the means by which we achieve our primary purpose – to ensure that medical practitioners are fit to practise.
evidence that a doctor has met a certain standard.

Medical standards and practice

The Medical Council carries responsibilities in the areas of medical standards and doctors’ conduct and competence.

Guidance and training

The Medical Council guides doctors on medical practice issues and promotes education and training of doctors.

Protection of the public

The Medical Council is responsible for ensuring that doctors maintain high standards of practice.

The Medical Council of New Zealand will register a doctor within a scope of practice, to practise medicine in New Zealand:
on receipt of:

a completed application form, and
correct documentation, and
payment of a gazetted fee, and

if the doctor:

meets fitness for registration requirements as set out in section 16 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCAA), and
holds one or more prescribed qualifications as set by the Medical Council under section 12 of the HPCAA, and
satisfies the competence requirements to practise within the specified scope of practice.

To ensure the doctor is competent to practise in New Zealand the Council will initially grant registration within a provisional scope of practice, with conditions as allowed in section 22 of the HPCAA. The exception to this is for graduates from New Zealand or Australian university medical schools who have completed their internships in New Zealand or Australia, who will be granted registration in the general scope, and a vocational scope if appropriate. Before registration is granted, the Council requires all doctors to demonstrate that they intend to practise medicine in New Zealand.

Application requirements

To be considered for registration, applicants must apply on the correct form, provide the required documentation and pay an application fee. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Fitness for registration

No applicant for registration may be registered if, under section 16 of the HPCAA:

he or she does not satisfy the Council that he or she is able to communicate effectively within the scope of practice in which he or she is applying to be registered; or
he or she does not satisfy the Council that his or her ability to communicate in and comprehend English is sufficient to protect the health and safety of the public; or
he or she has been convicted by any court in New Zealand or elsewhere of any offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of three months or longer, and he or she does not satisfy the Council that the offence does not reflect adversely on his or her fitness to practise; or
the Council considers that the applicant is unable to practise medicine in the scope applied for because of a mental or physical condition; or
he or she is under investigation in respect of any matter that may be the subject of professional disciplinary proceedings in New Zealand or in another country, and the Council believes that those proceedings reflect adversely on his or her fitness to practise medicine; or
he or she is subject to an order of a professional disciplinary tribunal (whether in New Zealand or in another country) or to an order of an educational institution accredited under section 12(2)(a) of the HPCAA, or to an order of an authority or of a similar body in another country; and does not satisfy the Council that that order does not reflect adversely on his or her fitness to practise medicine; or
the Council has reason to believe that the applicant may endanger the health or safety of members of the public.

Registration process diagram

For more information, please contact one of our offices

Last Updated: 12 February 2012

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