Move to NZ / Registration
The Medical Council decides who can practise. These are its pathways as published, with the criteria in its words and the date it last changed each page.
| Scope | Who | Leads to |
|---|---|---|
| Provisional general | New graduates doing their intern year, and most overseas doctors on arrival. Supervised. | General scope after the supervised period. |
| General | Typically resident doctors and doctors in vocational training. | Vocational scope on completing a Fellowship. |
| Provisional vocational | Overseas-trained specialists while their qualifications are assessed and they complete supervised practice. | Vocational scope. |
| Vocational | Specialists holding the prescribed New Zealand or Australasian Fellowship, or assessed as equivalent. | Permanent, independent practice in that branch of medicine. |
| Special purpose | Temporary registration for a specific purpose — locum tenens, research, training, disaster assistance. | Time-limited. |
Graduates of accredited NZ or Australian medical schools, registering in the provisional general scope to complete their intern (PGY1) year.
Outcome: Provisional general → general scope after the intern year. MCNZ page updated 7 July 2025 · Council page
A primary medical degree from the UK or Ireland and an internship completed in the UK or Ireland.
Outcome: General scope. MCNZ page updated 7 August 2024 · Council page
Recent clinical practice in one of 29 recognised health systems: at least 33 months, at least 20 hours a week, within the 48 months before applying, in the same or a similar area of medicine at a similar level of responsibility.
Outcome: Provisional general scope under supervision; general scope after 12 months full-time equivalent and three satisfactory supervision reports. MCNZ page updated 15 July 2025 · Council page
Doctors who have passed the New Zealand Registration Examination (NZREX Clinical), or PLAB Parts 1 and 2, within the last five years — the route for graduates of medical schools outside the comparable-health-system and competent-authority lists.
Outcome: General scope (provisional general first, under supervision). MCNZ page updated 3 March 2025 · Council page
Doctors who passed the Australian Medical Council examinations and hold AHPRA general registration.
Outcome: General scope. MCNZ page updated 26 May 2023 · Council page
PLAB Parts 1 and 2 plus 12 months of UK practice with full GMC registration.
Outcome: General scope. MCNZ page updated 26 May 2023 · Council page
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Ireland, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States of America.
MCNZ comparable health system criteria, updated 16 July 2025 · Council list
Doctors holding general registration and an approved New Zealand or Australasian postgraduate qualification. Council page
Doctors holding the approved NZ/Australasian postgraduate qualification who do not already hold general registration. Council page
Specialists trained outside NZ and Australia. The relevant college compares training, qualifications and experience to a NZ-trained Fellow in the same branch and advises Council; Council decides. Approved applicants go on to either the supervision pathway (6–12 months of satisfactory supervised practice, plus enrolling in the college recertification programme) or the assessment pathway (12–18 months supervised practice plus a further college assessment). Most complete applications take about three months to process. Council page
Doctors holding an approved postgraduate medical qualification from the UK, Ireland or Australia, intending to work in an approved medical specialty. Council page
Source
Medical Council of New Zealand — registration pathways · checked 18 September 2026