Ethicare Resourcing
A clinician in scrubs and a surgical cap, smiling to camera
Stage 03 · Can I work there? · New Zealand

Can I work in New Zealand?

Before you practise here, your profession needs New Zealand registration. Your route depends on your profession and where you trained.

Kettle on. About 6 min
Check my registration pathway
Start here

Find your registration pathway

A few questions about your profession and where you trained, and you see the official New Zealand route, what it is likely to ask of you, and the board that decides.

Check my registration pathway

Reviewed July 2026 · checked against the current published guidance of each New Zealand registration board

Four things to understand before you make the move

Being qualified overseas does not automatically mean you can practise here. Being eligible to apply is not the same as being approved: the board decides, and may add conditions such as supervised practice.

Find your regulator

Find your registration authority

Boards set their own requirements and these can change, so always confirm the current detail with the board. Ethicare is a recruitment business, not a registration authority. Every board and official link is also in the contacts directory.

The registration process

Four steps

  1. 1Check your pathwayYour profession and where you trained decide the route.
  2. 2Gather your evidenceQualifications, references, good standing and, if needed, English.
  3. 3Apply to your boardWith the fee. The board assesses your application.
  4. 4Registration and practiceA scope of practice, then an annual practising certificate.

Additional examinations, supervision or other requirements depend on your profession and pathway.

Practical details

Before you apply

Documents and English

Boards ask for degree certificates, transcripts, proof of identity, references and a certificate of good standing from your current regulator. Some must be certified or sent directly between bodies, and they can take weeks to arrive, so start early.

Most boards need evidence of English unless you trained and practised in English in a recognised country. Each board publishes its exemptions and required scores. IELTS (Academic) and OET, which is built for healthcare, are the widely accepted tests. If you need to prepare, our endorsed partner Swoosh English offers IELTS and OET preparation for healthcare professionals.

Fees and timelines

Applications, English tests, assessments, exams and certified documents each carry a cost, and they vary by board and profession. For some candidates the total is significant, so budget for it early with the cost calculator.

Getting documents together usually takes weeks; the board’s assessment usually takes months, depending on your profession and pathway. Your job offer and visa normally progress at the same time, so you do not have to be registered before you apply for roles. Some pathways begin with a period of supervised practice.

Sophie Careem, founder of Ethicare Resourcing
Sophie’s insight

The mistake I see most is leaving registration too late. Documents and good-standing certificates take longer than anyone expects. Check your route first, start the paperwork early and keep everything in one folder.

SophieFounder, Ethicare Resourcing

Common questions

The things people ask first

Do I need a job offer before I can register?

Usually not to begin the process. For some professions a position or supervisor is part of the registration pathway; for others you can register independently. In practice, registration, a job offer and your visa tend to move together.

Will my overseas qualification be recognised?

Some overseas qualifications are recognised through established pathways, while others need further assessment, examinations or supervised practice. Eligibility depends on your profession, qualifications and individual circumstances. Your registration board makes the final decision.

Do I definitely have to sit an English test?

Not necessarily. Many clinicians who trained and practised in English in a recognised country are exempt. Each board publishes who is exempt, so check its policy before you book a test. Where evidence is needed, IELTS (Academic) and OET are the widely accepted tests.

How much does registration cost?

Each board sets its own application and annual practising certificate fees, and there can be extra costs for English tests, assessments, exams and certifying documents. For some candidates the total is significant, so budget for it early. The cost calculator helps you set it out.

What if my situation is unusual?

Career breaks, training in more than one country, a niche specialty or a less common qualification can all change your route, and some situations will not meet the requirements. The pathway checker shows where you are likely to stand; the board makes the final decision.

Next · Stage 04

Make the numbers work

What you could earn, what the move costs, and what is left after tax and rent.

Continue to Stage 04

Also useful now: save your progress in Plan Ethicare · CV and interview preparation · visas and work rights