Changes to the Canada Competent Authority pathway category

14 Oct 2024

This news item is for international medical graduates (IMGs) from Canada wishing to apply for medical registration in Australia via the Competent Authority pathway.

The Medical Board of Australia has updated Category C of the Competent Authority pathway. The change is in response to changes to medical licensing examinations in Canada.

The Competent Authority pathway is for international medical graduates who have completed:

1. a qualification or assessment through an approved competent authority, and
2. a prescribed experience component in a competent authority country.

The competent authority for Category C is the Medical Council of Canada (MCC). Category C requires successful completion of the Licentiate examinations of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC). The LMCC previously consisted of two exams - the MCC Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I and Part II.  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the MCC discontinued the Part II exam.

Applicants who have successfully completed the two MCC licentiate exams (and the experience component) will continue to be eligible for category C.

Applicants who have only completed the Part I exam must have successfully completed another assessment in Canada to be eligible for this category. They must either be a graduate of a Canadian medical school or have successfully completed the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) examination.

There is no change to the required experience component. 

The new Category C criteria takes effect from 11 November 2024. Applications already received will be assessed against the current criteria (successful completion of the licentiate examinations of the MCC).

The revised category wording is published on the Competent Authority pathway webpage.