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/
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