Prerequisites For Working in Australia as A Doctor?
The Medical Board of Australia (MedBA) is the governing body for the healthcare system in Australia. To practice in Australia, you must first meet the standard requirements for healthcare in the country. For this, the MedBA and the Australian Medical Council assess the international candidates’ skills, knowledge, and competency.
Once the candidate clears the assessment, they can proceed with registering with the MedBA.
Please note that you cannot practice medicine in Australia until you have received a proper l the registration process is complete and you have received your medical license, you can practice in Australia.
Process of Medical Registration in Australia
The first and most important step to register in Australia is to first understand your options. There are different pathways through which you can proceed with your registration.
Let’s discuss them one by one.
Competent Authority Registration Pathway
This is for IMGs who have been granted their medical degree from any of the medical authorities across the world that have been regarded as competent by the Medical Board. This includes specialist and general practitioners.
The Authorities recognised under this pathway are:
| Competent Authority | Country |
| General Medical Council, United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Medical Council of Canada | Canada |
| Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates of the United States | United States of America |
| Medical Council of New Zealand | Canada |
| Medical Council of Ireland | Ireland |
| National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners | United States of America |
Specialist Registration Pathway
As the name suggests, this pathway is for doctors having a specialization degree. For such candidates, the assessment is done by the MedBA itself. Doctors undergo a period of supervised work for assessment. They can register after successfully completing it. Through this, candidates will be applying for specialist registration.
Standard Registration Pathway
This pathway is specifically for IMGs who have received their medical degrees outside Australia by any medical board other than the ones mentioned as competent authority.
In this case, the candidates must first register for the AMC exam. Once the exam is clear, they can register with the MedBA. This will earn them a general registration.
Also Read: Workplace-Based Assessment (WBA) for IMGs
Australian Medical Council Registration for Foreign Doctors
Irrespective of the pathway you take, you would need to register with the AMC to create your portfolio and for document verification.
If we look at the registration pathway, the standard pathway is the most used by IMGs. It is less time-consuming and straightforward. For registration through this pathway, you take your AMC Exam 1 and 2.
AMC Exams
AMC exams are divided into two parts. First is the AMC CAT MCQ, a theoretical knowledge paper. The second one is the AMC Clinical, which, as the name suggests, assesses the candidate in a clinical setting.
| Details | AMC Exam 1 | AMC Exam 2 |
| Name | AMC CAT MCQ Exam | AMC Clinical Exam |
| Mode of Exam | Computer based | In-person or Computer-based (limited slots available) |
| Exam Date | Anytime between February and November | AMC releases dates on its website for scheduling the in-person exam. |
| Exam Center | Exam held globally | Melbourne, Australia (In-person) |
| Exam Duration | 3.5 Hours | 8 Hours |
| Number of Questions | 120+30 items (Total 150 items) | 16 stations total |
| Passing Score | 250/500 | 9 out of 14 stations |
Read more: AMC Exam Pattern and Syllabus
Registration process for the AMC Exam
Before you can schedule the exam, you need to register with the AMC for it. The process involves verification of all your degrees and qualifications, and confirmation of your identity. You need to finalise your pathway before registering for your exam.
- Create an EPIC account
- Create an AMC candidate account
- Upload documents, IDs, degrees, etc.
- Get primary source verification done
- Send the verification report to AMC
- Create AMC Portfolio
- Register for the AMC exam
- Select a date and venue for the exam
The results can be available after three weeks of taking the exam.
Are There Different Types of Medical Registration?
For international medical graduates, there is an option for applying for the type of registration that suits their requirements the best.
The most common registrations are, of course, the general registration and the specialist registration, which we will get to in a minute. The other registration is the limited registration. Let’s discuss them in detail.
General Registration: This is for IMGs who do not have any specialisation and want to work as general physicians. This is also the most commonly availed registration. Australia has a huge demand for GPs, so this can be the best choice for IMGs.
