AMC vs PLAB vs USMLE (NZREX Prerequisites)

NZREX Clinical Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to sit the NZREX Clinical exam, the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) mandates that international medical graduates must meet specific criteria:

Primary Medical Qualification: Hold an acceptable primary medical degree from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDoMS).
English Language Proficiency: Satisfy MCNZ English requirements (IELTS Academic or OET results valid within 2 years).
Prerequisite Examination: Have passed one of the approved prerequisite exams (AMC MCQ, PLAB Part 1, or USMLE Steps 1 & 2 CK) within 5 years of the NZREX Clinical exam date.
Primary Source Verification: Credentials and exam results must be verified via EPIC (MyIntealth) or FSMB before applying.

Prerequisite Exams at a Glance

Feature	AMC MCQ (Part 1)	PLAB Part 1	USMLE Steps 1 & 2 CK
Format	Computer Adaptive Test (CAT), 150 MCQs	Written exam, 180 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions	Step 1 (Pass/Fail MCQ), Step 2 CK (Scored MCQ)
Duration	3.5 hours	3 hours	Step 1: ~8 hours; Step 2 CK: ~9 hours
Testing Locations	Worldwide via Pearson VUE	Worldwide via Pearson VUE	Prometric test centres globally
NZREX Validity Window	Must be passed within 5 years of NZREX Clinical	Must be passed within 5 years of NZREX Clinical	Must be passed within 5 years of NZREX Clinical
Verification Method	EPIC (MyIntealth)	EPIC (MyIntealth)	FSMB Transcript Request

1. AMC MCQ (Australian Medical Council)

The AMC Multiple Choice Question exam is a computer-adaptive test designed to assess the medical knowledge and clinical understanding of international medical graduates according to Australasian practice standards. Passing this fulfills the MCNZ prerequisite requirement for NZREX.

Alignment: Focuses heavily on healthcare systems and clinical conditions common in Australasia.

Flexibility: Can be scheduled year-round at Pearson VUE test centres worldwide.

2. PLAB Part 1 (UK GMC)

PLAB Part 1 is a written knowledge test consisting of 180 single best answer questions. It is the first part of the UK licensing exam but is fully recognized by the MCNZ as an eligible prerequisite to sit the NZREX Clinical.

Resources: Broad availability of preparatory question banks and review courses globally.

Dual Pathway: Serves as a gateway for both UK practice and New Zealand NZREX eligibility.

3. USMLE Steps 1 & 2 CK (United States)

Unlike AMC and PLAB Part 1 (which are standalone single exams), the MCNZ explicitly requires passing both USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) to fulfill the prerequisite requirement for NZREX.

Comprehensive: Covers fundamental basic sciences alongside advanced clinical reasoning.

Global Value: Unlocks US residency pathways in addition to New Zealand eligibility.

Explore More

Important Rule

Your prerequisite exam pass must be achieved within 5 years of the date of your NZREX Clinical examination. Ensure that primary source verification via EPIC or FSMB is fully completed before submitting your NZREX application.