Step

Action

Section One

1

Provide the following information:

• personal details:
  - name
  - address (including email)
  - phone/fax number
  - date of birth
• vocational scope applied for

Section Two

2

Provide details of your primary and post-graduate medical qualifications.

Section Three

3

Provide details of:

• work experience following completion of your medical degree and before starting post-graduate training
• work experience while completing your post-graduate qualification
• specialist practice since completing post-graduate qualification
• academic practice/work you have undertaken, and
• your registration in each country or state where you are now, or have previously been registered to practise medicine.

Section Four

4

Provide names and addresses of three professional colleagues in your scope of practice who:

• are familiar with your current professional practice, and
• are willing to act as referees.

Note: Council will contact your referees directly. Please ensure they respond quickly to Council’s requests, as any delay will slow down the processing of your application.

Section Five

5

Provide any information that may affect your fitness for registration.

Note: Council takes a very serious view of the non-disclosure of relevant issues. If you are unsure, please provide all information and Council can review it to determine how your application should proceed.

Section Six

6

Provide details of:

• any employment or proposed employment, and
• contact details of the employer.

Note: It is not necessary to have a position in New Zealand before making this application. If you do have proposed employment, it is important to inform us so that we can properly coordinate the processing of your application, and keep your employer up to date with progress. Please note that an offer of employment does not guarantee your application for registration will be approved.

Section Seven

7

Sign a declaration stating that the information you have provided is correct.

This declaration authorises Council to contact you or any other person or organisation to obtain further information in relation to your application.

Section Eight

8

Provide payment. You may use:

• credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex or Diners) or
• bankdraft ($NZ only)

Note: Council does not accept payment by direct credit.

Stage

Description

1

Council will acknowledge your application.

2

Council will pre-assess your application.

If it seems unlikely that you will qualify for registration within a vocational scope, you will be advised and given the opportunity to withdraw your application.

3

Council will contact your three nominated referees to request a report.
Note: Your application cannot proceed until all three responses are received by Council.

4

Your application and the reports will be referred to a relevant branch advisory body (BAB) for assessment.

5

The BAB will compare your training, qualifications and experience with a New Zealand trained doctor working in the same vocational scope of practice.

If you are overseas, preliminary advice will be requested. A fee will be required.

6

The BAB will invite you to an interview. This is to obtain information on your:

• training, assessments and examinations
• qualifications
• consultant experience
• clinical practice
• continuing professional development, peer review and audit activities
• understanding of cultural and ethical issues as they relate to medical practice in New Zealand.

Fee: The fee must be paid before the interview.  You will be advised by Council staff when you need to pay this fee.

7

The BAB will make a recommendation to Council on the comparability of your qualifications, training and experience with a New Zealand trained doctor who is registered in the same vocational scope.

8

Council will make a decision on your application. There are three possible outcomes:

• Vocationally eligible
• Suitable for assessment, or
• Not eligible.

For more information on the outcomes, refer below.

9

Council will advise you of its decision.

Vocationally eligible

• Your training, qualifications and experience are comparable to a New Zealand trained doctor registered in the same vocational scope.
• You will be registered within a provisional vocational scope and be required to work in an approved position under supervision for 12 months.
• Once these requirements have been completed, and Council has received satisfactory reports from your supervisor you will be able to apply to apply to change from provisional vocational to vocational scope.

Suitable for assessment

• Your training, qualifications and experience are close to comparable to a New Zealand trained doctor registered in the same vocational scope.
• You will be registered within a provisional vocational scope and be required to complete 12-24 months of supervised assessment in an approved position.
• You will have to complete some form of independent clinical assessment (eg examination), the nature of which will be determined by Council.

Not eligible

• Your training, qualifications and experience are not comparable to a New Zealand trained doctor registered in the same vocational scope.
• Council will propose to decline your application and will advise you of alternative pathways to registration.
• You will have the right to make submissions and present your case to Council, before Council makes a final decision on your application.