Overseas trained doctors
Nau mai haere mai, welcome. The Royal ҕl welcomes applications from doctors with international qualifications in medicine to begin their training towards Fellowship with the College.
If you completed your training overseas and are currently working in New Zealand, you may be eligible to apply for one of the College’s pathways to Fellowship.
Please note, you must hold a general scope of practice with the Medical Council of New Zealand and be currently practising.
![Dr Kim Hurst](https://rnzcgpprodstorage.blob.core.windows.net/media/images/Kim_Hurst.d53c3b0f.fill-885x658.jpg)
Recognised training programmes
The ҕlhas a reciprocal agreement with The Royal Australian ҕlof General Practitioners (RACGP). The Division of Rural Hospital Medicine has a reciprocal agreement with Australian ҕlof Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
Applying for Prior Specialist Training Pathway to Fellowship
Step one: Check your qualification is recognised by the College
To apply for our Prior Specialist Training Pathway to Fellowship, you need to have a qualification from an overseas accredited GP training programme that is recognised and approved by the College. (See the College’s recognised programmes below).
If your programme isn’t recognised, please contact the (MCNZ) for further information.
Step two: Make sure you hold a practising certificate
You must hold a current practising certificate in a general scope of practice with the .
Step three: Make sure you hold a current resuscitation certificate
All applicants must have a current Advanced Cardiac Life Support certificate (ACLS). See the list of College-endorsed ACLS courses [PDF]
You must refresh your Advanced Cardiovascular Life Training skills every three years.
Step four: Apply for our Prior Specialist Training pathway
The Prior Specialist Training pathway is open to all doctors who hold one of the qualifications listed in the tables below.
Once enrolled there are activities you will need to complete. This will include completing clinical time in New Zealand in a general scope of practice. To do this you must hold a current practising certificate. You must complete:
- Different activities depending on whether you have a Group 1 or Group 2 qualification.
- Clinical time in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- A Fellowship assessment visit.
Group one recognised programmes/qualifications | |
---|---|
United Kingdom |
Members or Fellows of the Royal ҕlof General Practitioners |
Republic of Ireland |
Members or Fellows of the Irish ҕlof General Practitioners |
Hong Kong |
Fellows of the Hong Kong ҕlof Family Physicians |
Netherlands |
Certificants in General Practice, Netherlands |
Belgium |
Diploma van huisarts Diploma of General Practitioner, Belgium (up to 2007) and Master in de Huisartsgeneeskunde Master in General Practice, Belgium (from 2007) |
Canada |
Certificants in Family Medicine, ҕlof Family Physicians of Canada (if gained with the clinical examination) |
Singapore |
Graduates of the Master of Medicine in Family Medicine, Singapore, if held with Fellowship of the ҕlof Family Physicians |
Australia |
Doctors who hold Fellowship of the Royal Australian ҕlof General Practitioners or of the Australian ҕlof Rural and Remote Medicine and who are no longer current members of that College |
France |
DES de Médecine Générale (Diploma in General Practice) |
Sweden |
Specialist in general practice/family medicine, Swedish ҕlof General Practice and the Swedish Society of Medicine |
Group two recognised programmes/qualifications | |
---|---|
Canada |
Certificants in Family Medicine, ҕlof Family Physicians of Canada (if gained without the clinical examination) |
USA |
Diplomates of the American Board of Family Medicine (Must hold current Board certification |
Singapore |
Graduates of the Master of Medicine in Family Medicine, Singapore |
South Africa |
Fellows of the ҕlof Family Physicians of South Africa |
Step five: Pay your application fee
You need to pay a non-refundable $525 + GST application fee.
Step six: Begin your pathway to Fellowship
If your application is successful, you will be enrolled in the Prior Specialist Training pathway and will need to pay a programme fee. As you progress through the pathway, you will also pay an IPV fee and Fellowship visit fee.
Below are the fees. View the amounts.
- Group 1 programme fee
- Group 2 programme fee
- Group 2 clinical exam (inc mock) fee
- IPV fee
- Fellowship visit fe
If you are unsuccessful
Often doctors who are unsuccessful applying for the Prior Specialist Training pathway don’t have the right qualifications for this course of study. We recommend that you apply for the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP).
Get in touch
If you'd like to discuss your situation and find out more detail about the application process, email our International Admissions Advisor.