Best Specialities for IMGs in NZ

According to the Immigration New Zealand website there are a few medical specialties which are on the Long Term Skills Shortage List (LTSSL). As the name suggests, these are the specialties which are currently in high demand in New Zealand. If you wish to pursue any one of these, you would be eligible under the 'work to residence' category.

As quoted on the Immigration NZ website

"If you meet the requirements on the list and in immigration instructions, we will accept that no New Zealanders are available for the position(s)"

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Accommodation

Where do I stay in NZ?

I will be staying for less than a month

- It would be preferable to stay at a backpacker. 

These usually cost around NZ$25 to NZ$50 per day depending on where you stay, facilities provided and kind of room you need.

- A list of Backpackers in Auckland can be found here.

- Some BBH Backpackers in Auckland listed here.

- It would be a good idea to stay near the Hospital during your observership and then move to Auckland city center once your exam is over.

I will be staying in NZ for a month or more

- In this case you may want to look for home accommodation. It usually costs between NZ$150 to NZ$250 for a week for a room for yourself.

- When you select a room in a home, ask the landlord for the following:

• Internet access
• Power
• Hot water
• Distance from Hospital - proximity to a bus stop
• Furniture in the room (bed, table, heater, wardrobe, etc)

- Most times, landlords will charge an extra fee for the above mentioned facilities. The extra expense ranges from NZ$30 to NZ$50 and should be agreed upon before paying the deposit.

- Usually a deposit of 2-3 weeks rent would be required to be payed and a weeks rent paid in advance too. So be prepared with your cash :)

- Rooms for rent can be found on various websites like:

• www.nzflatmates.co.nz
• www.easyroommate.co.nz
• www.trademe.co.nz/flatmates-wanted (best website but requires you to be in NZ to login and contact people)

• Just do a Google search for 'Flatmates Auckland' or "backpacker Auckland"

Backpackers or Home? What is the best option?

Make your decision after reading the pros and cons of each.

• Backpackers turn out to be the more expensive option at around $30/day ($210/week) compared to a room which can be as low as $150/week
• You don't have to pay a deposit at Backpackers whereas as a flatmate in a home you must shell out atleast $300 upfront as deposit (refundable)
• Your home will have a cleaner bathroom/toilet and more privacy as it will only be shared amongst 2-3 people.
• It may be difficult to find a backpacker away from the city center.
• It may be difficult to get a home if you plan to stay for less than a month.
• A lot of backpackers dont have free wifi, which means you must pay for internet access. Most homes include internet access in their rent.

Where to stay

North Shore Hospital is located at Takapuna, Auckland on the west of Lake Pupuke.

If you find a place to stay at Takapuna, Milford or Hillcrest, the hospital would be within walking distance.

However, if you plan to stay in the city center, there are frequent buses to and from the Hospital. 

Bus fares would be approximately NZ$6.50 from the city center to the Hospital. 

Glenfield, Wairau Valley and Northcote are other good options to find a room these are not too far from the Hospital. Bus fares range from NZ$1.90 to NZ$4.50

How do I calculate Bus Fares?

Try Auckland Transport Website Journey Planner. This will provide bus fares and approximate bus timings for the route you select.

Did you find this information helpful? Please let us know in the comments below!

Study Guide!

How to prepare for the exam.

• Preparation tips

NZREX is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). 

There are lots of OSCE books available and the following study material is highly recommended for NZREX preparation.

If you plan to buy books on Amazon, sign up to Mr. Rebates as you can get a small part o your payment refunded as cashback. Click on the image below to sign up!

Generally, candidates who pass the exam suggest reading the following books:

1. General Practice by John Murtagh (7th edition)

2. A good OSCE case study book like "AMC Handbook of Clinical Assessment" or "Katrina Hurley" or "Hemant Kakuntala" or any other OSCE book. You can find some of these books here.

3. Sample Xrays and ECG's and Lab investigations. 

4. Talley O'Connor Physical Examination Videos (goes along with the Physical examination book)

5. Bates Physical examination videos. Both Bates and Talley videos can be found on YouTube.

• Which lab investigations do I need to know?

