or journal articles
Tracking Your CPD – Keep It Simple
To stay compliant, keep a record of:
The title of the activity
The date and duration
What you learned
How it relates to your practice
🛠️ Use tools like the Ausmed CPD app or create a digital portfolio using Google Drive, Dropbox, or a CPD notebook top keep track of your topics and hours.