Getting registered in NZ...

[LadySerenity]

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Hi,

my b/f and I are thinking about immigrating to NZ. He is a medic, but not yet a sertificated specialist. I just really want to talk to people who wave experienced the process of registration in NZ, or at least are well acquainted to the rules and have some idea of how much it might cost and how much time it might take (all the exams, etc).

What is an average salary of a "fresh" psychiatrist in NZ?
Are there good job opportunities?

Thanks!
Anna

 

[Purifyer]

Hi,

my b/f and I are thinking about immigrating to NZ. He is a medic, but not yet a sertificated specialist. I just really want to talk to people who wave experienced the process of registration in NZ, or at least are well acquainted to the rules and have some idea of how much it might cost and how much time it might take (all the exams, etc).

What is an average salary of a "fresh" psychiatrist in NZ?
Are there good job opportunities?

Thanks!
Anna

I'll try to help as much as I can (not much 🙂 ). Instead of getting registered in NZ your bf may want to consider 'temporary registration'. On my psychiatry attachment my consultant was an American, and he is on a temporary liscense. It is good because apparently you don't need to go through any sort of accreditation process, not many strings attached... the bad is obviously the temporary part...

Make no mistake however - NZ (and the rest of the civilized world it would seem) is crying out for psychiatrists. The impression I got from my consultant is that he could stay for a long time if he chose to.

I have no idea what the starting salary would be. It's likely to be NZ~$120k probably. Keep in mind your bf will be limited to public practice only (I presume)

NB. I gleaned this knowledge a year ago during a five minute conversation... caveat emptor and all that

 

[markfreak]

Hi! What specialization is currently in demand in NZ? Is it easy for a foreigner to get registered in NZ? I plan to migrate there after finishing my medical degree.

 

[Adele]

Hi! What specialization is currently in demand in NZ? Is it easy for a foreigner to get registered in NZ? I plan to migrate there after finishing my medical degree.

Hiya,

Here is a link i hope that you will find helpful: http://www.mcnz.org.nz/default.aspx?tabid=1024
(It should send you to the Medical Council of NZ website page with info for overseas Drs). NZ is reasonably strict but I can't compare it to any other country. I would definitely recommend that you come to NZ with some form of employment with temporary registration so that you have help through the registration process. I have come across several Drs that have immigrated to NZ first and slaved away in the Medical School library in the hope of gaining registration. Good English skills are a high priority.

With regards to speclisations that are in demand, the big two are General Practise (specifically rural GP) and Psychiatry. In fact, both medical schools have recently introduced places for students intending to go into those areas in order to address this deficit. NZ is a relatively small country so being a rural GP is not as extreme as being a rural GP in a lot of other countries. You can't be more than a 3 hour drive from a hosptial and most rural areas are covered by helicopter services. The big negative associated with being a GP is the salary - start around 70K and probably don't go much above 120K. As the average NZ salary is around 35K you can live very comfortably on a GP salary. You won't earn as much as you would in different specialisations and being overseas but people tend to move to NZ for the lifestyle (for good reason 🙂 ). Another speciality that arguably is in demand is Obs/Gy. We don't have the same sort of litigation system that threatens these Drs in other countries but some problems still exist.

A

 

[markfreak]

thanks adele! so informative... looks like i should take family medicine as my residency to qualify as GP in NZ. right now, i'm only in my 2nd year of medicine. but i'm planning ahead.

geez, i want to live there someday. i don't care if i'll be assigned in the boondocks.

if you have spare time, tell me more about being a doctor in NZ. 🙂

 

[cache]

in case of planning for registration in NZ , one should be aware of the fact, that you need to pass USMLE part I and II, and following that one has to give the NZREX clinical exam, for which the pass percentage is only 12 -13 %.
and also the exams are not cheap, as one has to spend at least close to $ 8000, just for the exams, and not including the travel, accommodation, etc.
and some of my friends who have managed to clear all this, are now without jobs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks adele! so informative... looks like i should take family medicine as my residency to qualify as GP in NZ. right now, i'm only in my 2nd year of medicine. but i'm planning ahead.

geez, i want to live there someday. i don't care if i'll be assigned in the boondocks.

if you have spare time, tell me more about being a doctor in NZ. 🙂

 

[markfreak]

12-13% passing rate!!! 😱 is that right? spending $8000 is way too much. what the hell!!! never mind.

 

[cache]

mark,
it is simple maths,
each step of USMLE ie. I, and II costs $2000 each, and
NZREX Clinical costs approx $4000.
The pass percentage varies between, 10-20 %, it is frustrating, if they do not want overseas candidates to apply, they should be forthright and say so, instead of making students spend a fortune.

 

[markfreak]

the ironic thing here is in the nz immigration application form (for skilled workers)... the nz government prioritizes doctors. they even classified it as absolute shortage profession. an applicant gets huge points if he applies as a doctor. but nzrex expenses & passing rate are turn-offs. if the gov't is really serious in attracting foreign doctors to solve this shortage, maybe they should lower the nzrex fee. i could already buy a 2nd hand car with $3700. 😀

 

[Adele]

the ironic thing here is in the nz immigration application form (for skilled workers)... the nz government prioritizes doctors. they even classified it as absolute shortage profession. an applicant gets huge points if he applies as a doctor. but nzrex expenses & passing rate are turn-offs. if the gov't is really serious in attracting foreign doctors to solve this shortage, maybe they should lower the nzrex fee. i could already buy a 2nd hand car with $3700. 😀

What is truly ironic is that NZ is short of skilled labourers such as experienced plumbers, electricians and specialty builders but because of the points system these professionals would find it almost impossible to get into NZ. Consequently, those who are currently working in NZ can charge whatever they want per hour (more than Drs) and no-one can complain if they have to wait several weeks for work to be completed. So, if you like fiddling with human plumbing, perhaps you could consider using your Drs training to obtain the points to immigrate and then re-train as a plumber here 🙂