The Australian Medical Council Exam
The AMC exam, as it is commonly called, is an eligibility exam for international medical graduates. It is the gateway to having a successful medical career in Australia.
The exam is held multiple times a year, between February and November. Candidates can select the date and venue as per their convenience and the availability of centers.
The syllabus encompasses all the material a candidate has studied during their primary medical degree course.
The registration process for the exam has a few important steps listed below:
- Creating an EPIC account and an AMC Candidate account.
- Uploading relevant documents (degrees, IDs, qualifications, etc.).
- Primary verification of the submitted documents.
- Registering for the AMC exam and selecting a date and venue.
The AMC exams are divided into two parts, Part 1 and Part 2. The AMC Part 1 exam is a computer-based, multiple-choice question (MCQ) assessment. While the AMC Part 2 exam is the Clinical Exam, which is mainly conducted in person.
These exams require strategic preparation and proper guidance. At Academically, you will get these and more.
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AMC Exam Glossary
During your preparation for the AMC exams, you will encounter many terms and abbreviations that may be unfamiliar. These are AMC exam terms and AMC exam vocabulary.
It is essential to learn and understand these terms to navigate the exam process effectively.
Let's start with the basic AMC acronyms and key definitions.
AMC Acronyms
| S.No | Acronyms | Full Forms |
| 1 | AMC | Australian Medical Council |
| 2 | Ahpra | The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency |
| 3 | AoN | Area of Need |
| 4 | CAT | Computer adaptive test |
| 5 | CE | Clinical Examination |
| 6 | ECFMG | Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates |
| 7 | EICS | Educational International Credentials Services |
| 8 | EPIC | Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials |
| 9 | FAIMER | Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education Research |
| 10 | GMC | General Medical Council (UK) |
| 11 | IMG | International Medical Graduate |
| 12 | LMCC | Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada |
| 13 | MBA | Medical Board of Australia |
| 14 | MCQ | Multiple Choice Questionnaire |
| 15 | MCNZ | Medical Council of New Zealand |
| 16 | NZREX | New Zealand Registration Examination |
| 17 | PESCI | Pre-Employment Structured Clinical Interview |
| 19 | PGY1 | Postgraduate Year 1 |
| 20 | PGY2 | Postgraduate Year 2 |
| 21 | PLAB | Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board |
| 22 | PSV | Primary source verification |
| 23 | USMLE | United States Medical Licensing Examination |
| 24 | WDoMS | World Directory of Medical Schools |
| 25 | WBA | Workplace-Based Assessment |
AMC Key Definition
| S.No | AMC Terminology | Definition |
| 1 | Area of need | Is a geographical location where the medical needs of its population are unmet. Individual Australian State and territory governments determine their own AoN locations. |
| 2 | AMC portfolio | This is a platform for adding all the details of the medical degree (final medical diploma/primary qualification) in medicine and surgery, and/or specialist/postgraduate qualifications of the candidate. The portfolio is designed for easy verification during registration or college admission. |
| 3 | CAT MCQ examination event | This is the actual event of the exam. You can sit only for 1 of these events. |
| 4 | Competent authority | An overseas assessment or accreditation body approved by the Medical Board of Australia, with advice from the AMC, is competent to assess for medical registration the applied medical knowledge and basic clinical skills of IMGs. |
| 5 | Final medical diploma | Medical degree (final medical diploma/primary qualification) in medicine and surgery. |
| 6 | Pilot items | Non-scored items in the AMC CAT MCQ examination are used to test and calibrate new questions for possible use in future examinations. |
| 7 | Primary source verification | The process to check an international medical graduate’s reported credentials and qualifications, like medical school degree certificates, specialist qualifications, and postgraduate medical education credentials (specialty training or residency credentials). The AMC uses the ECFMG’s service to verify each international medical graduate’s qualification and credentials. |
| 8 | Statutory declaration | A written statement declared to be true in the presence of an eligible witness. |
Being thorough with these definitions is important for all AMC candidates. Proper guidance from experts will make navigating these terminologies easier.
You can join our study groups and peer support groups, which will also help familiarize you with the commonly used AMC exam terminology.
We have many institutions and organizations involved in and associated with the AMC exam.
Let us understand the role of each of them one by one.
| S.No | Organization | Role |
| 1 | Ahpra | The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency is the national organization responsible for implementing the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (the National Scheme) across Australia. |
| 2 | ECFMG | Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates is a member of Intealth serves international organizations and authorities. It is involved in medical registration, licensing, and assessment by obtaining primary source verification of the medical education and registration credentials of medical graduates who completed their medical education outside their jurisdictions. |
| 3 | Medical Board of Australia | This is the main medical body in Australia that is responsible for: 1. Registration of medical practitioners and medical students 2. Developing standards, codes, and guidelines for the medical profession 3. Investigating notifications and complaints about medical practitioners. 4. Conducting panel hearings and referring serious matters to Tribunal hearings 5. Assessing international medical graduates who wish to practise in Australia, and 6. Approving accreditation standards and accredited courses of study. |
| 4 | Pearson VUE | A provider who delivers the AMC CAT MCQ examination in Pearson VUE test centres in Australia and internationally, and where an eligible candidate can schedule for an AMC CAT MCQ exam event. |
It is crucial to understand the responsibilities of each of these organizations. Understanding the differences in the roles will make the registration process easy. For example, if you have a special requirement at the exam center, you should contact Pearson VUE, as it is responsible for managing the exam centers.
We will now understand some of the medical terms commonly used in the AMC exam. This also includes AMC Part 1 and Part 2 glossaries.
Medical degree: Final medical diploma/primary qualification in medicine and surgery
Stations: The clinical exam is conducted in a series of stations, each presenting a different clinical scenario.
Predominant Assessment Area: These are the main assessment areas in the AMC exams that include history, examination, diagnostic formulation and management, counselling, and education
Pre-Employment Structured Clinical Interview: A PESCI is an assessment of the clinical experience, knowledge, skills, and attributes of IMGs to determine whether they are suitable to practise in a specific position for which they are seeking registration. The MedBA decides if it is required or not. The AMC accredits PESCI providers.
Workplace-Based Assessment: The WBA pathway is an alternative to the AMC clinical exam. It is a structured program (minimum six months) of on-the-job assessment. It tests if the candidate has an adequate and appropriate set of clinical skills and the professional qualities to practise safely within the Australian healthcare environment and cultural setting. The AMC accredits the programs of WBA providers.
Understanding the key terminology and definitions for the AMC exam is an important part of exam preparation.
You can use this blog as a guide to understand the different aspects of the AMC exam.
If you have any queries regarding the AMC exam, reach out to our experienced counsellors. From preparation and registration to visa application and immigration, we will help you through every step of the process.
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