Occupational medicine

Occupational medicine is the study and practice of medicine related to the effects of work on health and health on work. It has clinical, preventive and population-based aspects. Occupational physicians practise to ensure effective prevention and appropriate management of illness and injury due to work, and where prevention has not been fully successful; the appropriate rehabilitation of people, with facilitation of their return to work. Occupational physicians are also concerned with the management of people who have illness or disability unrelated to work, but for whom their workplace may require appropriate adjustment.

To be registered within a vocational scope of occupational medicine it is expected that you would have training, qualifications and experience equivalent to or as satisfactory as that of a New Zealand trained occupational medicine physician. To enable you to assess this, please answer the following questions.

Checklist

	Tick if you have completed these requirements	Occupational Medicine Training in New Zealand
	Have you completed at least 36 months of postgraduate general clinical experience?	Basic physician training is a minimum of three years of clinical and educational experience from the time of graduation. One academic year of full time course work must be in occupational medicine.
	Was at least 24 months spent in a clinical post recognised as being part of occupational medicine?	During the period of basic training the registrar should acquire a broad knowledge of the principles and practice of occupational medicine and develop a satisfactory level of clinical competence that will equip them for advanced training.
	Did you complete an exit examination on completion of your advanced training?	In New Zealand exit examinations (Part 1 Written and Part 2 Exhibit, Oral and Clinical) must be passed on completion of advanced training before Fellowship of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FAFOM) is awarded.
	Do you participate in a continuing medical education programme to ensure your knowledge and skills are current?	In New Zealand occupational medicine physicians registered within a vocational scope of practice will be required to participate in approved recertification programmes, such as the AFOM Maintenance of Professional Standards (MOPS) programme.

Self assessment

If you cannot answer 'yes' to all the above questions and demonstrate that your training, qualifications and experience are equivalent to or as satisfactory as that of a New Zealand trained occupational medicine physician it is unlikely you will be eligible for registration within a vocational scope of practice in New Zealand.

To see if you meet the requirements for another pathway to registration, return to the registration self assessment checklist and complete the checklist answering no to the question “are you a qualified specialist or do you have a postgraduate qualification“.

If you have been able to answer yes to the above questions, please click here for the application form and for more information on the application process.

For more information about occupational medicine training in New Zealand go to the Royal Australasian College of Physicians website.

Occupational medicine

Checklist

Self assessment

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