Depending on the country of your Medical Degree, we have devised an easy manual that may help you towards registering with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ). 

1. Students with a UK/Ireland Medical Degree accredited by General/Irish Medical Council and a completed Internship in UK or Ireland

In order to proceed ahead with this guide, first, make sure that you meet the following requirements,

ü  Primary Medical Degree from a University in UK or Ireland

ü  Completed Internship in UK or Ireland

ü  Meet ‘Fitness for Registration’ Requirements*

ü  Supervised Employment Job Offer

As you have completed your internship outside New Zealand, the internship would have to be assessed through the policy of recognition of internships**

*Fitness for Registration:

 https://www.mcnz.org.nz/registration/getting-registered/how-to-register/fitness-for-registration/

** Policy: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/registration/getting-registered/registration-policy/policy-on-recognition-of-internships-from-countries-other-than-new-zealand-australia-the-uk-and-ireland/

Before applying for your provisional general registration, send in your documents through the EPIC system* to be verified which includes your primary medical degree or graduation certification and confirmation of completion of internship/1 year of general medical experience or the Certificate of Medical Registration issued by the Medical Councils of either UK or Ireland.

For more concerns regarding the EPIC system, please visit:

https://www.ecfmgepic.org/instructions-new-zealand.html

Your application for provisional general registration would have to be done along with your employer fulfilling the items highlighted in Checklist 2*, filling the REG1** Application form.

*Checklist 2: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/Checklists/9af5324279/CHKL2.pdf

** REG1 Form: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/Forms/88ff841528/REG1.pdf

In case if you are eligible for the registration, you will be informed and scheduled for an interview conducted by the Council or agents in other locations. Documents provided within the application need to be presented to the Council in this meeting along with your passport, IELTS/OET results and original documentary evidence of any name change.

For more information please see: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/registration/getting-registered/how-to-register/your-registration-meeting/

After approval, a registration certificate will be provided to you. If any change occurs within the information provided to the Council for the practising certification, a request will have to be made beforehand to the Council. A minimum of 20 days can be taken to process the request before which a new position can not be commenced by the candidate. In order to gain the general scope of practice, the following conditions will have to be met,

ü  Completed 6 months practice under a supervisor at a Hospital, General Practice, Institution or Organization (Approved by the Council)

ü  Received 2 consecutive satisfactory reports in recent 6 months of applying for general scope of practice

ü  Recommended for General Scope by Supervisor

For more details, please see: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/Forms/c6d61e21b3/COS4.pdf

After you have been registered in the General Scope of Practice, you work independently of a supervisor however, you would have to meet recertification requirements including enrolling in either the ‘Inpractice’ programme or an accredited vocational training programme.

2. Students having a medical degree from other countries

Depending on whether you have been previously registered within New Zealand or not, we will further commence with your registration process.

Previously been registered in New Zealand with a permanent form of Registration

In case you were previously permanently registered in New Zealand and were removed on disciplinary grounds, then you can be restored depending on the following,

ü  Held Registration in Provisional General/Vocational Scope and General/Vocational Scope of Practice after 18^th September 2004

ü  Agreed to cancel your registration or failed to reply on time

ü  Fit for Registration

ü  Not subject to any disciplinary proceedings

ü  Not subject to an order under s101(1)(a)* of the HPCAA

*HPCAA: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0048/latest/DLM204312.html?search=sw_096be8ed81a0be7e_101_25_se&p=1&sr=4

In conditions as follows, you can not be restored,

1.        You asked for your own removal

2.        You do not meet certain criteria

In case if you can be restored, you would have to submit a REG6 form, copy of photo page of the passport, up to date CV and original certificate of professional status from each regulatory authority where you have practised up to 5 years or since you last worked in New Zealand to the MCNZ. A minimum time frame of 20 working days may be required followed by a registration meeting.

For provisional general/vocational registration, please submit the following,

REG6 Form: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/Forms/c9b73f6eb8/REG6.pdf

REG3 Form: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/Forms/e7eb524463/REG2B-v2.pdf

For general/vocational scope of practice, please see additional details mentioned at the end of the REG6 form.

Previously been registered in New Zealand with a temporary form of Registration/Not been Registered in New Zealand previously

If you hold an approved postgraduate qualification from an Australian College, you can apply for registration through VOC2 Pathway.

VOC2 Vocational Registration

ü  Approved Postgraduate Qualification from New Zealand or Australia

ü  Haven’t registered in General scope of Practice in New Zealand

ü  Primary Medical Degree from University listed in World Directory of Medical Schools

Meeting all the requirements, first send required documents to be verified through the EPIC System. Afterwards, submit a VOC2* form along with 3 Referee Reports** and send it to either of the contacts mentioned at: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/about-us/contact-us/

The minimum time of processing for VOC2 is 2 months.

*VOC2 Form: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/Forms/32602a59d9/VOC2.pdf

** Referee Report Form: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/Forms/47ebf026d7/RP6-RP9.pdf

If you don’t hold an approved postgraduate qualification, please specify the time that you intend on working in New Zealand i.e. less than a year or more than 1 year.

In case if its more than a year and you have a formal postgraduate qualification then you can opt for the VOC3 pathway of registration.

VOC3 Vocational Registration

ü  Completed Postgraduate Medical Training

ü  Gained Postgraduate Medical Qualification at the end of Specialist Training

ü  Primary Medical Degree from a listed University

ü  Meet ‘Fitness for Registration’ Requirements

ü  Meet ‘English Language’ Requirements

Before applying, please send your documents through the EPIC system to be verified. In order to submit the VOC3* form, please read the guidelines given in the VOC3B** form. Also, submit three referee reports along with your application.

*VOC3 Form: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/Forms/ce15471838/VOC3.pdf

** VOC3B Form: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/Forms/485904b9cc/VOC3B.pdf

In order to ensure the completion of your application, visit MCNZ* in order to check whether you are applying in one of the specialist areas that require additional information. A minimum time of 6 months can be taken to determine the status of your application.

*Additional Information: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/registration/getting-registered/registration-pathways/pathways-to-registration-in-a-vocational-scope/voc3-vocational-specialist-registration/

If you do not have a formal postgraduate qualification but;

1.        Have passed the AMC Clinical examination and have full registration with AHPRA, please see https://www.mcnz.org.nz/GEN6

2.        Have passed the AMC Work-based Assessment and have full registration with AHPRA, please see https://www.mcnz.org.nz/GEN6

3.        In case if you have worked in other countries previously, please see https://www.mcnz.org.nz/GEN5

4.        In case if you want to work for a special purpose, then please see the following as per your selection,

a.        Visiting Expert - https://www.mcnz.org.nz/SPVE

b.       Postgraduate Training – https://www.mcnz.org.nz/SPPG

c.        Undertake Research – https://www.mcnz.org.nz/SPR

d.       Emergency – https://www.mcnz.org.nz/SPE

e.        Pandemic – https://www.mcnz.org.nz/SPPD

f.          None of the above – Apply for NZREX Clinical Examination

In case if you want to work for a shorter period than a year, please see the following as per your postgraduate qualification,

1.        Have an approved postgraduate qualification - https://www.mcnz.org.nz/SPLT

2.        Don’t have an approved postgraduate qualification, then please see the above-given options.

For more guidance on gaining registration to practice medicine in New Zealand, drop a line to feed@medfuture.com.au with your concerns and contact so that one of our recruitment specialists could assist you.

If you are a medical graduate from Australia or New Zealand and are looking to register with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), please read our previous blog on the Registration Process for Medical Students from New Zealand and Australia.