Te Whatu Ora programmes for NZREX graduates

4 August 2022; updated 28 October 2022

The Minister of Health has announced two new initiatives targeted at overseas doctors who have passed their New Zealand Registration Examination (NZREX) examination in the last five years, allowing them to apply for roles in New Zealand that will lead to full registration as a doctor.

NZREX Bridging Programme

This programme is focused on hospital training and prepares candidates for entry into the two-year internship training programme in hospitals.

The initial pilot will be for up to 10 candidates and will be run as a six-month bridging programme in the Northern Region (based in Auckland).

NZREX Primary Care pathway

This programme is a pathway to full registration for a career in general practice.

Training is largely focused on practice in the community, eg. primary care, and it will include a component of hospital-based training. The initial pilot will be for a cohort of 8-10 candidates, and will be delivered over two years in partnership with primary care providers in the Waikato region.

More information on both programmes, including selection criteria and how to apply, is at Overseas doctors – Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand .

The Medical Council is unable to provide any further information. Te Whatu Ora is managing both pilots.