Reference requirements

Requirements

There are several core requirements that referees and their reports must meet, regardless of the level of role (for example, consultant or house officer) at which you seek to work in New Zealand. There are also further requirements depending on the role level and scope of practice you are applying for.

Core requirements

• At least 3 references are required.
• Referees must be registered doctors practising in the same or similar area of medicine that you are applying for.
• Referees must have worked closely with you and be familiar with your practice.
• Referees must have worked with you within the last 3 years.
• At least one referee must have worked with you at your current place of work. If you have only been at your current place of employment for 3 months or less, a reference will not be required. However, confirmation of employment details and that you were/are in good standing will be required from your employer (for example by way of a certificate of employment).
• Referees must be able to comment objectively about you and declare any conflicts of interest. Doctors who have close personal relationships with applicants (for example, a family member) will not be suitable as referees.
• References must be completed on a referee report form approved by Council. The form must be personally completed by the referee.
• References must be dated within 6 months of receipt of your complete application by Council.

Additional requirements for different levels of appointment

Senior medical officer (SMO), specialist, consultant level (including general practitioners), fellow and medical officer roles

• Referees must be consultants/specialists, practising in the same or similar area of medicine that you are applying for and should hold vocational/specialist registration in the relevant jurisdiction.
• They must have worked closely with you and be familiar with your practice at consultant/specialist/medical officer level (or fellow/senior registrar level, if you have recently completed your specialist training), in the area of medicine that you are applying for.
• They must have worked with you for at least 6 months in the last 3 years.
• We recommend you provide a reference from your current clinical director (or equivalent role).

Registrar roles

• Referees must be consultants/specialists, practising in the same or similar area of medicine as you are applying for and should hold vocational/specialist registration in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Referees must either:
  • have worked with you for at least 6 months in the last 3 years; or
  • if you are currently participating in a vocational training program or in a residency program and rotating every 3-6 months, have worked with you for the full rotation, which must have been completed within the last 3 years.

House officer roles

• Referees must be senior medical colleagues.
• Referees must either:
  • have worked with you for at least 6 months in the last 3 years; or
  • if you are currently working as a house officer and rotating across different areas of medicine every 3-4 months, have worked with you for the full rotation, which must have been completed within the last 3 years.
• The current or most recent referee must be from a senior colleague working on the same attachment as you, at the time the application is submitted. 

Physician associate roles 

• Referees must be consultants/specialists, practising in the same or similar area of medicine as you are applying for and should hold vocational/specialist registration in the relevant jurisdiction.
• They must have worked with you for at least 6 months in the last 3 years.

Referee verification

We must be assured that the provided reference is authentic and legitimate.

If you are a doctor applying for registration or for a practising certificate within either a provisional vocational or a vocational scope of practice, we will contact the referee directly to verify the report.

For other applications, your prospective employer must make a declaration and provide evidence of verifying the reference to us.

References that do not meet the above requirements

If you are unable to nominate referees that meet the above requirements, there is limited discretion to consider alternatives, on a case-by-case basis.

In considering such cases, we will need to be satisfied that you are competent to practise within the scope applied for and fit for registration.

At least four references will be required, along with a cover letter explaining why these requirements cannot be met.

In considering such references, we will give weight to the following factors:

• recency of the professional relationship between you and the referee – referees who ceased working with you more than 3 years ago will not be accepted
• the nature of your professional relationship
• length of time you and the referee have practised together
• similarity and relevance of the areas of medicine practised by you and the referee.

Referees which significantly depart from the above requirements will not be considered suitable.

Policy and forms

• Policy - Reference requirements for applications for registration

  Newsletters

  28 September 2026 (PDF, 342 KB)

  Authentic, authoritative and comprehensive references are necessary to ensure that Council can make decisions related to the applicant’s fitness and competence to practise in New Zealand.

• RP6

  Form

  28 September 2026 (PDF, 530 KB)

  Referee report for use when applying for registration.