Are you eligible for the ACE Programme

The Advanced Choice of Employment (ACE) program recently made a few changes to their eligibility criteria. From the year 2013 onward, any candidate who hasn't graduated from a NZ or Aus medical school will not be eligible!

Who is eligible to participate in the ACE program?

• Graduates from New Zealand medical schools and are citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand/Australia.
• Graduates from Australian medical schools and are citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand/Australia.
• Graduates from New Zealand medical schools and are not permanent residents of New Zealand/Australia.
• Graduates from Australian medical schools and are not permanent residents of New Zealand/Australia.

Applicants will be excluded from being matched to a DHB if they:

• Fail to submit a complete application by 5.00pm 28 June 2013.
• Indicate in their completed application that they are unable to start work on 25 November 2013.
• Do not meet the eligibility criteria as set out above.

This comes at a time when getting a 1st year House Officer Position for IMGs has been getting increasingly difficult. To add to this, the NZREX will now be conducted 5 times a year!

On the brighter side, IMGs can apply directly to DHBs if there are any left over positions after the ACE match. So keep your fingers crossed and hope that there are lots and lots of unmatched positions after the ACE match in November!!

We would like to know thoughts on this. Please post your comments below.