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Information for
Overseas Clinicians
New Zealand is regarded, by many, as one of the best places to live and work in the world. Renowned for its clean, green, healthy environment, its low population density, affordable housing and comfortable climate, it is no wonder that New Zealand is becoming increasingly popular among people wanting to escape their overcrowded, stress-fuelled cities.
Dentistry in New Zealand
Most dental clinicians in New Zealand practise within the private sector, although there is some government support for low-income patients for treatment within the dental departments of local hospitals. Teenagers from the age of 13 to the age of 18 are also covered for free dental treatment by the Ministry of Health. Typically most New Zealanders have minimal dental insurance, although accident-related injuries are partially covered by the government department Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
As the emphasis is on private work, there is also a lot more importance put on quality over quantity, as well as long-term treatment planning and the opportunity to spend more time to consult and advise clients of the options available to them. A lot of dental clinicians that come to New Zealand from around the world comment on the quality time they are able to spend with clients to educate and give them preventative advice. A dentist with a full book, working a full day will typically see between 12 and 18 patients.
A dental clinician’s income in New Zealand allows for a very good standard of living relative to other professions and employment opportunities within New Zealand. As in many countries, our main cities attract more dentists and hence there is greater competition in the cities with often more lucrative earning potential than in smaller towns.
To practice in New Zealand there are two key steps you need to take. You need to assess your ability to gain registration as a dental clinician and you need to assess your eligibility to be able to work in New Zealand. Please refer below for further information on these processes.
Register as a Dental Professional in New Zealand
We welcome applications from overseas-trained dental professionals. Please note, however, that if you have trained outside of New Zealand, to be able to practice as a dental professional in New Zealand, you are required to register with the Dental Council of New Zealand and therefore any job offer made will be conditional on your gaining New Zealand registration and a work visa. Lumino does not have any direct input into your registration process and do not act as an advisory body to assist you in your registration process, although we are able to give you general practical advice about practising in New Zealand.
Work visas are issued by the New Zealand Immigration Service, therefore, for further information in regards to your eligibility, criteria and your options, refer to www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/
It is important for you to first establish if your qualifications are recognised by the Dental Council of New Zealand as the Dental Council recognises a number of overseas qualifications as equivalent to New Zealand standards. These are known as prescribed qualifications, which are also summarised below.
Prescribed Qualifications for Registration as a Dentist
in the General Scope of Practice in New Zealand
The Council has defined the following as the list of prescribed qualifications for registration as a dentist in the general scope of practice:
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery, University of Otago; or
- An Australian Dental Council (ADC) accredited undergraduate dental degree from an ADC accredited dental school in Australia; or
- A Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA) accredited undergraduate dental degree from a CDA accredited dental school in the USA or Canada; or
- A General Dental Council (GDC) accredited undergraduate dental degree from a GDC accredited dental school in the UK, or Commonwealth as listed below:
Dental School Dates of Recognition Western Cape Before 1 January 1998 Hong Kong Before 1 January 2001 Singapore Before 1 January 2001 Witwatersrand Before 1 January 2001 Pretoria Before 1 January 2001 Stellenbosch Before 1 January 2001 Medical University of South Africa Between 1 January 1997
and 31 December 2000Malaysia Between 1 January 1997
and 31 December 2000
- Or a five-year undergraduate dental degree; a pass in the New Zealand Dental Registration Examinations; or
- A five-year undergraduate dental degree; a pass in the Australian Dental Council licensing examinations; or
- A five-year undergraduate dental degree; a pass in the USA licensing examinations
Indemnity insurance is also required, which can be arranged through the New Zealand Dental Association once you arrive in the country.
Immigrating to New Zealand
To be able to work in New Zealand you will need to either apply to become a resident or apply for a work visa. The main categories that dental professionals use to obtain the right to work are the following:
Skilled Migrant: The Skilled Migrant Category is for people who have the skills, qualifications and experience we need, and who want to live and work permanently in New Zealand.
Work to Residence: The Work to Residence category allows you to get a temporary work visa as a step towards gaining permanent residence.
Temporary work: Temporary visas are issued to people who have a job offer from a New Zealand employer, and who are people skilled in occupations that are in demand here.
Only New Zealand registered immigration consultants are able to give you advice in regards to obtaining and processing immigration documentation. Lumino is not a registered immigration consultant therefore we are unable to have any direct input into your immigration process and we cannot act as an advisory body, although we are able to give you general practical advice about immigrating to New Zealand.
The following links will help you in the process of identifying what you need to do in regards to immigrating to New Zealand:
www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/
www.immigration.govt.nz/nzopportunities
Register Your Interest
As we have practices throughout New Zealand, opportunities and vacancies are changing regularly. If we don’t have the right opportunity for you currently, please feel free to register your interest with us and we can keep looking for career prospects for you. The more details you provide us with, the more able we are to help identify the right practice for you.
Register now!