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Pathway to a Physician Job in New Zealand

Pathway to a Physician Job in New Zealand

By : Admin )

In New Zealand, An undergraduate education and medical school are required, in addition to serving time as an "intern", similar to residency in the United States. Unlike medical education requirements in the U.S., you will not need to take a comprehensive medical exam in order to register as a medical doctor. 

Pathway

1. Take and pass the UMAT (Undergraduate Medical and Health Sciences Admission Test) in order to seek admission into the medical program. The exam tests your potential to succeed in a medical program at the university level. You need to have a strong foundation of knowledge in health science, biology, social studies, chemistry, anatomy, physiology and algebra. You are limited to two attempts in passing this exam. 

2. Attend and graduate from a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) program, accredited by the Medical Council of New Zealand. The program will take six years to complete and is a rigorous program of study, requiring you to pass each year in its entirety, before moving on the next year. The entire program requires passing before graduation.

3. Complete and pass year one of the bachelor of health sciences program, requiring a comprehensive exam at culmination. You will need to pass the exam in order to enter into year two of the bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery program. In the first year, you will study topics in health and society, epidemiology, behavior and health, health systems and health care ethics. The objective is to focus on understanding the roles of government and society in the health care setting, how health care systems function and the roots causes of ill health including biological and social bases.

4. Complete and pass years two and three, which focus on medical and biological courses, coupled with the clinical and professional aspects of medical practice in New Zealand.

5. Complete and pass years four through six, which mainly consist of hands-on application in university hospitals and clinics, along with some practice in overseas locations as dictated by the university.

6. Graduate with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree, preparing you to enter the field of medicine as a probationary medical doctor.

7. Complete the required one-year probationary period after graduation. You must serve one year under the supervision of an accredited, registered physician in an accredited hospital as approved by the Medical Council of New Zealand. You may choose the hospital you prefer to work in, as long as the hospital is on the accredited list. The hospital will assign your supervising physician 

8. Register as a general medical doctor in New Zealand. You will need to visit the Medical Council of New Zealand's website and take the self-assessment to determine the forms you need.

Acknowledgement - Ehow