Policy on registration within a general
scope of practice 

NZREX Clinical examination

Policy Statement	The Medical Council of New Zealand has set requirements for doctors to meet before they may be registered to work in New Zealand within a general scope of practice. Initially registration within a provisional general scope of practice will be granted to doctors who have the prescribed qualifications, and who are considered fit for registration and competent to practise. The doctor will work on a provisional general scope for up to two years, subject to conditions to satisfy the Council that all requirements for registration in a general scope are met. The exception to this is for graduates from New Zealand or Australian university medical schools who have completed their internships in New Zealand or Australia, who will be granted registration in a general, and a vocational scope if appropriate. If a doctor fails to satisfy the conditions on his or her practice as required by Council to ensure competent practise within a general scope of practice within two years, the Registrar will refer the doctor’s application for an APC to the Council under section 27(1)(b) of the Act. This policy must be read with reference to Council's Policy on registration in New Zealand.
	The doctor must meet Council's policy on English language requirements

 

Qualifications

Hold a primary medical degree from a university medical school listed in the WHO Directory of Medical Schools or the ECFMG Faimer Directory, and  passed (within the last five years) USMLE Steps 1 and 2, and NZREX Clinical, or passed (within the last five years) USMLE Steps 1 and 2, and NZREX Clinical, or an international registration examination or assessment approved by Council as of a comparable standard to NZREX Clinical.          For the purpose of assessing and confirming the doctor’s competence to practise within a general scope of practice, the doctor will be registered within a provisional general scope of practice for up to two years, with the following conditions, to work: in a New Zealand hospital or general practice approved by the Council, and under supervision of a registered doctor approved by the Council, and for at least one year, during which he or she satisfactorily completes four runs, of which one must be a category A medical and one a category A surgical run. The doctor must: satisfactorily complete three consecutive runs, at least two of which must be in different disciplines, and not work in relieving or rotating runs unless category A or B runs, and not work alone at night time with responsibility for a group of patients in the first six months, and must become certified as competent in basic and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS). Council may authorise a change of scope from a provisional general scope to a general scope once the doctor has satisfied the conditions in the provisional general scope and has: successfully completed requirements of practice within a provisional general scope, and received satisfactory reports for the three runs completed (or nine months worked) immediately prior to applying for registration within a general scope, and been recommended for registration within a general scope of practice by his or her supervisor.

Note

Failure to meet conditions on practice while registered within a provisional general scope of practice If a doctor fails to satisfy the conditions on his or her practice as required by Council to ensure competent practice within a general scope of practice within two years, the Registrar will refer the doctor’s application for an APC to the Council under section 27(1)(b) of the Act. The Council may: extend registration within a provisional general scope for a further period, or propose to either place restrictions on, or decline to issue the doctor’s APC under section 28, and give the doctor an opportunity to make written submissions and be heard by Council, and then make a decision whether to issue the APC.

Recertification requirements

Once registered to practise within a general scope of practice the doctor is no longer required to work under supervision, but instead must establish a collegial relationship and meet requirements for recertification in order for an annual practising certificate to be issued. Full details of these requirements are available on the Council’s website, or from the Council office.

Approved by Council: May 2004

Policy on registration in New Zealand