Specialist Registration: As the name suggests, this is for doctors who hold specialisation in any field. Specialisations like Ob/Gyn, anaesthesia, etc., are in demand. So, if you have a specialisation in any area that has a shortage of doctors, you can apply through this. This can improve your chances of acceptance.
Limited Registration: This type of registration is most common for candidates who have applied either through area of need registration or require a license for:
- Supervised Training
- Post-graduate Training
- Teaching or Research
- Public Interest
This allows them to practice under the supervision of a fully licensed practitioner. You might need a limited registration before you can get a complete one.
Provisional Registration: This registration is provided for 12 months and is granted to IMGs who have applied through:
- Competent pathway and needs to undergo supervised training
- Standard Pathway and have selected the workplace-based assessment.
- Australia and NZ medical graduates who are doing an internship, whether in the country or abroad.
Requirements for Medical Registration in Australia
There are specific requirements for registration with the MedBA. The registration process can be lengthy and costly. Make sure you are well prepared before going into this to avoid unnecessary delays and rejections.
- The most important one is a recognised primary medical degree and other qualifications.
- English language proficiency is required for registration with the MedBA. Candidates can either belong to a recognised English-speaking country or they can take certification exams like IELTS or OET.
- Proof of identity.
- A record for any criminal history.
- Work history (if applicable)
- Supervised practice plan (for provisional or limited registration).
- Medical insurance from a recognised insurer that meets the standard as per the Medical Indemnity (Prudential Supervision and Product Standards) Act 2003 (Cth).
Also Check English Language Courses
How to Apply for Medical Registration in Australia?
The process for medical registration is straightforward. Once you ensure you have all your documents in order, you can go ahead with the registration.
Now, all you have to do is wait for the result of the application.
Fees and Processing Time for Medical Registration in Australia
Apart from the fees you would need to pay for the creation of the EPIC and AMC account and the document verification, and the AMC exam fee, there is the registration fee. This fee depends on the type of registration.
The fees listed below are only for IMGs.
| Application | Fees (AUD) | Fees (USD)* | Fees (INR)* |
| Application fee for general registration | $1548 | $991 | ₹85,450 |
| Application fee for specialist registration | $1548 | $991 | ₹85,450 |
| Application fee for provisional registration | $720 | $461 | ₹39,744 |
| Application fee for general registration after converting from provisional registration | $506 | $324 | ₹27,932 |
| Application fee for limited registration | $1053 | $674 | ₹58,126 |
| Application fee for fast track application | $200 | $128 | ₹11,040 |
| Application fee to add specialist registration to current general registration | $506 | $324 | ₹27,932 |
| Application fee to add general registration to current specialist registration | $506 | $324 | ₹27,932 |
| Application fee to add another specialist registration to current specialist registration | $506 | $324 | ₹27,932 |
*Subject to change as per currency exchange rate. Please check before making a payment
Along with the application fee, candidates also need to pay the registration fee at the time of applying for registration.
| Registration | Fees (AUD) | Fees (USD)* | Fees (INR)* |
| Registration fee for general registration | $1027 | $658 | ₹56,691 |
| Registration fee for specialist registration | $1027 | $658 | ₹56,691 |
| Registration fee for limited registration | $1027 | $658 | ₹56,691 |
| Registration fee for provisional registration | $506 | $324 | ₹27,932 |
| Late renewal fee | $30 | $20 | ₹1,656 |
| Verification of registration status | $50 | $32 | ₹2,760 |
*Subject to change as per currency exchange rate. Please check before making a payment
The result of your application might take 4 to 6 weeks to process. You might be asked for additional details in the first two weeks of submission.
One outcome can be that you have been approved for registration, in which case, you will be granted your desired registration.
The other can be that you are not eligible or do not meet the standards. In such cases, either your application will be rejected or granted with conditions.
The medical registration process for IMGs in Australia can be long and confusing, at times. If you are also planning for a move to Australia for your medical career, Academically is the best place for you to start. With our experts with years of experience, we can guide you through the process and make it stress-free.
Reach out to our expert team at Academically today and get all your burning questions answered.!
