HPCZ abolishes professional licensure exams

The Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) has with immediate effect abolished conducting professional licensure examinations, both theory and practical.

Passing licensure examinations has been a prerequisite for HPCZ to issue Certificates permitting Health practitioners to practice in any facility in Zambia.

In a statement, HPCZ Acting Chief Executive Officer and Registrar Bwembya Bwalya says the abolition means that candidate who were scheduled to sit for the February-March 2019 examination will not be required to do so but can proceed to register as health practitioners.

Mr Bwalya says all fees paid by the candidates for the February-March examination will be channeled to their registration.

He however, states that foreign-trained health practitioners will be required to undergo assessment examination conducted by a training institution in Zambia recognized by HPCZ as per provision of section 10 of the Health Professions Act no. 24 of 2009.

Mr Bwalya says the development does not compromise the HPCZ’s quest to enforce high standards of training, neither should it be perceived as leeway for training institutions to be reluctant in offering quality training to their students, stating that access to skilled healthcare for all, remains a priority for the HPCZ.

He says the Council shall hold individual lecturer and trainers accountable for any failure in the training standards.