This post reveals some general information about the pathway options for Doctors to register with the Medical Board in Australia.  

If you are an international medical graduate serious about working as a doctor in Australia, the best way to plan your way forward is to have a strategic conversation with one of our representatives.

Having said that, let’s explore the different pathways available for International Medical Graduates to get registered. As an overseas doctor seeking registration to practice medicine in Australia, you need to provide evidence of eligibility to undertake one of the following assessment pathways:

1.        Competent Authority Pathway

2.        Standard Pathway

3.        Specialist Pathway

The process will assess the knowledge and clinical skills of the doctors in order to qualify them for medical registration. The assessment process differs from one pathway to another.

Typically, Australian medical graduates become registered in the system upon graduation as interns and advances from Provisional registration to General Registration. Most Australian doctors wish to enhance their registration status by gaining Specialist Registration at some point in their career.

The pathways to registration for IMGs lead to initial/provisional registration ultimately result in the IMG gaining either General Registration or Specialist Registration.

Competent Authority Pathway

This pathway is meant for IMGs who are non-specialists or specialists (including General Practitioners) who are seeking general registration with the Medical Board of Australia. The competence authority Pathway recognizes doctors coming from other healthcare systems that have similar systems, processes, and standards to that of the Australian Medical Board.

The Medical Board has approved a number of international authorities as competent in their assessment of doctors for medical registration.

The competent authorities according to the Board are:

·       General Medical Council (United Kingdom - for the PLAB examination or for graduates of GMC-accredited medical courses in the United Kingdom)

·       Medical Council of Canada (LMCC)

·       Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates of the United States (USMLE)

·       Medical Council of New Zealand (NZREX)

·       Medical Council of Ireland (graduates of medical courses in Ireland accredited by the Medical Council of Ireland).

·       National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (COMLEX-USA)

Medical graduates of New Zealand are considered equivalent to Australian Graduates of Australian Medical Schools as these schools are also accredited by the Australian Medical Council.

IMGs having a primary qualification in medicine by an institution recognized by the Australian Medical Council and the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) are able to apply for provisional registration through the Competence Authority Pathway.

However, this is only if you have completed clinical training or assessment within that authority, generally for a year or two.

To be eligible for provisional registration through the Competence Authority Pathway, doctors should meet the criteria of one of the competent authority categories. And to be eligible for one of the seven categories, IMGS must have completed both the prescribed assessment component (a medical course or exam) and the experience component.

If you are eligible for Competence Authority Pathway, all you need to do is find a suitable position with an employer and have this position’s supervision assessed by the Australian Medical Board.

With the approval, you can commence your 12-month work and complete supervisor reports. By the end of the process, you will be able to apply for General Registration.

Competent Authority pathway application process:

1.        Secure an employment offer

2.        Apply to the AMC for primary source verification

3.        Apply to the MBA for provisional registration

4.        Complete 12 months of supervised practice

5.        Apply to the MBA for general registration

Standard Pathway

The Standard pathway is the most common pathway that majority of International Medical Graduates attempt to go through to gain registration.

The Standard pathway is for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) seeking General Registration as a medical practitioner in Australia and are not eligible for the Competent Authority Pathway or the Specialist Pathway. It involves completion of the AMC examination which involves two parts, a CAT MCQ written examination as well as a structured clinical examination of the Australian Medical Council or an approved workplace-based assessment program.

According to the Medical Board, the Standard pathway two alternative processes leading to the award of the AMC Certificate:

Standard pathway (AMC examinations) - Assessment is by examination only - the AMC CAT MCQ Examination and the AMC Clinical Examination. Most non-specialist applicants will be assessed through this method.

Standard pathway (workplace-based assessment) - Assessment is by examination and workplace-based assessment - the AMC CAT MCQ Examination and workplace-based assessment of clinical skills and knowledge by an AMC-accredited authority.

Applying for jobs can be done once you have passed the Part 1 AMC MCQ exam. However, you will gain registration only after the Part 2 clinical exam, which is usually a tough one.

Standard pathway application process:

1.        Apply to the AMC for Standard pathway and primary source verification

2.        Pass the AMC Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) exam

3.        Pass the AMC Clinical exam and receive AMC certificate

4.        Secure an employment offer

5.        Apply to the MBA for provisional registration

6.        Complete 12 months of supervised practice

7.        Apply to the MBA for general registration

OR

1.        Apply to the AMC for Standard pathway and primary source verification

2.        Pass the AMC Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) exam

3.        Secure an employment offer

4.        Apply to the MBA for limited registration

5.        Complete 12 months of supervised practice

6.        During the period of supervised practice: pass the AMC clinical exam and receive AMC Certificate OR complete workplace-based assessment and receive AMC Certificate

7.        Apply to the MBA for general registration

For more information on the requirements for medical registration, visit AMC Website.

Specialist Pathway

The Specialist pathway is the pathway for most International Medical Graduates. This pathway is for overseas-trained specialists so that they can apply to be assessed to have the similar capability of an Australian trained specialist. This is called ‘Comparability Assessment.

The pathway also applies to overseas-trained specialists applying for an area of need specialist level position in Australia.

Like other pathway options, you need to have a recognized primary medical degree.

Specialist pathway application process:

1.        Apply to the AMC for primary source verification

See how to apply for PSV at the AMC website

2.        Apply to the relevant specialist medical college for assessment

Download an application form from the college website (specialist recognition or area of need or both)

3.        Complete your application form

Attach the supporting documentation including primary medical qualifications

Ensure your supporting documents meet college requirements i.e. copies of documents are correctly certified, documents are translated into English (if required) by an authorised service

If you are applying for an Area of need assessment, ensure you attach the area of need declaration, position description, offer of employment and location details

4.        Review your application before you submit

Supporting documents must be attached and meet the document requirements of the college

Payment of the fee must be included

Incomplete applications will result in delays to your assessment and may incur a fee

5.        Submit your application to the college

Incomplete applications will not be progressed

6.        College confirms receipt of your application

This is not a confirmation of assessment

7.        College sends you the assessment outcome

Your assessment outcome will determine whether you can apply to the Medical Board of Australia for limited or provisional registration or specialist registration

Short-Term Specialist Training pathway

The Sort Term Specialist Training pathway or otherwise known as Short Term Training in a Medical Specialty Pathway is limited to International Medical Graduates who are overseas trained specialists or in the advance or final phase of their specialist training, hoping to undertake short term (up to 2 years) specialist training in Australia.

This pathway isn’t a popular option amongst IMGs probably because it is not a pathway to permanent registration in Australia. The pathway is strictly limited to 2 years and applicants usually have to complete a form indicating their intention of returning back to their own country by the end of the registration period.

To be eligible for this pathway, IMGs have to Secure an advance training position, verify medical qualifications with the AMC, and apply to a specialist medical college to assess credentials against the secured post. The college assessment will be only paper-based, will require less information and is easier to pass.

Useful Resources:

https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/

https://www.amc.org.au/assessment/documents/

https://www.amc.org.au/assessment/mcq/mcq-process/

https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Registration.aspx

https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/doctorconnect

https://www.amc.org.au/assessment/pathways/overview/