Urgent care medicine

Urgent care medicine (formerly known as accident and medical practice) is the primary care of patients on an after-hours or non-appointment basis, where continuing medical care is not provided.

Vocational training in New Zealand

Vocational training in urgent care is undertaken through the Royal New Zealand College of Urgent Care (RNZCUC), which was known as the Accident and Medical Practitioners’ Association until 2011. Once RNZCUC training is completed the doctor is awarded the FRNZCUC (FCUCP was awarded until February 2014).

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

To apply for vocational registration in urgent care, you need either:

  • the approved FRNZCUC qualification (FCUCP until February 2014); or
  • an international postgraduate medical qualification in urgent care, where your combination of qualifications, training and experience will then be assessed against the standard of the RNZCUC.

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

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

  • 2 years of supervised postgraduate general medical training, including:
    • one pre-registration intern year
    • one year in supervised full-time posts in general medicine and/or surgery approved by the RNZCUC
  • complete the one-year Urgent Care Course (UCC)
  • pass the Urgent Care Examination (UCPEX), the primary examination of the RNZCUC
  • complete 3,000 hours of urgent care clinic or emergency department experience over 4 years, with a minimum of 400 hours in any one year. (A year can be any 12 month period nominated by the trainee). General practice experience is acceptable up to a maximum of 500 hours. Verifiable overseas experience is acceptable up to a maximum of 1,000 hours. New Zealand experience must be supervised as per the RNZCUC Education Committee standards
  • participate in the RNZCUC recertification programme.

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

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.