Most common ones. Here is a list to get you started

- Full Blood Count

- Serum Creatinine, Electrolytes

- Iron Studies - Link 1

- LFTs - Link 1

- Thyroid Function Test - Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

- Anemia - Link 1, Link 2, Link 3

The best way to get these right is to find a table that can differentiate various possibilities of the test result (like the table in the LFT link above).

  

• So how do i get study material?

Depends on how comfortable you are reading on your laptop. Most of these books can be found online if know where to look. However, if you aren't comfortable reading these on your screen, it may be wise to purchase them. Links to purchase these books have been provided on our website.

• How many months does it take?

It should generally take 3-4 months to prepare for the exam. This may vary depending on your current knowledge and experience. As the Exam is clinical, you should stress more on case studies, management, counselling and communication skills. 

Murtagh is a big book and may take up a considerable amount of time. Make sure you plan accordingly and don't miss out on videos and OSCE cases as these are more important!

You can find a compilation of various physical examination pdfs at the link below.

Physical Examination Guides!

• One day Communication Skills Course

Connect Communications has a one day communication skills course for NZREX candidates. Since communication skills plays such an important role in the NZREX, it is highly recommended that you take the course. 

It is is held in Auckland a few days before each exam (usually on a weekend). Atleast 3 candidates have to enroll for the course to be carried out. They accept only 6 students per batch and hence you must apply well in advance. 

To apply send an email to info@connectcomm.co.nz expressing your interest. This course is also commonly known as the Dr. Richard Fox course.

Have some questions about the exam? You can ask your questions in the comments below or see if it is already answered in our "Frequently Asked Questions about NZREX"

NZREX vs USMLE

Why NZREX?

1. NZ accepts AMC 1or PLAB 1 and hence you can get away by taking only two exams.

2. The pass rate of NZREX is 60% in the past years.

3. Doctors are currently listed in the "Intermediate Shortage Skill List" on the immigration New Zealand Website (as of December 2011)

4. Its pretty easy to get a Visa to enter NZ, compared to USA.

5. You dont have to wait until March of each year to get a job. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

6. Your experience in NZ can help you secure a Residency in USA as NZ is a 'developed, english speaking country'.

7. You can apply for a Permanent Residency (PR, equivalent to Green Card in US) around approximately 1 year form the time you start working.

8. A good alternative to those who cannot make it through the Match process in US

9. Getting a Job in NZ is relatively easier (as of 2013), it takes upto 6 months to get a basic job for decent candidates as per past experiences. In the NZ Healthcare system, almost 41 percent of the workforce is comprised of IMG's (International Medical Graduates).

10. Good standard of living and a very competitive salary (It may not be as good as US or Aus but it will most certainly be more than other developing countries)

Registration and Residency in NZ

Registration and Residency in NZ Flowchart

A few points to note:

- NZ and AUS medical graduates are eligible to apply for the ACE match.

- IMGs have to apply to DHBs by themselves. There is no specific time period when you can apply. 

- NZ citizens and residents are also eligible to apply for the ready to work programme in Auckland.

Do you have any points to add to this? Do let us know in the comments below!

IELTS

English Language Requirements for NZREX

Only the IELTS score is accepted by MCNZ!

You must score:

- 7.5 or more in Speaking and Listening (Many candidates tend to take the speaking sections lightly)

- 7.0 or more in Reading and Writing

IELTS fees may vary in different countries. (US$170 - US$400)

Must be taken within 2 years of your NZREX application

IELTS

Its not just an easy test!

Don't take this test lightly. A lot of people who speak very good English, end up falling short of the 7.5 mark. It is important to prepare for this exam just like you would for any other.

Speaking (7.5) and Writing (7.0) seem to be the most difficult parts for most candidates.

Here are a few points that may help:

1. You MUST know what the IELTS expects from you before you go into the exam. Read the following two documents carefully.

Writing Task 2 Band descriptor

Speaking Band descriptor

2. Practice your essays. Not orally, but write them down and time yourself. Take special efforts to follow coherence and cohesion in your essay. That is the single most important factor that can help you get to 7.0.

3. Websites like dcielts.com and ielts-simon.com have some very good sample essays. A lot of times, the essay question on the exam will be repeated from one of the sample essays on these websites!

