Reference requirements

Referee verification

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

If you are applying for registration or for a practising certificate within either a provisional vocational or a vocational scope of practice, we will directly contact the referee 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 4 references will be required, along with an explanation about 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 together more than 3 years ago will not be accepted
• the nature of your professional relationship
• length of time you and the referee have practised medicine 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

  1 March 2021 (PDF, 266 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 medicine in New Zealand.

• RP6

  Form

  22 June 2026 (PDF, 1 MB)

  Referee report for use when applying for registration.