Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) in Aotearoa New Zealand
欧美AV welcomes specialists and subspecialists from around the world to apply for recognition to practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. ApplyContact Us
Role of 欧美AV
As the vocational educational advisory body in obstetrics and gynaecology, 欧美AV will assess whether your training, qualifications and experience are likely to be equivalent to those of a specialist trained听in Aotearoa New Zealand.
MCNZ seeks advice from 欧美AV on two groups of SIMGs:
Those who are currently overseas (i.e. not already residing or working in Aotearoa New Zealand) and wish to apply to be registered within the scope of O&G in Aotearoa New Zealand
Those who are already working in Aotearoa New Zealand via another registration pathway (e.g. general scope or provisional general scope) and wish to obtain vocational registration within the scope of practice of obstetrics and gynaecology
Apply
To apply for assessment with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), with 欧美AV acting as the vocational educational advisory body, you must:
On receiving your application, MCNZ will:
- Verify your documentation
- Seek feedback from your referees
- Forward your application to 欧美AV for paper-based assessment
As the vocational educational advisory body 欧美AV will complete a paper-based assessment of your qualifications, training, and experience to determine equivalence to those of a New Zealand-trained vocationally registered doctor who holds Fellowship with 欧美AV and provide MCNZ with one of the following recommendations:
Equivalent/as satisfactory as a locally trained specialist
MCNZ may grant you provisional vocational registration and you will be able to apply for one of two provisional vocational pathways – and begin supervised practice (subject to approval of your employment and supervision arrangements by 欧美AV).
Neither equivalent to, nor as satisfactory as:
If 欧美AV determines that you do not have training, qualifications and experience equivalent to or as satisfactory as the standard of a New Zealand-trained vocationally-registered doctor, MCNZ will decline your application and advise you about other options for gaining registration in New Zealand.
Unable to make a recommendation
If 欧美AV is unable to make a recommendation based on the documentation you have provided, you may be asked to provide more information or required to proceed to interview with a SIMG panel.
If your application requires an interview, the SIMG assessment panel will further explore:
- Your overseas training, qualifications and experience in obstetrics and gynaecology
- Your response to some short scenarios assessing your clinical knowledge and skills, and your understanding of the New Zealand healthcare system and culture
Please see the Assessment Outcomes section below to learn more about the progress of your application after the interview.
Before you apply for assessment with MCNZ, please note:
- The SIMG assessment process unavoidably involves a good deal of paperwork, please allow plenty of time to prepare your application thoroughly
- A favourable SIMG assessment does not guarantee you employment in Aotearoa New Zealand
Cultural Competency training
欧美AV encourages all SIMG applicants to Aotearoa New Zealand to complete MIHI401 during the application period. MIHI 401 is an introductory online cultural competency programme, outlining Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te reo M膩ori, and Tikanga. It is designed specifically for Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs).
The College requires all Aotearoa New Zealand F欧美AV trainees to complete MIHI501 , which is a more comprehensive course offered by the M膩ori/Indigenous Health Institute (at the University of Otago) that builds on understanding gained from MIHI401.
If granted provisional vocational registration through the MCNZ VOC3 Pathway in O&G, you will be required to complete MIHI401 and MIHI501 during your supervision period.
For more information on SIMG assessments, please refer to the 欧美AV Regulations (Section D: Assessment of Specialist International Medical Graduates).
1. Application form
Complete an (including a referee report), as outlined on the MCNZ website.
2. Additional information
Complete the听.
3. Submit application
Submit your application documents (including the 欧美AV Additional Information Form, and payment details for the application fee) to MCNZ for assessment.
Please note that if you鈥檙e applying from the UK, you should submit a Certificate of Completion of 欧美AV (or equivalent) as evidence of your specialist qualification. Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG), or the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP), is not considered to be a stand-alone specialist qualification.
Assessment outcomes
Based on your assessment interview, 欧美AV will recommend one of the three assessment outcomes outlined below.
The Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) will then make the final decision about eligibility for registration and advise you in writing of any additional requirements you must undertake to qualify for registration within the vocational scope of obstetrics and gynaecology.
If your qualification and experience are assessed as equivalent to a New Zealand trained specialist, MCNZ will grant you provisional vocational registration to begin a period of supervised specialist practice for up to 12 months.
If your qualification and experience are assessed to be as satisfactory as a New Zealand trained specialist, MCNZ will grant you provisional vocational registration to begin a period of supervised practice for a period of 12鈥18 months and may also specify assessments or other requirements for you to complete during the supervision period.
If your qualification and experience are assessed as neither equivalent to nor as satisfactory as a New Zealand trained specialist, you may wish to consider applying for the Fellowship of 欧美AV (F欧美AV) specialist training program.
For more information on applying for the F欧美AV training program, please visit International Medical Graduates.
Vocational registration
On receiving provisional vocational registration from MCNZ, you must enrol in the 欧美AV CPD program before MCNZ will grant full vocational registration.
You can choose to enrol as soon as you鈥檙e granted provisional registration from MCNZ, or closer to the time of application for full vocational registration.
