New Zealand is a country with good living conditions and plenty of job opportunities. The country’s healthcare industry keeps growing with a demand for medical jobs including doctors, nurses, allied healthcare professionals, and healthcare executives.

If you are a doctor in New Zealand, or an International Medical Graduate (IMG) who wants to practice in the country, there are a few things that you need to fulfil to be able to do this.

Registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ)

Every doctor including IMGs needs to register with the MCNZ to be able to practice in New Zealand. The registration procedure requires you to show that you are qualified, competent and fit to practice in the country.

Each year, the MCNZ sees about 1500 new doctor registrations whereas there are more than 17,000 doctors already registered and practising in New Zealand. Over 40 percent of doctors are from overseas, coming from above 100 countries altogether.

Step 1: Determine your Registration Pathway through the Registration Self-Assessment Tool

First, you need to determine your eligibility and pathway as a doctor in New Zealand. The registration self-assessment tool is available on the MCNZ website to check on it.

The tool assesses your eligibility and pathway by asking a few questions to which you have to give the correct answer. The questions are based on whether you studied in New Zealand or not. If you have studied overseas the tool filters questions based on whether you studied in Australia, the UK, or any other country.

It also asks if you have worked in New Zealand before and also if you intend to work short-term or long-term.

Step 2: Submit the Required Forms

Next, you need to submit relevant completed forms and proof of any necessary documents. These include a certificate of medical qualification and verified internship completion. The process requires you to log in to the EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials) system, which is the primary source verification documents procedure that you need to follow according to the MCNZ guidelines.

Step 3: Interview with the MCNZ  

If you submitted your application successfully, the MCNZ will verify all of your documents. If all is good, then the MCNZ will send you an “eligibility for registration” letter within two weeks from the application submission date.

Next, you will be called for an interview and once you successfully pass this hurdle, you will be issued a practising certificate after paying a practising certificate fee.

Registration Pathways

There are three types of registration scopes for practising in New Zealand.

General Scope

Medical practitioners including resident medical officers, resident doctors, and doctors seeking vocational training fall under the general scope.

Vocational Scope

Vocational scope includes permanent and specialist registrations for doctors who want to work independently in the country.

Special Purpose Registration Scope

This is a temporary form of registration which is mainly for doctors and IMGs who want to work in New Zealand for further training, conducting research, and to assist in disaster situations.

Information Required to Process Application

Here are a few things you need to take note of when applying for New Zealand doctor jobs. Some of these are applicable for IMGs with overseas qualifications and training.

English Language Proficiency

As an IMG, you need to prove your proficiency in the English language in order to obtain a New Zealand work visa. It is because English is one of the three official languages in the country, the others being Maori and NZ Sign Language. English is the predominantly spoken language in the country and New Zealand English is very similar to Australian English.

If English is not your native language, you need to show your English language proficiency by passing a relevant examination such as the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or the OET (Occupational English Test), prior to applying for New Zealand doctor jobs.

Primary Medical Qualification

Registration with the MCNZ requires that you complete a primary medical qualification from one of the medical schools listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. It is a regularly-updated list that consists of accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive information on universities around the world.

A check with this list determines if any medical qualification is approved by the MCNZ to proceed with the registration process.

Certificate of Professional Status (COPS)

The COPS is used by regulators to determine if a doctor is in good standing. It contains information including licensing history, any complaint or enquiry on the doctor and action taken with regard to it, and whether the doctor is subject to health reviews.

Completion of Medical Examinations and Residency Requirements (NZCREX)

The MCNZ requires all applicants to register for and pass the NZREX (New Zealand Registration Examination) clinical registration test. The exam is valid only for 5 years and assesses the candidate’s knowledge and ability to safely practice medicine in New Zealand.

The residency begins once you become a house officer. It is valid for 2 years after which you need to complete a training program which can take you for an additional 3 to 5 years.

Apply for Doctor Jobs in New Zealand

Once you successfully complete registration with the MCNZ and manage to obtain medical licence, it is time to apply for New Zealand doctor jobs. There are two ways you can do this.

One is to apply for New Zealand doctor jobs on your own. You can opt to search in district health boards directly or through vacancies displayed in private, public, and non-profit employers. Another way to apply for New Zealand doctor jobs is through healthcare recruitment agencies.

Visa Options for Immigrants

There are three types of visa options if you are a foreign doctor looking to work in New Zealand.

Skilled migrant category work visa: This type of visa is for those who want to live and work in New Zealand on a permanent basis. There is a high possibility for your visa application to be accepted if you are applying for an area that has a skills shortage.

Long term skill shortage list work visa: This type of visa can help you in the path to obtaining residency in New Zealand. It is applicable to those who want to live permanently in the country. Once you complete two years of work, you can apply to live in New Zealand permanently.

Essential skills work visa: This type of visa is for temporary skilled workers with a full-time job offer in hand.

Conclusion

New Zealand is an excellent country to live and work in. Medical professionals have a great advantage in terms of job opportunities, job satisfaction and finding the highest-paid doctor jobs. Getting your medical licence to practice as a doctor in New Zealand is possible if you have a valid medical qualification and manage to successfully pass the clinical registration examination required by the MCNZ.

Once all of this is done you are well on your way to practising as a doctor in New Zealand.

Medfuture is a healthcare recruitment agency with a strong professional network across the globe. We provide employment opportunities for those looking to work in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

Visit our website for more details on medical employment opportunities in these regions.