Registering to work as a Paediatrician in New Zealand:
To work as a Paediatrician in New Zealand you will need to obtain Vocational Registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).
Pathways to Vocational Registration include:
1. Direct pathway to Vocational Registration:
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If you are an International Medical Graduate (IMG) with specialist qualifications from countries with medical systems deemed equivalent to New Zealand’s (e.g., Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada, or some European countries), you may be eligible to apply directly for vocational registration without needing first to obtain general registration.
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In this pathway, the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) will assess your specialist qualifications, clinical experience, and the medical system where you trained. If these are deemed equivalent, you can apply directly for vocational registration in your specialty (such as Paediatrics).
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This pathway allows experienced specialists to bypass general registration and the provisional general phase, which is typically required for doctors without a recognised specialist qualification.
2. Provisional Vocational Registration pathway
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If the MCNZ determines that your qualifications and experience are largely equivalent but that you need some orientation or assessment within the New Zealand healthcare system, you may be granted provisional vocational registration.
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This means you’ll practice in your specialty under supervision for a period, typically between 6-12 months, before being granted full vocational registration.
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During this provisional Vocational Registration period, a specialist who practises in the same area of medicine as you will supervise you.
3. General registration pathway
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Some IMGs who do not meet the criteria for direct vocational registration may first need to obtain general registration if their qualifications and experience are not recognized as equivalent.
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This process to gain Vocational Registration includes:
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A period of Provisional General Registration (with supervised practice) if necessary.
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After obtaining General Registration, they can later apply for Vocational Registration once they have completed any further assessments or additional supervised practice required by the MCNZ.
Take the self-assessment
The Medical Council of New Zealand have a self-assessment tool to help you easily determine which registration pathway you should take.
Use the Medical Council's self-assessment tool
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