Join the 欧美AV CPD program
- Review the 欧美AV CPD program fees
- Complete and submit
If you decide not to enrol in the 欧美AV CPD program until you鈥檙e ready to apply for full vocational registration, we welcome you to join 欧美AV as your professional membership organisation by applying to be an educational affiliate.
Become an educational affiliate member
- Learn more about Educational Affiliate Membership
- Review the annual membership fees
- Complete and submit
Once you鈥檝e completed all the requirements outlined to you by MCNZ, including enrolment in the 欧美AV CPD program, you will be able to apply to MCNZ for full vocational registration. This application will be considered by MCNZ.
Once you鈥檝e been granted full vocational registration (after your supervision period and any other requirements are completed), you will be eligible to apply to become a Fellow of 欧美AV.
To apply to become a Fellow of 欧美AV, please complete and submit a
Subspeciality certification
Subspecialist SIMGs in Aotearoa New Zealand can be assessed for subspeciality certification by 欧美AV. The pathway is available to SIMGs who are already working in Aotearoa New Zealand under provisional or full vocational registration with the MCNZ, or those seeking concurrent subspeciality certification at the time of applying for vocational registration with the MCNZ.
More information can be found in the 欧美AV Regulations –听Section D Assessment of Specialist International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
For a transitional period we are offering fee waivers for applicants who have either provisional or full vocational registration in the scope of O&G and attained this between 2023 and 2026.
Applications need to be received by the end of 2027 to be eligible for a fee waiver. Please see our SIMG fees.
Apply
1. Application form
Complete the .
- All the documents you require for your application are listed on the first page of the application.
- This may require some of your qualifications needing to be verified through .
2. Pay application fee
欧美AV staff will email you an invoice if an application fee is required.
3. Complete the Summary of Preliminary Review (SPR) Response Form
Your application will be sent to a subspecialist assessor for a Preliminary Review, and you will receive a Summary of Preliminary Review (SPR) shortly after. The SPR addresses procedural fairness for SIMGs and aims to ensure that you have seen the information that 欧美AV will use to decide either 鈥楨ligible for Interview鈥 or 鈥楴ot Comparable鈥, noting that non-technical professional attributes are not assessed as part of the SPR.
You will be given 21 days to add to or correct the details of the information before the decision is made.
4. Preliminary Review Outcome
i. Eligible for interview: You will be invited to 欧美AV鈥檚 next available interview day.
ii. Not comparable: Applicants who are assessed to be not at the standard expected of a 欧美AV trained subspecialist commencing practice (at the level of a newly qualified subspecialist) will not progress further for subspeciality assessment.
5. Subspeciality certification interview
欧美AV staff will arrange an interview time for you and invoice you any applicable interview fee.
6. Subspeciality certification interview outcome
i. Substantially comparable: You will need to satisfactorily complete a period of supervised subspecialist work in a position prospectively approved by the College; the equivalent number of months of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities in the 欧美AV CPD program; and any other requirements determined by the interview panel.
ii. Partially comparable: You will need to satisfactorily complete a period of supervised specialist work in a position prospectively approved by the college; the equivalent number of months of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities in the 欧美AV CPD program; and any other requirements determined by the interview panel which may or may not include examinations.
iii. Not comparable: As per Regulation D3.4.1.3 it is recommended that you first complete the generalist O&G SIMG pathway and meet the requirements for Fellowship of 欧美AV. You may subsequently apply to enter the relevant subspecialty training program at Year 1, having met the necessary entry requirements.
7. Complete supervised time and requirements
Complete the stipulated time and requirements in a prospectively approved position. There may be a supervision/placement fee and ongoing SIMG fees. 欧美AV staff will contact you regarding these.
8. Apply for Subspecialty certification
Please contact the SIMG team via email: nzsimg@ranzcog.org.nz who will provide you with an application form and relevant F欧美AV or subspeciality documentation.
Appeals Procedure
The College’s appeals procedure offers procedural fairness in circumstances where an individual is dissatisfied with a College decision.
SIMGs who are applying to MCNZ for registration within the vocational scope of O&G can apply concurrently for subspeciality certification. To do this you must tick the box in Section 4 of the 欧美AV Additional Information Form 鈥楧o you wish to also be assessed for 欧美AV certification in your subspeciality?鈥
Once the MCNZ has processed your application 欧美AV will contact you to apply for assessment of your subspeciality certification. Your applications will be processed concurrently and, where possible, registration requirements and subspeciality certification requirements will be aligned.
More information can be found in the 欧美AV Regulations –听Section D Assessment of Specialist International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
Apply
1. Application form
Complete an听, as outlined on the MCNZ website. Check the list of documents required for the to ensure as many as possible can be used for both applications (for example ensure your subspeciality qualification is included for EPIC qualification verification, and your referees meet the criteria required for a subspeciality certification assessment).
2. Invitation to apply for subspeciality certification by 欧美AV
Once 欧美AV has received your submitted application from MCNZ you will be sent the link to apply for subspeciality assessment.
3. Subspeciality application received
Once your application for subspeciality certification has been received 欧美AV will invoice an application fee and send your subspeciality application to a subspecialist assessor.
