Introduction
New Zealand informally called Kiwi is and Island country situated in pacific Ocean near Australia, Fiji and Tonga. It’s capital is Wellington while Auckland is largest city. The country has population of 4.9 million (2015 est.). New Zealand also called “land of long white clouds” is one of the farthest nation where English is official language and country has developed market economy.
New Zealand has advanced health care system which is free for locals while foreigners can get insurance or pay for services. New Zealand has one of the lowest infant mortality rate and highest life expectancy in the world
Ministry of Health statistics of New Zealand.
For general health related information in New Zealand can be found here
mortality and life expectancy in New Zealand
For Health care services in New Zealand
Undergraduate Medical Education
Undergraduate medical education in New Zealand starts after 13 years of compulsory education. New Zealand has 99% literacy rate. Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences of University of Auckland offers 6 year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree program which is also accredited with Australian Medical Council. So graduates can work in Australia. After graduation, doctors should get provisional general scope registration by the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) and they need to complete one year internship. After which they can apply for general scope registration.
New Zealand Medical Student Association is another platform for medical students in the country which help students with different academic and nonacademic activities.
Residency
Medical Council of New Zealand is responsible of New Zealand medical residency for foreigners and local graduates. Special purpose scope of practice registration with the Council must be achieved for residency or postgraduate training by foreigners.
For New Zealand medical residency for foreigners requirement for postgraduate training see here
Licence/Registration
Apart from New Zealand medical residency for foreigners. There is licensing/registration department of Medical Council of New Zealand for local and foreign medical graduates. There are different types of registration for foreign and local medical graduates. Read registration policy to know more about the type of registration and requirements for it.
But most importantly, complete these questions of registration self assessment tool to know about your registration type.
For Specialists who hold additional postgraduate medical qualification they should be registered in vocational scope of practice once they fulfill all requirements they should fulfill these additional requirements
Eligibility
1. For residency training
New Zealand medical residency for foreigners eligibility requirements for postgraduate training
2. NZREX clinical registration examination
You are eligible to apply to sit the NZREX Clinical examination if you:
- hold a Basic medical qualification from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
- Meet English Language Requirement.
- have passed any one of the following exam within last 5 years
(All results of above mentioned exams must be within last 5 year of your NZREX exam date)
- do not have registration within a Special purpose scope of practice (post-graduate training for fixed term for disaster or research) in New Zealand.
For Specialists who hold additional postgraduate medical qualification they should be registered in vocational scope of practice once they fulfill all requirements mentioned there. Also they should fulfill these additional requirements
Procedure
1. Residency process
1st you need to see all eligibility requirements for registration under special purpose scope of practice registration here. Then see these additional requirements for postgraduate training in New Zealand here. After it once u meet all the requirements then submit forms mentioned in Documentation section below to address mentioned there.
New Zealand medical residency for foreigners and local graduates is very comprehensive procedure so you need to have all the required documents before applying.
2. License/Registration process
Basic overview of registration process can be seen here
All foreign medical graduates should answer these questions in Assessment tool which will determine their pathway for registration. There is more information to each and every pathway depending on your answer. If you don’t qualify for any other pathway you will need to sit for Registration exam – NZREX Clinical (see below examination section)
After passing examination you should apply clinical observeship as Internship places are few. For clinical observeship u can contact your District Health Board. Medical Council also issues these Observship guidelines for doctors.
More information about registration process
For Specialists registration they should first read eligiblity requirements (mentioned above) then complete and fullfill documents (mentioned below) in documentation section and should send them to address mentioned there. Read these guidelines for specialists registration for more information.
Examination
NZREX clinical examination has ‘Objective Structured Clinical Examination’ (OSCE) format. It has 16 stations each having equal marks. Exam duration is for 3 hours.
More detailed information about exam pattern.
Sample questions for NZREX-Clinical
And NZREX clinical exam reading list for candidates
Those who graduated from Australia, Ireland or UK their medical degree is usually approved and they don’t need to sit for examination. More details about them can be found here
Fee
Detailed Fee information for examination and registration can be found here
Salary
8000-10000 USD/month for GP
Job
Some of the job portals for New Zealand are Kiwihealthjobs, Seek, Medacs, IMR, Health Career, Auckland jobs etc
Documentation
1. For Residency/postgraduate training
fill Registration Application Form and Postgraduate training checklist and Declaration of Special purpose scope of practice – postgraduate training and submit these forms to below mentioned address.
2. For NXREX Clinical Exam
Complete NZREX Clinical Exam application form attach NZREX Clinical Checklist and documents mentioned in them pay the fee and send it to below mentioned address.
For Specialists fill this Application for registration within a vocational scope of practice form and attach required documents mentioned in this application form and send it to address below.
(for more information refer to these guidelines for specialists registration or and read vocational scope registration policy).
Submit these documents to Medical Council of New Zealand PO Box 10 509, The Terrace, Wellington, 6143, New Zealand Level 6, 80 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand (for packages) Contact: +64 4 384 7635 – 0800 286 801 – registration@mcnz.org.nz
Postgraduate Medical Education
Apart from New Zealand medical residency for foreigners option. There are many postgraduate certificate, diplomas and master programs for doctors offered by Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences of University of Auckland. There are many skill improvement courses by the Advanced Clinical Skills Center.
