Registration process for Physician Associates
This page outlines the registration process for physician associates including information on what you need to provide, what you can expect and how long it will take.
The basic registration process
While there are different registration pathways, the basic process for registering as a physician associate in New Zealand is similar across all pathways.
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Use the registration self-assessment tool to determine your appropriate registration pathway.
Use our registration self assessment tool to determine which pathway to registration (as a doctor or physician associate in Aotearoa New Zealand) you might be eligible for. Please note that we do not grant registration to students. Therefore, this tool does not cover student electives. -
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Learn about your registration pathway
When a physician associate first applies for registration in New Zealand, they will be registered in the Physician Associate Provisional scope of practice. There are multiple pathways to registration in the Physician Associate Provisional scope. Each of these has specific requirements you will need to satisfy to be eligible for registration. This section outlines the different pathways for each scope. -
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Ensure you meet our key policy requirements
English language
All physician associates must satisfy Council that they can communicate in and comprehend English sufficiently to protect the health and safety of the public. There are five options available to physician associates outlined in our English language policy.
References
Physician associates must also provide authentic, authoritative and comprehensive references to ensure that Council can make decisions related to your fitness and competence to practise in New Zealand. There are several core requirements that referees and their reports must meet which are outlined in our Policy on reference requirements.
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Upload your credentials for primary source verification
Primary source verification
Before submitting an application for registration, physician associates are required to have their credentials primary source verified through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduate’s (ECFMG) Credential Verification for Health Professionals (CVHP) service.
Further information can be found on the CVHP Homepage .
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Complete and submit the required forms and documentation to us
Forms, fees, and checklists
A full list of our application forms for physician associates including referee forms, checklists and the current fees payable are available on this page.
All application documents must be submitted in one email to physicianassociates@mcnz.org.nz.
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We review your registration application and grant you registration, if appropriate.
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Attend a registration meeting
All doctors and physician associates coming to New Zealand to practise for the first time must attend a registration meeting and be able to produce the information we have asked for. -
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We issue you with a practising certificate and you may start practising in New Zealand
This page outlines your rights responsibilities in relation to your practising certificate, and the possible consequences if you practise without a certificate.
How long will it take to get registered?
Applications for registration in the Physician Associate Provisional scope of practice require 20 working days for us to assess your eligibility for registration. The 20 working days starts once we have received a complete application. If further information is required when assessing your application, then the application is not considered complete.
You will need to work with your employer to submit your application as there are key documents they must provide.
What will you need to process my application?
We can only process applications that are complete. For your application to be considered complete, you must:
How is my application assessed?
Your application will be assigned to a registration coordinator to determine whether you:
- hold the prescribed qualification
- are fit for registration
- are competent to practise in the scope of practice you have applied for.
Your qualifications, work history, references and information from other regulators such as the type of registration you hold, are important considerations in this assessment.
As you will be required to work under supervision, the registration coordinator will also need to consider your supervision plan to ensure that it meets our requirements and allows you to be safely oriented to practice in New Zealand.
Where should I start?
To get started, use the registration self assessment tool to determine your most appropriate registration pathway.
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Use our registration self assessment tool to determine which pathway to registration (as a doctor or physician associate in Aotearoa New Zealand) you might be eligible for. Please note that we do not grant registration to students. Therefore, this tool does not cover student electives.
If you have disclosures to make you may need to provide additional information with your application, such as certificates of professional status (COPS) from overseas regulatory authorities.
COPS will also be required from every overseas regulatory authority you have worked under in the last five years, even if you have not made any disclosures on your application.