Public health medicine

Public health medicine is the epidemiological analysis of medicine concerned with the health and care of populations and population groups. It involves the assessment of health and health care needs, the development of policy and strategy, the promotion of health, the control and prevention of disease, and the organisation of services.

Vocational training in New Zealand

Vocational training in public health medicine is undertaken through one of two Colleges:

  • The New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine (NZCPHM) leading to the award of the Fellowship of the NZCPHM (FNZCPHM); or
  • The Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM) of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians leading to the award of the Fellowship of the AFPHM (FAFPHM)

  • New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine (NZCPHM)

    The New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine (NZCPHM) was established as an incorporated society in 2008 to represent the medical specialty of public health medicine in New Zealand. The NZCPHM is responsible for the provision of public health training for doctors who have completed their medical degree and for the professional development of its Fellows.

  • Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM)

    The Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM) is a Faculty of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). It provides training and continuing education for Public Health Medicine Fellows and trainees.

Am I able to apply to work as a recognised specialist in New Zealand?

To apply for vocational registration in public health medicine, you need:

  • the FNZCPHM qualification; or
  • the FAFPHM qualification; or
  • an international postgraduate medical qualification in public health medicine, where your combination of qualifications, training and experience is assessed against the standard of the FNZCPHM or FAFPHM.

What standard will my training, qualifications and experience be compared against?

There are two colleges that can assess your qualifications, training and experience. A summary of each college’s training programme is described below:

The New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine

To obtain Fellowship of the NZCPHM a trainee must complete 45 months of training and meet the requirements below:

  • 16 months of basic training, including completion of a Masters in public health prescribed by the NZCPHM
  • 29 months of advanced training at a variety of sites, which will refine core skills and competence
  • various assessments during the training programme, by the end of which a trainee must have achieved the NZ public health medicine competencies
  • participate in the NZCPHM Tracking of Professional Standards (TOPS) programme.

Once a trainee has successfully completed the training requirements they will be awarded the FNZCPHM.

The Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM) of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians

To obtain the Fellowship of the AFPHM a trainee must complete 5 years of training and meet the requirements below:

  • 2 years of general medical experience
  • 3 years of advanced training, during which they must:
    • complete 36 units of advanced training, confirmed by supervisor’s reports
    • satisfactorily complete 3 workplace reports
    • complete an oral presentation
    • submit a training summary
    • satisfactorily complete an oral examination
  • participate in the AFPHM recertification programme.

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

I want to make a vocational registration application

To make a vocational registration application, please refer to the Vocational Registration Homepage and select the option appropriate for you.

Am I able to apply for other types of registration?

You may be able to apply for more than one type of registration. To find out which is the best fit for you, please use our self assessment tool.

  • Registration self assessment tool

    19 December 2023

    Use our registration self assessment tool to determine which pathway to registration (as a medical practitioner in New Zealand) you might be eligible for. Note: we do not cover student electives.