National Occupation List occupation
Physician Associate is occupation 253115 on the National Occupation List (NOL) V3.0, Stats NZ's New Zealand occupation classification, at NOL skill level 1. It has no ANZSCO 1.3 code of its own: Stats NZ maps it to ANZSCO 253311 Specialist Physician (General Medicine).
Stats NZ describes the requirement for NOL skill level 1 as:
Bachelor degree or higher qualification, or at least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification (NZQCF Level 7-10/NOL Skill Level 1).
A skill level describes the occupation, not you. Immigration New Zealand matches a job to the single closest occupation, and the skill level comes from that occupation; more experience does not move an occupation to a higher level.
Working in collaboration with and under license of supervising physicians in a primary care setting, a Physician Associate performs patient examinations, orders lab and/or imaging assessments to diagnose and treat their patients, managing acute and chronic conditions, and prescribes medications. They require a supervising General Practitioner or Physicians signature for issuing prescriptions and ordering lab tests.
The scope of practice in which a Physician Associate works is based on their training, experience and the scope of their supervising physician. Their work includes all aspects of medical care, treatment planning, various procedures and interventions, patient education and counselling, and documentation.
Immigration New Zealand accepts Physician Associate (253115) for an Accredited Employer Work Visa or job check from 9 March 2026, at NOL skill level 1. For any other visa, including the Skilled Migrant Category, INZ requires the equivalent ANZSCO occupation code instead, so the rows below use the ANZSCO level for those visas. INZ's NOL list.
| Visa rule | For this occupation | More |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa: longest visa | Up to 5 years for skill level 1 to 3 roles. | AEWV guide |
| AEWV: evidence of English | Not required for skill level 1 and 2 roles. | AEWV guide |
| Supporting a partner's visa | The skill level 1 to 3 wage threshold applies. | Partner of a Worker |
| Skilled Migrant Category: Skilled Work Experience pathway | Open to skill level 1 to 3 occupations, with work experience and pay requirements. | Skilled Work Experience pathway |
Rules as published by Immigration New Zealand. Lists synced 31 October 2026. Each visa has further requirements beyond skill level, including pay and work experience.
Stats NZ links this occupation to Tahatū, the government careers website, which has more about the work in New Zealand, including pay: Physician associate .
Picking the right occupation decides the skill level, and with it the visa rules above. Talk it through with us: we will listen to your situation and match you with the right IAA-licensed adviser. You can also check your pay and work experience against the residence wage rules with our calculator.
Physician Associate is occupation 253115 on Stats NZ's National Occupation List. Its ANZSCO 1.3 equivalent is 253311 Specialist Physician (General Medicine).
NOL skill level 1, where 1 is the most skilled and 5 the least. Bachelor degree or higher qualification, or at least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification (NZQCF Level 7-10/NOL Skill Level 1).
Yes, for an Accredited Employer Work Visa or job check: Immigration New Zealand accepts Physician Associate (253115) from 9 March 2026. For any other visa, such as the Skilled Migrant Category, INZ requires the equivalent ANZSCO occupation code instead.
Sources: National Occupation List V3.0.0, Stats NZ, CC BY 4.0, synced 1 November 2026; Immigration New Zealand occupation lists, synced 31 October 2026. This page reproduces published classifications and Immigration New Zealand's lists. It is general information, not immigration advice. ProVisas is a licensed New Zealand immigration advisory firm (IAA Licence 201301110).
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