Requirements

As prerequisites for sitting Primex, candidates shall:

1. have completed GPEP Stage 1 or demonstrated equivalent learning to GPEP Stage 1 syllabus (introduced in 2007)
2. be registered as a medical practitioner in New Zealand
3. hold a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC)
4. have been qualified for no less than three years
5. have spent not less than two years in rotating hospital runs, or other approved experience (some time in supervised general practice may be allowed in lieu of this two year period); see the Primex handbook for details on this requirement – Section 3.2 (pdf).

Candidates must also complete six months full-time equivalent general practice experience in New Zealand, by 27 November in the year of entry is strongly recommended.  Click here for further information on this requirement (pdf).

A certificate of participation in a College-approved Resuscitation Skills course and/or a pass in an approved course at Level 7 or higher, every three years, is the current College minimum standard for resuscitation skills for all areas of the College’s education programmes and is a co-requisite for Primex. For those who entered GPEP prior to 2009, completion of a Resuscitation Skills course at a minimum of Level 5 is required.  Candidates will not be granted a pass in Primex until a copy of a signed certificate has been provided to the College. The Certificate must be obtained through a provider whose Resuscitation Skills course has been approved by the College. Click here for a list of resuscitation skills providers (pdf). 

See Primex Handbook (pdf 150KB) for further details.