INTERNAL MEDICINE AND SUBSPECIALITYJOBS IN NEW ZEALAND 

Vocational training in internal medicine is administered by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). Following completion of RACP training, doctors are awarded the Fellowship of the RACP (FRACP).

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is the professional medical College which connects, trains and represents over 30,000 medical specialists and trainee specialists from 33 different specialties, across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The RACP educational duties include:

1. Provide accredited specialist training to trainee doctors who have completed their medical degree and wish to further specialise as physicians in Australia or New Zealand.
2. Provide continuing professional development and education for specialists who have completed their physician training and have become Fellows of the RACP.
3. Assess Overseas Trained Physicians who wish to practise as physicians in Australia or New Zealand
4. Hold events including conferences, training sessions and continuing professional development workshops.
5. Provide opportunities for physicians and trainee physicians to connect as a community of physicians in Australia and New Zealand

The FRACP Training Program is a six year program which consists of basic and advanced programs.

Basic Training

Adult Internal Medicine or Paediatrics & Child Health

Advanced training

Division training programs

1. Cardiology
2. Clinical Genetics
3. Clinical Haematology
4. Clinical Immunology & Allergy
5. Clinical Pharmacology
6. Community Child Health P
7. Dermatology (NZ only)
8. Endocrinology
9. Gastroenterology
10. General & Acute Care Medicine A
11. General Paediatrics P
12. Geriatric Medicine A
13. Infectious Diseases
14. Medical Oncology
15. Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine P
16. Nephrology
17. Neurology
18. Nuclear Medicine
19. Palliative Medicine 2
20. Respiratory Medicine
21. Rheumatology
22. Sleep Medicine

Joint training programs

FRACP and FAFRM

Paediatric Rehabilitation Medicine 

FRACP and FRCPA

Endocrinology & Chemical Pathology 

Haematology

Immunology & Allergy

Infectious Diseases & Microbiology

FRACP and/or FACEM

Paediatric Emergency Medicine  

Chapter training programs

1. Addiction Medicine FAChAM
2. Palliative Medicine FAChPM
3. Sexual Health Medicine FAChSHM

Faculty training programs

1. Rehabilitation Medicine FAFRM
2. Occupational & Environmental Medicine
   FAFOEM
3. Public Health Medicine FAFPHM

To apply for vocational registration in the speciality of internal medicine, you need either:

• the FRACP qualification; or
• an international postgraduate medical qualification in internal medicine, where your combination of qualifications, training and experience is assessed against the standard of the FACEM.

The Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) does not have a list of recognised specialist qualifications from other countries and each application is assessed individually. Your combination of qualifications, training and experience, will be assessed against the standard of the FACEM.

Recognised specialists in New Zealand must complete 6 years of training and satisfy the requirements below:

• 3 years of basic internal physician training, including:
• a minimum of 36 months' clinical and educational experience, which commences 12 months after graduation
• 24 of the 36 months must be in internal medicine
• a broad knowledge of the principles and practice of internal medicine and clinical competence
• an attempt at the FRACP examination in the third year (or later)
• 3 years of advanced internal physician training. Advanced training must be in either comprehensive medical care, or one or more internal medicine subspecialties
• participation in the RACP continuing professional development programme (MyCPD).

Once a trainee has successfully completed all the examination and training requirements they will be awarded the FRACP in internal medicine.

International medical graduates are assessed in comparison to this standard.

There are three pathways to apply for vocational registration. 

VOC 1 - physicians who hold FRACP and general registration with the Australian Medical Board or Medical Council of New Zealand.

VOC 2 - physicians who hold FRACP but do not have general registration with the Australian Medical Board or Medical Council of New Zealand.

VOC 3 - international medical graduates who have neither FRACP nor general registration with the Australian Medical Board or Medical Council of New Zealand.

Each application form lists the information which must be included with the application.

This consists of the following:

1. completed VOC 3 application form
2. curriculum vitae
3. passport copy
4. copy of medical degree
5. copy of specialist qualification
6. copy of current medical practice registration / licence
7. 3 reference forms
8. an overview of specialist training programme
9. evidence of participation in Continuing Medical Education (CME)
10. EPIC Report of primary source verification of credentials 

Your application will go through initial checks with the MCNZ before being sent to the ACEM for assessment. 

Other things to consider include:

1. does the country in which you trained and practised have a comparable health system to New Zealand? The MCNZ has listed over 30 countries which it has rated as having healthcare systems of a similar standard and preference is generally given to applicants who have trained and worked in these countries.
2. how does the structure and length of your training programme compare with the New Zealand training programme for the vocational scope in which you are making your application?
3. have you been awarded a certificate of completion (or similar) for your basic and advanced specialist training? For example, the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) from the United Kingdom.
4. do you have recent clinical experience within the vocational scope in which you are making your application?
5. is your experience across the full vocational scope in which you are making your application or is it limited to a subspecialty only?

You may be eligible to apply for other categories of registation with the MCNZ. These include special purpose registration and general registration. 

Special purpose registration is valid for a maximum of 12 months and is useful for fixed term contracts and locums.

General registration is suitable for doctors aiming to work at sub specialist levels.