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Training / Vocational scopes

The 36 vocational scopes

Every specialty a doctor can be vocationally registered in, the qualification the Medical Council prescribes for it, and who awards it — from the Gazette notice, not a recruiter's list.

Vocational scopePrescribed qualificationCollegeYears (guide)
AnaesthesiaFANZCAAustralian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists5
Cardiothoracic surgeryFRACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons6
Clinical geneticsFRACPRoyal Australasian College of Physicians6
DermatologyFRACPRoyal Australasian College of Physicians6
Diagnostic and interventional radiologyFRANZCRRoyal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists5
Emergency medicineFACEMAustralasian College for Emergency Medicine5
Family planning / reproductive healthDip SRHDiploma in Sexual and Reproductive Health
General practiceFRNZCGPRoyal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (GPEP)3.5–4 (average)
General surgeryFRACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons5
Intensive care medicineFCICM (or FRACP / FJFICM)College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand6
Internal medicineFRACPRoyal Australasian College of Physicians6 (3 basic + 3 advanced)
Medical administrationFRACMARoyal Australasian College of Medical Administrators3
Musculoskeletal medicineFAFMM / CANZ AMMAustralasian Faculty of Musculoskeletal Medicine
NeurosurgeryFRACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons7
Obstetrics and gynaecologyFRANZCOGRoyal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists6
Occupational medicineFAFOEM (RACP)Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, RACP4
OphthalmologyFRANZCORoyal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists5
Oral and maxillofacial surgeryFRACDS (OMS)Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons4 (after medical and dental degrees)
Orthopaedic surgeryFRACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons5
Otolaryngology head and neck surgeryFRACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons5
Paediatric surgeryFRACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons6
PaediatricsFRACPRoyal Australasian College of Physicians6 (3 basic + 3 advanced)
Pain medicineFFPMANZCAFaculty of Pain Medicine, ANZCA2 (after a primary Fellowship)
Palliative medicineFAChPM (RACP)Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine, RACP3
PathologyFRCPARoyal College of Pathologists of Australasia5
Plastic and reconstructive surgeryFRACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons5
PsychiatryFRANZCPRoyal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists5
Public health medicineFNZCPHM / FAFPHMNew Zealand College of Public Health Medicine3–4
Radiation oncologyFRANZCRRoyal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists5
Rehabilitation medicineFAFRM (RACP)Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, RACP4
Rural hospital medicineFDRHMNZDivision of Rural Hospital Medicine, RNZCGP4
Sexual health medicineFAChSHM (RACP)Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine, RACP3
Sport and exercise medicineFACSEPAustralasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians4
Urgent careFRNZCUCRoyal New Zealand College of Urgent Care4
UrologyFRACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons6
Vascular surgeryFRACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons6

Programme lengths are the colleges' published minimums for a full-time trainee, shown as a guide only — they are not in the Gazette notice, and actual time to Fellowship is usually longer. Check the college.

Trained overseas in one of these? The same college assesses whether your training is equivalent, and advises the Medical Council. Registration pathways for specialists →

Source

Medical Council of New Zealand — Scopes of Practice and Prescribed Qualifications for the Practice of Medicine in New Zealand, New Zealand Gazette notice 2023-gs1359, 5 April 2023 · checked 18 September 2026