Expedited Specialist pathway: accepted qualification list

Registration

The gateway to the Expedited Specialist pathway is a list of pre-approved specialist qualifications.

Specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs) with a specialist qualification on the Expedited Specialist pathway: accepted qualifications list below are eligible for the Expedited Specialist pathway.

All qualifications on the list have been assessed by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and approved by the Board as substantially equivalent or based on similar competencies to an approved qualification. (Approved qualifications are the qualifications awarded by the AMC-accredited Australian specialist medical colleges.)

If you have a qualification on this list, and meet other specialist registration requirements, you can apply directly to Ahpra for specialist registration.

State and territory health departments have identified anaesthetics, general practice, obstetrics and gynaecology, and psychiatry as priority specialties for the pathway.

Specialist anaesthesia, general practice and psychiatry qualifications are now included on the Expedited Specialist pathway: accepted qualifications list.

Qualifications in other specialties will be added over time, in specialties prioritised by state and territory health departments.

Specialties with accepted qualifications (as at 23 December 2024)

Anaesthesia

Ireland

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Regulatory authority:

Medical Council of Ireland (MCI)

Qualification:

Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (or as previously named, the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland) (FCAI), together with a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST).

Awarding body:

College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (CAI), or as previously named, the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland.

Qualification and training specifications:

Qualification awarded under any CAI curriculum from July 2012, to date following satisfactory completion of a Specialist Anaesthesiology Training Programme (SAT) in Ireland

Additional evidence required:

Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland issued from July 2012
Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) issued by the CAI
The Board may request additional information to confirm that the qualifications meet the Boards requirements. Ahpra will advise applicants if this is required.

Note: Completion of the Effective Management of Anaesthetic Crisis (EMAC) course as recommended by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists will be a requirement of registration. Courses are available on the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists website see EMAC courses.

United Kingdom

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Regulatory authority:

General Medical Council (GMC)

Qualification:

Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCA), together with a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).

Awarding bodies:

Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA)
Pre-2010 CCT awarded by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
Post-2010 CCT awarded by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom.

Qualification specifications:

The qualification awarded under any RCoA curriculum from August 2007, following satisfactory completion of a General Medical Council or Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board, approved specialist training program in the United Kingdom, and award of the CCT.

Additional evidence required:

Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA) issued from August 2007
Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) awarded by the GMC or the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
Confirmation of Specialist training from the GMC (see Confirmation of UK training and acquired rights)
The Board may request additional information to confirm that the qualifications meet the Boards requirements. Ahpra will advise applicants if this is required.

General practice

Ireland

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Regulatory authority:

Medical Council of Ireland (MCI)

Qualification:

Membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners (MICGP), together with a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST).

Awarding body:

Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP)

Qualification specifications:

Qualification awarded under any ICGP curriculum from 2009 following satisfactory completion of a general practice education and training requirements in Ireland

Additional evidence required:

A letter from ICGP confirming that the qualification was awarded under any ICGP curriculum from 2009 after completion of the 4-year general practice training program (or Recognition of Prior Learning scheme) under an approved GP training scheme in Ireland
Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) issued by the ICGP

New Zealand

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Regulatory authority:

New Zealand Medical Council (MCNZ)

Qualification:

Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP)

Awarding body:

Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP)

Qualification specifications:

Qualification awarded under any RNZCGP curriculum from 2012 following satisfactory completion of the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP)

Additional evidence required:

A letter from RNZCGP confirming that fellowship was awarded under any RNZCGP curriculum from 2012 following satisfactory completion of the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP).

United Kingdom

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Regulatory authority:

General Medical Council (GMC)

Qualification:

Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP), together with a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).

Awarding body:

Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)

Qualification specifications:

Qualification awarded under any RCGP curriculum from August 2007 following satisfactory completion of a GMC or Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board approved general practice specialist training program in the United Kingdom¹.

Note: Training completed through the CCT Combined Training Pathway has not been assessed as being substantially equivalent. Practitioners who have completed this pathway are not eligible for the Expedited Specialist pathway.

Additional evidence required:

Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) issued from August 2007
Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) awarded by the GMC or the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board.
Confirmation of Specialist or GP training from the GMC (see Confirmation of UK training and acquired rights)
Additional evidence to confirm the completion of one of the eligible training pathways, if not indicated in the documents above.

Note: The Board may request additional information to confirm that the qualifications meet the Boards requirements. Ahpra will advise applicants if this is required.

May also be known as the Accreditation of Transferable Competences or Competencies or Capabilities (ATC) pathway.

Psychiatry

United Kingdom

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Regulatory authority:

General Medical Council (GMC)

Qualification:

Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), together with a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)

Awarding bodies:

Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych)
Pre-2010 CCT awarded by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
Post-2010 CCT awarded by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom

Qualification specifications:

Qualification awarded under any RCPsych curriculum from August 2007 following satisfactory completion of a General Medical Council or Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board approved specialty training program in psychiatry in the United Kingdom.

Additional evidence required:

Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych)
Confirmation of Specialist training from the GMC (see Confirmation of UK training and acquired rights).
Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)
The Board may request additional information to confirm that the qualifications meet the Boards requirements. Ahpra will advise applicants if this is required.