Vocational training in pathology in New Zealand  can be undertaken via 2 pathways:

• solely in laboratory pathology, leading to Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRCPA), or
• in both laboratory pathology and its associated clinical discipline, leading to two Fellowships – the FRCPA and the Fellowship of the of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP).

The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) is the leading organisation representing Pathologists and Senior Scientists in Australasia. Its mission is to train and support pathologists and to improve the use of pathology testing to achieve better healthcare.

The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia is home to four faculties. 

FACULTY OF CLINICAL FORENSIC MEDICINE

FACULTY OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL PATHOLOGY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

FACULTY OF POST-MORTEM IMAGING

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) connects, trains and represents over 30,000 medical specialists and trainee specialists from 33 different specialties, across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Through the RACP, specialists:

Educate

1. Provide accredited specialist training to trainee doctors who have completed their medical degree and wish to further specialise as physicians in Australia or New Zealand.
2. Provide continuing professional development and education for specialists who have completed their physician training and have become Fellows of the RACP.
3. Assess Overseas Trained Physicians who wish to practise as physicians in Australia or New Zealand
4. Hold events including conferences, training sessions and continuing professional development workshops.
5. Provide opportunities for physicians and trainee physicians to connect as a community of physicians in Australia and New Zealand

Advocate

For healthcare policies that promote the interests of our profession, our patients and our communities

Innovate

1. Collaborate to lead innovation in the delivery of specialist medicine in a constantly changing world. 
2. Collaborate to develop world-leading medical education programs for the specialists of tomorrow. 
3. Support medical graduates, Fellows and trainee physicians education and research by awarding fellowships, grants and prizes to both early career medical researchers, and later career stage Fellows.

Governance

A Board of Directors supported by a range of committees and councils governs the RACP. 

Structure

The RACP is comprised of two Divisions and three Faculties. Each Division has a number of Chapters. 

Divisions

1. Adult Medicine
2. Paediatric Medicine

To apply for vocational registration in pathology, you need:

• the FRCPA qualification (to work only in laboratory pathology);
• the FRCPA and FRACP (to work in laboratory pathology and its associated clinical discipline); or
• an international postgraduate medical qualification in pathology, where your combination of qualifications, training and experience is assessed against the standard of the FRCPA (and the FRACP if applicable).

The Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) does not have a list of recognised specialist qualifications from other countries and each application is assessed individually. Your combination of qualifications, training and experience, will be assessed against the standard of the FRACP and / or FRACP.

Recognised specialists in New Zealand must complete 6 years of training and meet the requirements below:

• at least 1 year of general medical experience
• 5 years of advanced training
• training in at least two laboratories
• specialise in general pathology, or one of the sub-branches
• pass the Basic Pathological Sciences Examination in the first year of training
• pass the FRCPA Part I examination in a chosen subspecialty in the third year of advanced training
• pass the FRCPA Part II examination in a chosen subspecialty in the fifth year of advanced training
• participate in the RCPA continuing professional development programme.

Once a trainee has successfully completed all the examination and training requirements they will be awarded the FRCPA.

International medical graduates are assessed in comparison to this standard.

There are three pathways to apply for vocational registration. 

VOC 1 - physicians who hold FRCPA  and general registration with the Australian Medical Board or Medical Council of New Zealand.

VOC 2 - physicians who hold FRCPA but do not have general registration with the Australian Medical Board or Medical Council of New Zealand.

VOC 3 - international medical graduates who have neither FRCPA nor general registration with the Australian Medical Board or Medical Council of New Zealand.

Each application form lists the information which must be included with the application.

This consists of the following:

1. completed VOC 3 application form
2. curriculum vitae
3. passport copy
4. copy of medical degree
5. copy of specialist qualification
6. copy of current medical practice registration / licence
7. 3 reference forms
8. an overview of specialist training programme
9. evidence of participation in Continuing Medical Education (CME)
10. EPIC Report of primary source verification of credentials 

Your application will go through initial checks with the MCNZ before being sent to the RCPA for assessment. 

Other things to consider include:

1. does the country in which you trained and practised have a comparable health system to New Zealand? The MCNZ has listed over 30 countries which it has rated as having healthcare systems of a similar standard and preference is generally given to applicants who have trained and worked in these countries.
2. how does the structure and length of your training programme compare with the New Zealand training programme for the vocational scope in which you are making your application?
3. have you been awarded a certificate of completion (or similar) for your basic and advanced specialist training? For example, the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) from the United Kingdom.
4. do you have recent clinical experience within the vocational scope in which you are making your application?
5. is your experience across the full vocational scope in which you are making your application or is it limited to a subspecialty only?

You may be eligible to apply for other categories of registation with the MCNZ. These include special purpose registration and general registration. 

Special purpose registration is valid for a maximum of 12 months and is useful for fixed term contracts and locums.

General registration is suitable for doctors aiming to work at sub specialist levels.