To practice as a nurse practitioner in South Africa, you must register and maintain registration with the South African Nursing Council. Therefore if you’re looking for a job or want a promotion, knowing whether or not your SANC registration is active is essential. But if you haven’t checked your registration and are unsure whether your registration is still valid, this guide on your SANC registration will help you determine if your registration with the SANC is active.
How Do I Check if I Am Registered With SANC?
If you’ve been registered with the SANC before but either stopped working for several years or moved abroad, as many registered nurses find themselves doing, you may realize that when you re-enter the South African medical field, you aren’t getting the jobs that you’re applying to.
This is because your registration has lapsed; as a result, you are not allowed to work in South Africa. If you think this may be the case, you can check to ascertain your registration by visiting the South African Nursing Council’s eRegister platform and following the steps outlined below.
Step One: Visit the SANC eRegister Platform.
To determine if you’re still registered with the South African Nursing Council, you’ll need to visit the Electronic Register of Nurses and Midwives at: www.sanc.co.za/eRegister.aspx.
Step Two: Read the Conditions of Use
Once on the eRegister platform, read through the Conditions of Use because you must agree to the terms before being allowed on the website.
Only Shows Active Registrations
The purpose of the South African Nursing Council’s eRegister is to serve as a copy of the SANC’s own register, available to the general public. This means that the portal only displays active registrations to allow ordinary users to determine if a midwife or nurse that is practising is registered.
Updated Periodically
The information on the SANC eRegister may not be the most up-to-date, as they only have to update it periodically. You can check when the online register was updated, as it appears in bold red letters on the header.
Step Three: Enter Your ID or SANC Number
To check if you’re still registered with the South African Nursing Council, you’ll need to enter your ID or SANC number and click “find.” The SANC will scan the electronic register to determine if you’re registered. If your name does not appear on the register, that means you have been deregistered and will need to request restoration if you haven’t
Why Am I Not Registered With the SANC?
The South African Nursing Council can deregister a nurse or midwife for several reasons, including:
Request to Be Deregistered
If you have requested that the SANC deregister you; for example, because you have moved abroad, entered another field, or have retired, you will be deregistered.
Failure to Pay the Annual Fee
The penalty for not paying the SANC annual licensing fee is your removal from the register and your registration becoming inactive.
Failure to Update Physical Address
Part of the requirements for remaining on the register is to keep your particulars updated, especially your physical address. Failure to do this will result in deregistration.
Expiration of Limited Registration
In instances where the Council has issued a limited registration when that registration expires, you will be removed from the SANC register.
Informed of Death
This reason may seem strange, but the Council has been incorrectly informed of someone’s death in the past, resulting in their name being removed from the register.
If you find that your name is no longer on the register, it is possible to have it restored by completing a restoration request.
How Do I Apply to Have My Registration Restored with the South African Nursing Council?
How you apply to be restored will depend on why you were removed from the register. If it happened in error, for example, you were removed because the Council was incorrectly informed of your passing, you can get your registration restored without much hassle. However, if it was an administrative or penalty removal, you must complete an intricate process and pay a fee to get restored to the SANC register.
What to Do If I Have Been Removed from the SANC by Mistake?
If you believe your name has been mistakenly removed from the register, you can email the Council at restorations@sanc.co.za with a detailed description of the error. You won’t have to pay any restoration fees, but you will have to pay outstanding licensing fees.
Note: Not knowing when to pay the annual licensing fee, not being reminded to pay the fee, and not knowing how much to pay are not valid mistakes. Therefore if these are your reasons for needing restoration, you will have to complete the normal restoration process.
How Do I Apply to Have my Registration Restored by the SANC?
If you have not been deregistered because of a mistake by the South African Nursing Council, you will need to follow the step-by-step guide detailed below:
Step 1: Complete the Application for Restoration
To begin the process, download the South African National Council Application for Restoration form. You can find it here.
Fill it in using a blue or black ballpoint pen.
Step 2: Pay the Outstanding Fees
You will need to pay the restoration and annual licensing fee for the year you want to be restored. The fees can be found on the restoration form, as there are different fees for registered nurses, midwives, and nursing auxiliaries.
There are also discounts for those over 60 years old.
Note: You will find the banking details and reference number information on the restoration form.
Once you’ve paid the fee, you can email a copy of your deposit slip or proof of EFT to restorations@sanc.co.za or fax this information to 012 420 1084 or 012 343 5400.
Step 3: Send Your Restoration Form
You will also be required to send your registration form to the following address:
The Registrar
South African Nursing Council
Private Bag X132
PRETORIA
0001
If you want to practice as a nurse or midwife in South Africa, it is important to maintain your SANC registration. This means paying your annual fees, maintaining your details – including your correct physical address – and ensuring you don’t act outside the code of conduct.
Remember, if your registration lapses, you will be practising illegally, and your employer won’t be able to maintain your employment, nor will you be able to apply to other jobs.