In the UK, Australia and New Zealand, there are house officer and registrar jobs which are accredited by the appropriate postgraduate training authorities (Royal Colleges) for basic and advanced training. These jobs count towards the requirements for taking specialist exams.

Service jobs are not accredited for training and are open to applications from junior doctors who are not actively enrolled in specialist training programs. Whilst these jobs do not provide credits towards specialist qualification, they do provide valuable clinical experience and are popular with physicians who have not yet decided upon a specialist path, are preparing to embark on a specialist pathway or are just looking for clinical experience in a particular clinical field. They are also a good option for international physicians to get experience of working in a new healthcare system.

Job titles vary between different healthcare systems but the registrar is the more senior position. Most doctors will work for 2 years after graduation as house officers and then progress to senior house officer jobs (PGY3/4) and then to registrar jobs (PGY4/5).

A registrar assumes a higher level of clinical responsibility including the supervision of the house officers. 

Upon graduation from medical school, junior doctors undertake a period of supervised medical practice under provisional registration with the medical regulatory authority, usually rotating through a variety of medical specialties but always including general medicine and general surgery. 

The postgraduate year (PGY) 1 physician is the most junior member of the medical team and is responsible for the basic medical care of patients admitted to hospital. The job title used most commonly is house officer or PGY1 physician but in the USA and Canada the term intern is used.  

At the end of 12 months satisfactory work, the doctor is eligible to apply for full registration as a medical practitioner and then complete foundation or pre-vocational training by working in a series of medical specialties to broaden experience for a further 12 months as a PGY2 house officer. 

In Australia and New Zealand PGY1 and PGY2 are classed as pre-vocational training whilst in the UK, the term foundation years (FY1 and FY2) is used. However the aim is the same; broad general clinical experience as a foundation for entering vocational / specialist training programs to eventually qualify as a primary care physician (family physician or general practitioner) or specialist.

In the USA and Canada the Internship is just one year and doctors can enter residency programs (specialist training) in PGY2. 

After completing foundation or pre-vocational training, junior doctors must decide upon a specialist pathway and undertake further postgraduate training to qualify as a general practitioner (family physician) or specialist.

General Practice / Family Medicine Training - 3 years (PGY 3-5)

General Practice / Family Medicine residency programs are the shortest at just three years in the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The training is comprised of rotations through several specialist fields at the level of house officer followed by a year in a general practice or family medicine clinic working under supervision. At the end of the training, the final fellowship or board certification exam is taken and the physician is a fully fledged GP or Family Physician ready for independent medical practice.

Urgent Care and Rural Medicine -  4-5 years

Urgent care and rural medicine vocational training programs are available in New Zealand and Australia and are longer than the general practice programs but shorter than the specialist programs. This training is based in clinics and small hospitals with the aim of experience in broad, general medical practice.

Specialist Training - Basic and Advanced 6 years (PGY3-8)

Specialist postgraduate training is divided into basic and advanced levels with each component lasting three years in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The requirements for the completion of basic training must be met before proceeding to advanced training jobs.

At the end of training, the final fellowship exam is taken to obtain professional status and registration as a specialist physician in a primary and often a secondary specialty (sub specialty). For example internal medicine is a primary specialty and cardiology and nephrology secondary specialties.

In the USA and Canada residency programs are shorter at 3-5 years duration.

Fellowship training, not to be confused with the fellowship exams, is a subspecialist training program of short duration, usually 12 months or less in a defined area of specialist practice such as interventional cardiology or knee surgery. 

To successfully apply for a house officer or registrar job in New Zealand, you must meet the requirements for general  or provisional general registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand, the sole professional regulatory authority in New Zealand.

You will be eligible if you are:

1. Australian or New Zealand Medical Graduate
2. UK or Irish Medical Graduate who has completed Foundation Year One (FY1)
3. International Medical Graduate who has passed NZREX or PLAB 1and 2

Read about obtaining a licence to practise in New Zealand 

If you meet the eligibility criteria for a licence, you can proceed to apply for jobs. 

Read about the process for getting a junior doctor job in New Zealand.

To successfully apply for a house officer or registrar job in Australia, you must meet the requirements for general  or provisional general registration with the Australian Medical Board, the sole professional regulatory authority in Australia.

You will be eligible if you are:

1. Australian or New Zealand Medical Graduate
2. UK or Irish Medical Graduate who has completed Foundation Year One (FY1).
3. International Medical Graduate who has passed the AMC exams. 

If you meet the eligibility criteria for a licence, you can proceed to apply for jobs.