International Medical Graduates - New Zealand
Those International Medical Graduates who hold qualifications that allow practice and recognition as a specialist physician or paediatrician in the country of training may apply to the Medical Council of New Zealand to have their specialist training and experience assessed.
The Medical Council of New Zealand will refer these specialists to The Royal Australasian College of Physicians for assessment of comparability of training and experience with an Australasian trained physician or paediatrician. Applications cannot be made directly to The Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
Information on registration can be found on the Medical Council of New Zealand website at www.mcnz.org.nz. The relevant forms can also be found there.
About the Process
The IMG process is one in which the formal training and assessment, clinical experience and standard of practice are assessed against those of a consultant physician or paediatrician who has trained in New Zealand or Australia. The process does not solely consider formal training and assessment but takes into consideration subsequent clinical experience and the nature of the applicant’s current practice, including participation in continuing professional development activities and contribution to the profession.
Before submitting an application the Medical Council suggests that applicants check the following:
- That they satisfy the English language requirements (some applicants will qualify for exemption from these requirements);
- That they meet immigration requirements (being able to be registered as a doctor is only one requirement.)
The Medical Council will request reports from the applicants’ referees and check the veracity of the qualification.
The College in New Zealand is a Branch Advisory Body to the Medical Council. Those applicants in the scopes of internal medicine, paediatrics and dermatology, deemed by the Medical Council to be appropriate, will be referred to the College for assessment of eligibility for vocational registration. The College will conduct an in-depth interview with the applicant and make recommendations to the Medical Council. Decisions about registration are made by the Medical Council, not the College.
For more detailed information about the College’s assessment process, download the IMG Information Sheet.
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