Links
Ministry of Health New Zealand
Medical Council of New Zealand
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences of University of Auckland
I did MRCOG 1.can i apply for residency in new zealand
Respected Dr. You will be required to register under special purpose scope to do your residency there. Kindly read detail policy and here https://www.mcnz.org.nz/get-registered/registration-policy/special-purpose-scope-policy/
Also for Postgraduate training in New Zealand you must meet all the requirements mentioned here. https://www.mcnz.org.nz/get-registered/registration-policy/special-purpose-scope-policy/post-graduate-training-requirements/ (there you can see application process as well)
Hello,
I’m a student of final year MBBS(Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) here in Pakistan in registered medical institute from country council also from WHO, GMC & International directory of health council, I’m interested in doing my interniship and then practice in New Zealand so please guide me what can I do after completion of my degree to get internship in New Zealand.
Thank you
Sir, I am not sure they accept foreign medical graduates for internship purposes in New Zealand. But you should also go through medical council website https://www.mcnz.org.nz/ and contact them for more detailed information
Also dont forget to check assessment tool before contacting them https://www.mcnz.org.nz/get-registered/registration-self-assessment-tool/
I want full details
Kindly visit Medical council website for full details
https://www.mcnz.org.nz/
Hi I am 43 years old and have a post graduate degree in Prosthodontics from India.I am currently working for Ministry of health Saudi Arabia. Am I eligible to apply for New Zealand. Thanks
Sir, you should check this vocational scope policy for registration as specialist. https://www.mcnz.org.nz/get-registered/registration-policy/vocational-scope-policy/
also read these guidelines for more information and application procedure
http://www.residencydatabase.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/VOC3B.compressed.pdf
I am a MBBS student from Nepal and have 1 year of job experience with IELTS score of 7…..Can I apply for Residency in Newzeland or do I need moere requirement? Is there a schoralship program?
Dear Dr. You will be required to register under special purpose scope to do your residency there. Kindly read detail policy and here https://www.mcnz.org.nz/get-registered/registration-policy/special-purpose-scope-policy/
Also for Postgraduate training in New Zealand you must meet all the requirements mentioned here. https://www.mcnz.org.nz/get-registered/registration-policy/special-purpose-scope-policy/post-graduate-training-requirements/ (there you can see application process as well)
I m interested to apply for the paediatrics training program.
I have ielts score 7 and have cleared Plab exam
Currently working on Madina Maternity and Children Hospital KSA as a Neonatology Resident.
Looking forward to hear from you soon.
Kind regards
Dr A Thebo
Dear Dr. You will be required to register under special purpose scope to do your residency there. Kindly read detail policy and here https://www.mcnz.org.nz/get-registered/registration-policy/special-purpose-scope-policy/
Also for Postgraduate training in New Zealand you must meet all the requirements mentioned here. https://www.mcnz.org.nz/get-registered/registration-policy/special-purpose-scope-policy/post-graduate-training-requirements/ (there you can see application process as well)
hello.. i have completed my mbbs and m.d in anesthesia from india.. i am currently doing d.m cardiac anesthesia in india… i wanted to apply for new zealand australia , canada, or euro countries.. can you help me.. what are the steps required…?
All steps are already mentioned under procedure heading in the posts for both license/registration with their medical councils and medical residency training/pg training in those countries.
Is it possible for a fresh graduate to take the NZREX test and then become a resident?
yes
I did MBBS from Pakistan and MRCP UK?Am I exempt from NZREX?
yes you are
Hi! Thank you for all those information and website links !
Do you know if it’s possible to take a gap year (or 2) during the residency ?
well yeah some countries allow it
I completed my m.b.b.s from Andhra Pradesh (india) .want to do postgraduation in newzeland.Pls let me know the options for doing pg in newzeland
partial residency is just for some years , no , there is no ful residency for non EU students
partial residency is just for some years , no , there is no full residency for non EU students
I am Dr Zakir working in trauma centre dubai. I am 38 years old, I want to go new zealand for job on trauma and orthopaedic.
I did mbbs in 2002 and FCPS Ortho 2011.
Can any one guide me way to proceed and what are options.
Dr zakir
please go through these two links
https://www.mcnz.org.nz/get-registered/registration-policy/vocational-scope-policy/
https://www.mcnz.org.nz/get-registered/registration-policy/vocational-scope-policy/overseas-trained-doctors/
Hello, I am a Peruvian Physician, I graduated from medical school last year, and I would like to know if there is possible for me to do electives or rotations in a hospital in New Zealand in order to get to know the system. I am interested in pursuing postgradute education and residency there. I wonder if you could tell me whether this is possible or if I have to consider other ways to get to know the system.
Kind regards
Sir,
You can always go there and start working as volunteer or do observership there for gaining experience and getting some knowledge. You will not be allowed to treat patients until unless you have valid license. But you can work as volunteer there for your own personal experience
Hi I am practising in Ophthalmology from Malaysia, and keen to work in NZ as resident in Ophthalmology then further specialization in this field.
having MD and sitting for FRCOphthalmology (London) part 1.
May i know the pathway to it and how to apply?
Secondly, am I exempted from NZREX exam once I passed FRCOphthalmology part 1?
Thank you.