This page outlines the national standards and training available for the use of Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives.
Any staff claiming under the LARCs programme for the insertion or removal of a long acting contraceptive device need to be suitably trained.
Practitioners should comply with the Ministry of Health Guidance on Contraception.
Practitioners must comply with the Long-acting Reversible Contraception Health practitioner training principles and standards 2022.
These LARC practitioner training standards were created and endorsed by the major medical and nursing colleges active in contraceptive care.
At a minimum, practitioners delivering LARCs services to patients should undertake the free online Contraceptive Counselling and LARC courses endorsed by RNZCGP and worth up to 3 CPD points.
Where not already completed, these online courses should be completed by LARCs providers in the 2025/2026 year:
Contraceptive Counselling 2025
and as relevant
Intrauterine Contraceptive (IUC) theory 2024
and/or
Contraceptive Implant Theory 2025.
Clinicians providing LARCs services since 2020 should complete their fast track or full LARC practical training as appropriate in the 2025/26 year.
Others should complete by June 2027.
Through Te Whanake, GPs are required to set annual CPD learning goals including a minimum of 12 credits in Cultural Safety and Equity.
This training is encouraged to ensure staff are familiar with how to offer contraceptive choice consultations that are culturally safe and promote reproductive autonomy.
Annually, thousands of youth in communities across the Waikato region struggle to access health care services, restricted by barriers such as cost, lack of transport and fear of talking to a health care professional.
Read moreDue to a staff vacancy, less Sexual Health Clinic appointments are currently available. Referrals from general practice are still welcomed, but please be aware patients requiring biopsy may need to be waitlisted for service. Alternatively they could be referred to other services such as dermatology, gynaecology or urology. View the updated opening hours here.
This programme provides funding for contraceptive consultation including administration of Depo Provera, and the insertion of contraceptive implants and IUDs to target populations. Vasectomies for priority men are funded under this programme.
View detailsThe following links provide further LARCs related information.