Who can take the NZREX exam?
The answer to becoming a registered doctor in New Zealand lies in clearing the New Zealand registration examination (NZREX). But before applying, it is essential to understand the NZX eligibility criteria, documents required, and the exam pathway.
To be eligible for this examination, you must meet the following requirements-
- You must be an international medical graduate with a valid medical degree, such as MBBS, MD, etc.
- Your medical school must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDoMS), which comes under the Educational Commission for foreign medical graduates (ECFMG).
- You must have a valid license to practice in your home country, and/or registration with the medical licensing board of your country/state.
Documents required for NZREX
Let us now talk about the documents that are required to apply for the NZREX exam-
- Completed NZREX 1 Application Form
- Scanned copies of original certificates:
- Medical degree
- English language proficiency test results (IELTS/OET/PTE)
- Licensing exam results (PLAB 1, AMC Part 1, USMLE Step 1 & 2, MCCQE Part 1)
- A recent passport-size photograph
- Valid photo identification (passport or national ID)
Note- all the documents that you provide must be transcribed in the English language, and should be presented in good condition.
Required Exams Before Applying for NZREX: The True Eligibility
As mentioned earlier, the NZREX examination is a clinical examination which comes in an OSCE or objective structured clinical examination format. There is no qualifying examination offered by the Medical Council of New Zealand. Therefore, the MCNZ has made it a provision for global candidates to clear one of the qualifying exams mentioned below to become eligible for the NZREX exam.
- AMC Part 1 (Australia)
- USMLE Step 1 & Step 2 (USA)
- PLAB Part 1 (UK)
- MCCQE Part 1 (Canada)
Qualifying any of the above-mentioned exams means that you are now ready to take the NZREX exam and become a registered doctor in New Zealand. Apart from this, you will all be required to prove your communication skills in English by clearing any of the following examinations.
- OET
- IELTS Academic
- PTE Academic
While IELTS can be considered a globally recognised option for proving English proficiency, OET is generally an accepted and easy exam for healthcare professionals, and PTE Academic is also a streamlined option to prove your English proficiency easily.
The NZREX Process
Completing four easy steps can help you register as a doctor in New Zealand. The NZREX process can be completed in the following four steps.-
- Submit your application- download form NZREX 1, fill it and email it along with the required documents at- examinations@mcnz.org.nz
- Pay the fee and schedule the exam- after reviewing your documents, the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) will send you confirmation along with payment details, generally within five working days.
- Prepare for the exam and take it- the NZX, clinical exam is conducted in Auckland, New Zealand. You need to prepare for the clinical exam, preferably with the help of experts or some online coaching, and then travel to Auckland to take the examination on the scheduled date.
- Register with MCNZ after clearing the exam- your results will be emailed to you within 10 working days of taking the exam. On receiving positive results, you can go ahead to register with the MCNZ as a doctor.
About the NZREX Clinical Exam
The New Zealand registration examination is the licensure examination for global doctors who aspire to get registered and work in New Zealand. This exam is conducted by the Medical Council of New Zealand. Consider this as the test conducted by the MCNS to make sure that the overseas stream doctors are capable of working in the well-set healthcare setup of New Zealand. Through a clinical setup, this examination tests their overall expertise and competence in the medical field. The NZREX is an OSCE examination, which analyses your clinical and patient-centric capabilities.
Final Words
If you are an international medical graduate, and you can't find the right way to become a doctor in New Zealand, this blog can help you understand the basics of the NZREX exam, which is the licensure examination. The NZREX eligibility criteria is designed to ensure that your path to medical registration in New Zealand is clear and achievable. Without any extensive experience or specialist training, you can clear this examination, just with a valid degree and proven English skills.
With a very high demand for doctors in New Zealand, now is the perfect time for you to prepare and take your first step towards a medical career, which is globally rewarding and fulfilling.
