Salary:

Pathologists receive a base salary relative to their level of experience. This is agreed upon at the time of the job offer. There is a 15-step pay scale that SMOs continue to progress through on a yearly basis.

In New Zealand, the salary and benefits of some roles are determined by collective agreements between unions and employers. The full Senior Medical Officers collective agreement can be found on the Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora website here.

Additional allowances are paid on top of base salary and vary due to location and service and are often not specified in the collective agreement.

Allowances:

There are a range of additional allowances for:

• on-call,

• evening, night and weekend work,

• call back,

• job size,

• recruitment and retention and

• special contribution.

Leave:

• 6 weeks of paid annual leave.

• A minimum of 10 days of sick leave per year.

• 10 days of paid Continuing Medical Education Leave (CME), plus the ability to use annual leave tacked onto the end of your CME travel.

• If eligible, up to a 6% matching superannuation contribution from Health New Zealand as your employer. Find out more here.

• 6-12 months of parental leave depending on the length of service, including 6 weeks of fully paid parental leave.

• 12 paid public holidays + time in lieu/alternative holiday if rostered on.

• Long service leave + sabbatical opportunities.

Additional benefits include: 

• Reimbursement of your registration and practising certificate fees.

• Your professional indemnity insurance is covered by Health NZ.

• A paid continuing professional development allowance.

• An annual Continuing Medical Education (CME) allowance of NZD $16,000 (pro-rated for part-time employees).

• If eligible, up to a 6% matching superannuation contribution from Health New Zealand as your employer. Find out more here.

• A relocation package for international candidates.

• Great balance: New Zealand is known for our work-life balance, and Pathologists can enjoy flexible hours to make the most of all the country has to offer.

Leadership and career development opportunities:

Pathologists at Health New Zealand are actively involved in the design, implementation and performance of cancer facilities and technology involved in the delivery of healthcare services to ensure an effective, efficient and safe workplace. 

Opportunities can include:  

• Support and encouragement for research and publications.
  

• Mentorship opportunities for apprentice Junior Doctors/Registrars.
  

• Regional and National networks allow for subspeciality research and practice. 
  

• Ongoing development and support for career growth with on-the-job coaching and a variety of in-house training programmes. 

Professional registration requirements:  

To work as a Senior Medical Officer, you must become registered to practice with the Medical Council of New Zealand and hold an Annual Practising Certificate.  

To apply for vocational registration in Pathology with the Medical Council of New Zealand, you need:

• To work only in Laboratory Pathology only: the Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRCPA) qualification

• To work in Laboratory Pathology and its associated clinical discipline: the Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRCPA) and the Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRCPA) qualification

Pathologists are crucial in the healthcare system, contributing to early detection, personalised medicine, and public health initiatives. Their work supports clinicians across all fields of medicine.

Roles and responsibilities may include:

Diagnosis

• Pathologists analyse samples of body tissues, blood, and other fluids to diagnose diseases such as cancer, infections, and autoimmune conditions. They provide detailed reports to guide treatment decisions.

Autopsies and forensic pathology

• Pathologists conduct post-mortem examinations to determine the cause of death. Forensic Pathologists assist in criminal investigations, working with law enforcement to provide evidence in legal cases.

Laboratory oversight

• They oversee medical laboratories, ensuring the accuracy of tests like blood tests, biopsies, and genetic testing. This ensures high-quality standards in diagnostic processes.

Research and teaching

• Many Pathologists are involved in medical research, studying disease mechanisms and contributing to medical advancements. They may also teach medical students and train pathology registrars.

Areas of specialty may include:

• Anatomical pathology (including histopathology),

• chemical pathology,

• forensic pathology,

• general pathology (a mix of anatomical and clinical pathology),

• genetic pathology,

• haematology,

• immunopathology,

• and microbiology (including virology).

To become a Pathologist, you will need to: 

• complete the Health Sciences First Year programme at the University of Otago or the first year of either the Bachelor of Health Sciences or Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland; and then

• complete a five-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree at Otago or Auckland University; and then

• work for two years as a house officer (supervised junior doctor) in a hospital; and then

• complete another five years as a registrar with specialist training and examinations to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Registering to work as a Pathologist in New Zealand:

To work as a Pathologist 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:

• 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 to first obtain general registration.

• 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 Pathology).

• 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

• 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.

• This means you’ll practice in your specialty under supervision for a period, typically between 6-12 months, before being granted full vocational registration.

• 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

• 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.

• This process to gain Vocational Registration includes:

  • A period of Provisional General Registration (with supervised practice) if necessary.

  • 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

Alternate titles globally 

• Histopathologist

• Microbiologist

• Clinical Biochemist

• Cellular pathology

• Clinical Pathologist

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