International Medical Graduates (IMGs)
The qualifications of Certificate of Attainment in Musculoskeletal Medicine and Fellowship of NZAMM is unique to New Zealand. The Medical Council of New Zealand, but not the Australian Medical Council, recognises the Fellowship for purposes of vocational (specialist) registration in Musculoskeletal Medicine.
The following refers to applying for vocational registration in Musculoskeletal Medicine from outside New Zealand and without NZ qualifications.
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) seeking to train or work in Musculoskeletal Medicine in New Zealand are obliged to follow the process set by the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ). https://www.mcnz.org.nz/registration/getting-registered/moving-to-practise-in-new-zealand/
If an IMG with an overseas post graduate medical qualification in a field rich in Musculoskeletal Medicine ( such as non-operative Orthopaedics, Physiatry, Regenerative Medicine or Rehabilitation) applies for vocational registration with MCNZ, the Council may ask NZAMM for advice about the IMG’s qualifications, training and experience (QTE) and whether this is at the level of a New Zealand trained specialist in musculoskeletal medicine. MCNZ will consider NZAMM advice and decide if the IMG is suitable for the provisional vocational registration pathway. An IMG who wishes to appeal the outcome of an application should do so through MCNZ appeal processes.
On receipt of the request for advice by MCNZ, an NZAMM assessment panel considers the IMG’s application, by means of a paper-based assessment. The panel compares the applicant’s supporting documents with the prescribed NZAMM Fellowship programme outcomes, using an IMG assessment template. The panel will consider references and referee reports. Each component of the template is graded for relative equivalence to a New Zealand trained specialist in musculoskeletal medicine, followed by an overall assessment of equivalence. NZAMM then considers and proposes pathway requirements for the applicant to the MCNZ. The panel may also require a formal interview to provide further information on clinical expertise, and will assess other domains, including communication and professionalism.
Once a decision has been made by MCNZ to provide provisional registration in the vocational scope of Musculoskeletal Medicine . a period of supervised practice will take place according to a decision by NZAMM and working with MCNZ.