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To work as a doctor in New Zealand candidates need to apply for a license to practise medicine via the New Zealand Registration Examination (NZREX Clinical). Those who are not eligible under any medical registration pathways set by the Medical Council of New Zealand can take this NZREX Clinical exam to work as a medical practitioner in the country.
Moreover, international medical graduates with or without experience can also apply for NZREX. The upcoming NZREX date is March 8, 2025. The application for the March exam is closed now. Candidates can apply for the June 14 exam till the space is vacant. The NZREX exam fee costs USD 2,881 and is the most opted medical text by medical personnel to gain a license in New Zealand.
The full form of NZREX is the New Zealand Registration Examination. International students who completed their MBBS and qualified in any medical license exams abroad in the USA, Australia, UK, etc. or other countries are eligible to take the NZREX Clinical.
New Zealand is a country with beautiful cities, many job opportunities and high salaries. With these attractive benefits, many international medical graduates hope to settle in this country and practice medicine. Every year more than 1500 new doctors get registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCZ). Aspirants seeking more details on NZREX exam 2025, eligibility criteria, registration, exam fee, format and more.
International medical students can review the brief overview below for the NZREX exam, its cost, types, duration, etc.
Overview for NZREX
Particulars | Details |
Exam name | NZREX Clinical |
Commonly known as | NZX, NZREX |
NZREX 2024 exam conducting body | Medical Council of New Zealand |
NZREX Exam Duration | 3 hours |
NZREX Exam Fee | USD 2881 |
Chances for Re-attempts | No limits on Re-attempts |
The NZREX Clinical exam 2025 will be held on three dates. Students planning to appear in the NZREX must check the application dates and exam dates carefully, and apply on time.
If you are interested in appearing for this NZREX 2025 test, you are required to meet the eligibility criteria mentioned below.
Obtain a primary medical degree qualification from a recognised medical school listed in the WDOMS ( World Directory of Medical Schools).
Qualified for any one of the acceptable medical licensing exams within the last 5 years. The acceptable medical licensing exams are PLAB part 1, MCCQE part 1, MCQ, USMLE - Steps 1 & 2.
Meet the English language proficiency requirements of a minimum 7.0 band in IELTS and a minimum 350 score in OET.
Should not hold the New Zealand Registration within the special purpose of practice.
Once you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for the NZREX Clinical. The NZREX 2025 application form can be sent through mail along with essential documents to the Medical Council of New Zealand.
The exam registration process can be done by following the below steps.
On meeting the eligibility, apply for the primary source verification through the EPIC account at www.ecfmgepic.org/index.
Submit your documents for verification.
Once verified, apply for the NZREX exam registration.
Visit the Medical Council of New Zealand website and download the required application form of your circumstances.
Fill out the application form available on the official website.
Attach the necessary documents.
Submit the application form and documents to the Medical Council mail id at examinations@mcnz.org.nz.
After submission, wait for the email notification for the application fee payment and pay the fee.
The application processing takes 20 working days. Once processing is done further steps regarding the exam and exam fee payment will be informed to you through email.
The following documents are required during the application submission.
Recent passport-size photograph.
Resume
Passport
Medical degree certificate
Medical Licensing examination results
English language test results of IELTS/OET.
To appear for the New Zealand licensing exam for doctors, the candidate has to pay the application fee and examination fee. All the NZREX exam fee details are mentioned below.
Particulars | Fees (in New Zeland Dollars) | Fee in USD |
Exam Application Fee | NZD 817.06 | USD 499.44 |
Examination Fee | NZD 4713.88 | USD 2881.45 |
Score Re-check | NZD 415.69 | USD 254.10 |
Exam Withdrawl(before 6 weeks from exam date) | NZD 415.69 | USD 254.10 |
Exam Withdrawl(within 20 days of the exam date) | NZD 942.77 | USD 576.29 |
Applicants who like to withdraw from their exam can seek fee refund based on days of cancellation before the exam date. Here are the refund details given below.
The NZREX 2025 exam uses an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) format. The NZREX exam is 3 hours in duration and consists of 12 Stand-alone or active stations. Each station is 12 minutes in duration.
Candidates will be randomly allotted and are rotated through all the stations. Most of the stations use a simulated patient with an examiner. In each station of NZREX 2025. you will be primarily tested on one topic or one area with multiple tasks.
The NRZEX Clinical exam tests both the clinical skills and medical knowledge of the candidates. The following are the seven domains assessed in the exam.
Communication
Professionalism
Cultural safety
History taking
Physical examination
Investigations/clinical reasoning
Management
These domains are assessed in every station and a few in each case. For physical examination, you need to conduct a physical and mental examination on the simulated patient.
The NZREX Clinical is held in Auckland, New Zealand. If there are insufficient candidates, then the council may postpone the exam to the next available date. Candidates can also reschedule their exam to a later date by filling the application form available on the official website.
The passing score for the NZREX 2025 exam is 60%. The exam scoring is done electronically. The NZREX results will be released within 10 working days from the examination date. The results will be sent to you via email.
For all who do not qualify for the exam, the council will provide written feedback to understand their result. As this is a summative examination, the feedback can not include the areas where the candidate's performance is to be improved.
If you find the exam result is inaccurate for their performance, you can apply for recounting. The recounting is done only to check whether the candidate's score is completely transcribed or not but it does not include reviewing the examiner's opinions on the examination day. To request for recounting, place your request within 10 working days after receiving your written feedback.
By qualifying for the New Zealand medical license exam i.e. NZREX exam you can become a doctor in New Zealand. To apply for the medical license through this doctor's exam in New Zealand follow the sequence of steps mentioned below.
Scoring at least 60% marks in the NZREX Clinical is considered a pass score in the examination.
After passing the NZREX exam you need to seek a job offer as a postgraduate year 1 at any accredited training provider.
Then, participate in the intern training programme of 2 years.
After completion of the internship apply for Vocational or General registration with the Medical Council of NZ.
Once registered, you are eligible to apply for jobs as a doctor in New Zealand.
In the past 5 years, a total of 169 candidates have appeared in the NZREX Clinical, among them 141 have registered for the general practice. The NZREX Clinical exam pass rate of last 5 years is 64.8 per cent, while the registration rate stands at 83.4 per cent.
No, there is no limit on the number of reattempts to take the NZREX exam. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements of the exam you are eligible for re-attempts.
The exam will be conducted in the Auckland city of New Zealand. The test is held twice a year, if the number of applicants is less, they will be shifted to the upcoming examination date.
Indian medical doctors who want to work as doctors in New Zealand country need to get registered with its Medical Council. There are many pathways for candidates to get registration. If you are an MBBS graduate qualified for the medical licensing examination in other countries, then you will be eligible for the examination registration pathway through the NZREX exam.
Yes, the NZREX is conducted in the New Zealand country. Test-takers have to come to Auckland City of New Zealand to attempt the NZREX. Candidates can book their tickets once they receive the confirmation on the exam allocation.
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