In order to practice in New Zealand, you need to be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand. Depending on your level of qualification, and what country this was obtained in, there are a number of different registration pathways to choose from:
Provisional general scope (competent authority)
This pathway is for doctors who have completed a primary medical degree and internship in the UK or Ireland. These doctors can apply for provisional general registration and work in any area of medicine and at any level, provided they have appropriate supervision. After 6 months of successfully working under supervision, they can apply for a general scope of practice.
Provisional general scope (comparable health system)
This is an experience-based pathway for doctors who have recent practice in one or more of the 24 countries the Medical Council of New Zealand recognises as having health systems comparable to New Zealand. These doctors need to have worked for at least 33 of the last 48 months in a comparable health system in a particular area of medicine. They must have a job offer in New Zealand in that same area of medicine and at the same level of appointment. Once granted provisional registration, these doctors must work under supervision for 12 months before they can apply for a full general scope of practice.
Provisional general (Australian general registrants)
This pathway is for IMGs in Australia who have passed a specific written exam and clinical exam – these exams are administered by the Australian Medical Council, successfully completed 12 months of supervised practice in Australia and hold a general scope with AHPRA. Once granted provisional general registration, these doctors must work under supervision for 12 months, before they can apply for a general scope of practice.
General scope
This pathway is for doctors who have completed a primary medical degree and internship in Australia (or New Zealand). If they’ve completed their 2-year internship, they do not need to work under supervision.
Special purpose scope (locum tenens)
This is a temporary form of registration that allows doctors who hold an approved overseas postgraduate medical qualification in general practice to work for up to 12 months in New Zealand. For general practice, our approved list of qualifications recognises postgraduate medical qualifications from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, the UK and the USA.
Applications submitted via the provisional general, general or special purpose scope pathways are processed within 20 working days of receipt of a complete application.
Provisional vocational scope
Doctors who have an overseas postgraduate medical qualification in general practice and who wish to be recognised as specialists in New Zealand can apply for assessment of eligibility for provisional vocational registration. Applications via this pathway generally take 4 to 6 months to process and 90% of applications received are processed within this service standard.
This application type takes longer to process as it involves an assessment of the applicant's training, qualifications and experience against the standard of a New Zealand vocationally-trained general practitioner holding FRNZCGP, which is undertaken by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.