4. Application for vocational registration with MCNZ
Your application for vocational registration with MCNZ will be assessed by 欧美AV and the completed report returned to MCNZ, and subsequently to you. The next steps depend on the outcome of this assessment. If the pathway requirement is 鈥渋nterview required鈥, you will receive a SPR as below.
5. Complete the Summary of Preliminary Review (SPR) Response Form
A Preliminary Review will be completed on your subspeciality application, and you will receive a Summary of Preliminary Review (SPR). The SPR addresses procedural fairness for SIMGs and aims to ensure that you have seen the information that 欧美AV will use to decide either 鈥楨ligible for Interview鈥 or 鈥楴ot Comparable鈥, noting that non-technical professional attributes are not assessed as part of the SPR.
You will be given 21 days to add to or correct the details of that information before the interim decision is made.
6. Preliminary review outcome
i. Eligible for interview: 欧美AV will recommend to MCNZ that an interview is required. If this advice is accepted by MCNZ, you can request an interview with 欧美AV.
ii. Not comparable: You will not progress for further subspeciality assessment. Applicants assessed as not comparable are found to be not at the standard expected of an Australia/New Zealand trained subspecialist commencing practice (at the level of a newly qualified Subspecialist). This subspeciality certification outcome may or may not affect your eligibility for vocational registration by MCNZ.
7.Concurrent MCNZ and subspeciality certification interview
欧美AV staff will arrange an interview time for you.
8. Subspeciality certification interview outcome
i. Substantially comparable: You will need to satisfactorily complete a period of supervised subspecialist work in a position prospectively approved by the college; the equivalent number of months of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities in the 欧美AV CPD program; and any other requirements determined by the interview panel
ii. Partially comparable: You will need to satisfactorily complete a period of supervised subspecialist work in a position prospectively approved by the college; the equivalent number of months of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities in the 欧美AV CPD program; and any other requirements determined by the interview panel which may or may not include examinations.
iii. Not comparable: As per Regulation D3.4.1.3 it is recommended that you first complete the generalist O&G SIMG pathway and meet the requirements for Fellowship of 欧美AV and subsequently apply to enter the relevant subspecialty training program at Year 1, having met the necessary entry requirements.
9. Complete supervised time and subspeciality requirements
Complete the stipulated time and requirements in a prospectively approved position. There may be a supervision/placement fee and ongoing SIMG fees. 欧美AV staff will contact you regarding these.
10. Complete MCNZ requirements and apply for full vocational registration
This application needs to be completed through MCNZ
11. Apply for Subspecialty certification
Please contact the SIMG team via email: nzsimg@ranzcog.org.nz who will provide you with an application form and relevant F欧美AV or subspeciality documentation.
Appeals Procedure
The College’s appeals procedure offers procedural fairness in circumstances where an individual is dissatisfied with a College decision. Any queries related to the application for vocational registration need to go to MCNZ.
Becoming an Assessor
The College relies upon the willingness of individual Fellows to give of their time in order to conduct many of its core activities.听The assessment of SIMGs for comparability to a 欧美AV trained specialist is one such area.
To learn more about becoming an SIMG assessor, please read the following document or email the SIMG team in Aotearoa New Zealand nzsimg@ranzcog.org.nz.
Frequently asked questions
Please browse the topics below for a selection of frequently asked questions relevant to specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs).
Q. What if I didn鈥檛 have a logbook during my training?
A. You can provide a summary of the type and numbers of procedures completed during your training and/or recent practice.
Q. Who should I use as referees?
A. Your three referees should be colleagues who you have worked with in the past two years. One referee must be a current supervisor or colleague where you are currently working. Referees must be currently working as a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology.
Please note, members of the SIMG Assessment Committee or 欧美AV Board are not eligible to provide references, in accordance with our Conflict of Interest Policy.
Q. How do I obtain medical registration to work in Aotearoa New Zealand?
A. Registration of medical professionals in Aotearoa New Zealand is the responsibility of the听.
Q. How should I prepare for the interview?
A. To help you understand the scope of knowledge, skills and practice expected of a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology in Aotearoa New Zealand, you may wish to familiarise yourself with the Fellowship of 欧美AV 欧美AV Program Handbook
On inviting you attend an interview, the College will also provide you with access to the online learning modules that are available to local trainees.
Q. How long will the interview take?
A. Interviews normally take between 60 and 90 minutes.
Q. What is the format of the interview?
A. The interview panel usually consists of three Fellows and a community representative. The panel will further explore the information provided in your application, and ask you to respond to several short clinical scenarios designed to assess your interaction with patients, and your awareness of cultural and medico-legal issues in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Q. Who will notify the appropriate Government bodies of my interview assessment outcome?
A. The Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) will notify the College of interview assessment outcomes.
Q. What if I鈥檓 not satisfied with my assessment outcome?
A. Please contact the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).
Q. Does 欧美AV recommend a recruitment agency?
A. No, the College cannot endorse any particular recruitment agency.
However, you may find it helpful to visit the .
Q. Can 欧美AV help me to secure a visa Aotearoa New Zealand?
A. No, the College does not handle any matters relating to visas. All enquiries should be directed to听.