News & Views
Gaining Registration in New Zealand as a Health Professional:
Like any other major decision, moving countries is not one to be taken lightly. If you are considering working in New Zealand as a registered health professional, we encourage you to thoroughly research the process involved. The registration process will be the key to enable you to enjoy the space, the opportunities to succeed, the lifestyle, and the freedom, that New Zealand offers.
There are vacancies for skilled health professionals to work within the New Zealand health care system, widely regarded as one of the better in the OECD countries. New Zealand citizens are entitled to a wide range of free and government subsidized health care benefits, including hospital and medical services, free public hospital treatment and free 24 hour accident and emergency care.
By working with a specialist health recruitment agency such as Tonix, you will be provided with advice regarding geographic locations and job opportunities that best suit your skill base, career plans and life style requirements. It is important that you are able to provide us with an up to date curriculum vitae, a copy of which you will also require for applying to the appropriate New Zealand registration board governing your profession.
There are three main categories for registering as a health professional here in New Zealand:
1. Registered Nurses and Midwives 2. Allied Health. 3. Doctors/Medical Specialists
Listed below are some guidelines to use when considering registration in New Zealand:
Registered Nurses and Midwives:
There are two separate councils set up to work with your applications; the New Zealand Nursing Council and the New Zealand Midwifery Council. Both are taking up to three months to process your applications and there is a fee associated with this. It is important that you forward all the requested information in order for this process to be completed in a timely manner. You will need to have your registration confirmed in the United Kingdom before you can apply for your registration here in New Zealand.
Allied Health:
This covers Anaesthetic Technicians, Radiographers, Physiotherapists, Pharmacists and Occupational Therapists. There are specific registration boards that deal with each of these professions, and they vary in their requirements as to what documentation you need to provide to complete New Zealand registration. Anaesthetic Technicians need to have completed two years’ full time work as a qualified ODP / ODA and have HCA registration, before being eligible to apply for registration in New Zealand. The physiotherapy degree in New Zealand is a four year degree; therefore Physiotherapists will need to have a minimum of one year’s post graduate work experience before they can apply for New Zealand registration.
Doctors:
To be eligible to register as a Doctor with the Medical Council of New Zealand you will need a job offer and will need to meet additional eligibility criteria (see below). Tonix Health Recruitment have specialised consultants to work with you through all the stages of moving to New Zealand, including helping you secure a job offer in a location that suits your needs.
Here is a simple guide to assess your eligibility for registration in New Zealand:
United Kingdom and Irish medical graduates
If you have any of the following:
1 Hold a primary medical degree from a university medical school accredited by the General Medical Council
2 Have a primary medical degree from a university medical school accredited by the Irish Medical Council
3 Have completed an internship in the United Kingdom or Ireland
4 Have full registration with the GMC or the Irish Medical Council
Or if you have worked in a comparable health system and:
5 Hold a primary medical degree from a university medical school listed in the WHO directory of medical schools or the ECFMG FAIMER directory
6 Have worked for 36 months continuously (for at least 30 hours per week) during the last 48 months in Australia, UK, Republic of Ireland, Canada, USA, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, Belgium, Austria, Italy or Finland
7 Have achieved or been exempted from achieving, an overall band of 7.5 in the IELTS Academic Module, scoring at least 7 in the four individual components ….then you are eligible for provisional registration with a general scope of practice in New Zealand.
Leaving it until you arrive in New Zealand to find a job may still present a challenge – despite the fact that we currently have a shortage of medical staff. It’s not uncommon for a new migrant to take up to six months to find an appropriate position, and this in addition to the time it takes to register; can be a very lengthy process. The best course of action not only for peace of mind, but also to help with residence and visa applications, would be to get assistance with your registration and a confirmed job offer through Tonix Health Recruitment, ensuring you are well on the way to obtaining a permit to work and live in New Zealand. We look forward to hearing from you.
Email: enquiries@tonix.co.nz
www.tonix.co.nz
