ACE Match Algorithm & Position Numbers

ACE RMO Match Algorithm

The ACE match process involves several components. ACE audits applicant preferences and employer rankings ahead of running the electronic match. Once the electronic match has been completed ACE audits all match results. Following this, should it be required, ACE may also perform a manual match. This ensures that as many graduates are successfully matched as possible.

The iterative ACE algorithm operates in accordance with the following match principles:

1. Graduates preference of employers is the algorithm's highest priority
2. Employer ranking of preferred graduates is the algorithm's second priority
3. Graduates may only be matched to one employer

How the ACE Match process runs:

The matching process starts by looking at all applicants who meet the Category 1 eligibility criteria (i.e. NZ graduates who are NZ/Australian Citizens/Permanent Residents). The algorithm looks at each employer's list of ranked graduates and starting at the top, works its way down the list, matching the employer to graduates who have ranked that employer first. It continues this process for each employer until all vacancies for that employer are filled or the algorithm has exhausted the list of ranked graduates who preferred the employer first.

When a graduate is matched to their first preferred employer they are then removed from all other employer lists, preventing them from being matched to more than one employer.

After all the matches possible have been made when considering the first preferences of each graduate, the next pass of the algorithm considers the graduates' second preference and later passes down to their lower preferences (third, fourth etc.).

Please note that the employers will review and assess all the applications that they receive, however they might only rank applicants who they think are suitable to work in their region. This means that even if you have preferred a employer, they might not rank you. This is a very important information to remember when you get you match results.

Once all Category 1 applicants have been considered, should positions still be available, unmatched Category 1 applicants will be contacted by ACE and given the opportunity to extend their employer preference list to include additional employers.

This process is then followed for Category 2 and Category 3 applicants respectively.

Subsequent to this, graduates who are not successfully matched to an employer in the match process will then be placed into a Talent Pool of available graduates which employers can use to fill any subsequent positions that arise.

For a more detailed explanation of the ACE algorithm and view a short video presentation of how the match process works, please click here.

Employer Position Numbers

The number of positions expected per employer for the ACE RMO 2026 Intake for the 2027 Training Year will be released on the ACE RMO website later in the year.  Postion numbers for the 2026 Training year are reflected below.

Voluntary Bonding Scheme

If you are applying for a position in a hard-to-staff community and/or speciality then you may be eligible to apply for the Voluntary Bonding Scheme. The Voluntary Bonding Scheme offers financial incentives to newly qualified health professionals to work in the communities and specialties that need them most.  For more information on the Voluntary Bonding Scheme please click here.