4. Practice for speaking with a friend. Try to impress the interviewer. Use a wide range of vocabulary and dont repeat a lot of words.

5. Practice using timed sessions like in the exam.

6. Reading requires practice. Make a plan that you are comfortable with.

Eg. Some candidates prefer to glance through the questions before starting to read the essay. Some questions may be easier to solve 'while' you read the essay.

Observership in NZ

Note: As per updates from recent applicants, it has been noticed that most hospitals in Auckland have been refusing to grant observerships to IMGs.

Other hospitals throughout NZ, however, do accept applications. Feel free to apply!

• What is an Observership?

An Observership is when you are posted in specific departments at a Hospital, where you observe or watch the attendings, residents or fellows as do their daily duties.

You will not have any direct patient contact and may not touch or examine any patients. In other words, you can watch but not touch.

An Externship, however, is when you have the permission to actively be involved in patient care.

The extent of involvement depends on your attending and the level of trust they have on you.

If you are not a registered doctor in NZ, you can only do an Observership!

• Is It Recommended?

Yes it is.

It will surely help you get acquainted to the NZ healthcare system. A lot of students do an observership before their NZREX exam and it seems to be an ongoing trend among IMGs.

Some candidates, on the other hand, claim that their observership did not help them for the exam. 1-2 weeks wouldn't hurt anyways.

• Why Do An Observership?

1. Its free!

2. Can give you an idea of the Medical Healthcare system in NZ, which may be significantly different from the system in your home country.

3. Allows you to interact with other NZ medicos

4. You can clarify doubts and queries with NZ doctors

5. Lets you stay in NZ while you prepare for NZREX

6. Helps you build your communication skills by observing other doctors while they talk to patients

• Experience at North Shore Hospital

"Teaching at North Shore is abundant. There is a set two hours of house officer teaching (with great food provided, although it's the same every time) every week and topics will range from how to put in catheters to palliative care. Each department will also have their own weekly grand rounds, journal clubs, radiology conferences and much more. All the registrars are very willing teach as are most of the consultants."

• Why Do An Observership?

1. Its free!

2. Can give you an idea of the Medical Healthcare system in NZ, which may be significantly different from the system in your home country.

3. Allows you to interact with other NZ medicos

4. You can clarify doubts and queries with NZ doctors

5. Lets you stay in NZ while you prepare for NZREX

I have compiled a list of "most important things to do during your observerships" on this link.

• Application Process

How do I apply?

Look for hospitals in Major cities eg. Auckland

Call/email them and ask for an observership.

You may be required to show them a copy of your NZREX acceptance letter. Some Hospitals accept only NZ grads for observerships. So its best to call and ask them if you are eligible.

A few hospitals are listed below to get you started:

1. North Shore Hospital

Phone: (09) 486 8900 or Freephone 0800 80 93 42

124 Shakespeare Road

Takapuna

Auckland City 0622

2. Waitakere Hospital

Phone: (09) 839 0000 or Freephone 0800 80 93 42

55-75 Lincoln Road

Henderson

Auckland City 0610

3. Auckland City Hospital

Phone (09) 367 0000

2 Park Road

Grafton

Auckland 1023

4. Middlemore Hospital

Hospital Road

Otahuhu

Auckland

Phone (09) 276 0000

Fax (09) 276 0156

5. Waikato Hospital

Hamilton

Phone (07) 839 8899

Fax (07) 839 8799

Email General Enquiries info@waikatodhb.health.nz

6. Tauranga Hospital

Tauranga South

Tauranga 3112

Phone (07) 579 8000

Fax (07) 578 2649

7. Other Hospitals

• Duration

How long should I do an observership?

1-2 weeks is recommended, however, you may apply for more depending on the amount of time you plan to stay in NZ. Also keep in mind that you may/may not be able to study while you observe. So plan accordingly.

• When to apply

It is recommended that you apply well in advance for your Observership. Candidates usually come to NZ a couple of months before their exams for observerships and hence the dates just before an exam get filled up pretty quick. Keep an eye on exam dates, plan your trip accordingly and make sure you apply as early as possible.

• Hospitals in and around Auckland

Check out this interactive map below.

View Hospitals in and around Auckland in a larger map

Did you successfully secure an Observership? Let us know in the comments below!