Consultation on recognition of UK PLAB licentiate examination

One of our key regulatory functions under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 is the registration of doctors, both Aotearoa New Zealand-trained and from overseas.

There are several existing pathways available to overseas-trained doctors to obtain registration in the provisional general scope of practice. Each pathway identifies specific criteria a doctor must satisfy to be eligible to apply for registration in this scope of practice.

The Council is consulting on two proposals – a new registration pathway and an amendment to the existing Examinations (NZREX Clinical) pathway. The basis for each proposal is the recognition of new criteria to be eligible to apply for registration in the provisional general scope of practice.

One of these criteria includes an applicant passing Part 1 and Part 2 of the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test. The PLAB test is a pre-registration examination administered by the General Medical Council (GMC) with a view to ensuring overseas-trained doctors have the right knowledge and skills to practise medicine in the United Kingdom.

We welcome your feedback on our proposals. Our consultation document explains the proposals in more detail. Please provide written submissions by completing the survey questions online or by emailing your response to strategic@mcnz.org.nz by close of business on 1 February 2023.

We will be holding a webinar on 19 January 2023 at 11am and on 25 January 2023 at 2.30pm to discuss the proposals and to offer you an opportunity to ask questions.

To register in advance for the webinar on 19 January 2023, click here :
To register in advance for the webinar on 25 January 2023, click here :