Since the demonstration, a few PAs have continued to work in NZ and continue to carry the torch, pioneering the profession, and working toward regulation. There are approximately 30+ PAs currently employed in NZ and more job opportunities opening up every month. PAs are being sought out at this time due to increasing medical provider shortages and are filling gaps all over New Zealand.

Many practices currently have PAs and the number of clinics interested in hiring a PA is growing. US, Canada, and UK-trained PAs can reach out to the only two current PA recruiting companies in NZ at this time; GP Solutions and WellMed Medical Recruitment. While NZPAS has no official affiliation with either company, we do refer prospective job seekers to them. Clinics can also advertise on the NZPAS website.

Both NZPAS and the recruiting companies are working with practices that have shown interest in hiring PAs and raising awareness with those not yet aware of the profession. The goal is to match qualified PAs with practices seeking primary workforce solutions. At NZPAS, our advocacy work helps to find quality PAs and match them to supportive practices excited to employ PA’s here in New Zealand. Currently jobs for PAs exist in primary care, urgent care and emergency medicine. Other specialties are beginning to recognize the profession as a partial solution to shortages. NZPAS posts the job listings we know about on our Jobs page as well as our Facebook page.

Statistics show 47% of General Practitioners will retire in the next 10 years, many in rural settings, so PAs with substantial family practice and urgent care experience are needed. Public hospital emergency departments are flooded with patients all over the country and this is another ideal area for PAs. Opportunities for other specialties are limited or not available at this time, but this is likely to change after regulation.

The biggest limitation is the lack of prescribing authority, all prescriptions must be signed by the supervising doctor. Understandably, this slows down a PAs practice, as time is taken after each patient to approach the doctor to confirm the recommended plan and gain the doctor’s signature. This process speeds up over time, but initially it’s necessarily slow as the doctor and PA build up a relationship and gain trust in one another. PAs cannot sign most medical documents according to the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act. You can find more details on the NZ Ministry of Health’s website.

No. Due to the infancy of the profession the infrastructure is not available to host PA students.

PAs can expect to make anywhere between $55-$85 NZD per hour depending on work experience and the type of clinic. This converts to approximately $60,000-$90,000 USD per year for full time work.  Newer grads and those with less experience can expect to make closer to $55 NZD per hour, which will need to be considered for those with large debt or mortgages. Persons with at least a 2-year or greater work visa qualify for “free” health care through the government’s publicly funded healthcare system. 

A PA salary is enough to support 2 to3 people in NZ comfortably. You can check out this website for more in depth info.