Specialist pathway - area of need

SIMGs seeking to apply for a specialist level position in an area of need.

All IMGs must have a primary qualification in medicine and surgery awarded by a training institution recognised by both the AMC and the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS).

To be eligible for the Specialist pathway – area of need, SIMGs must have satisfied all the training and examination requirements to practise in their field of specialty in their country of training.

The SIMG must have secured a position in an area of need. ‘Area of need’ is determined by the relevant state or territory health authority (the AMC, the specialist medical college and the Board have no role in determining which areas are designated area of need).

The Specialist pathway – area of need is for all recognised medical specialties.

This pathway does not lead to specialist registration or ongoing registration in Australia.

SIMGs on the Specialist pathway – area of need may also apply for the Specialist pathway – specialist recognition if they are seeking specialist registration. The SIMG can complete the requirements for specialist recognition while working in an area of need position (known as the Combined specialist pathway).

SIMGs on the Specialist pathway – area of need must apply for limited registration for area of need.

SIMGs who are also eligible for the Competent Authority pathway can work in an area of need with provisional registration.

• Secure a position in an area of need.
• Apply to the AMC for primary source verification (PSV) of your primary and specialist medical qualifications. The AMC use ECFMG verification services.
• Apply to the ECFMG to establish an EPIC/MyIntealth account for verification of your qualifications.
• Apply to the relevant specialist medical college for an area of need assessment.
• SIMGs who are seeking specialist registration can apply to the college for a specialist recognition (comparability) assessment at the same time (combined assessment).
• The specialist college will send you the outcome of the assessment – either suitable or not suitable for the position (Area of need report).
• If you are assessed as suitable, apply to the Medical Board for limited registration (or provisional registration if you are also eligible for the Competent Authority pathway).

• You can start practising when the Board has granted you limited (or provisional) registration.
• Complete an orientation to the Australian health system.
• After three months’ practice, submit orientation and work performance reports (see below).
• Submit a work performance report at annual renewal of registration.

There are different fees charged by different organisations for different purposes.

• The AMC charges a fee to establish an AMC candidate account for you, so that it can arrange PSV of your qualifications. Contact the AMC for fee information.
• ECFMG charge a fee for the EPIC PSV service. Contact the ECFMG for more information about fees.
• The specialist medical colleges charge fees for the area of need assessment. See the relevant college website for details of college fees for IMGs.
• Ahpra and the Medical Board charge an application fee and a registration fee for limited/provisional registration. See the Medical Board fees page.
• CPD homes charge a joining fee. See the relevant CPD home for fees.

The medical registration forms are on the Board’s forms page.

Application for specialist college area of need assessment – you need to source the application form from the relevant specialist medical college

Application for limited or provisional registration

• Application for limited registration for an area of need for specialist practice - AANS-30

OR

• Application for provisional registration as a medical practitioner - Australian Medical Council certificate holders or applicants via the competent authority pathway - APRI-30

SIMGs on the Specialist pathway – area of need must be supervised while doing their training.

The supervision forms are on the Board’s IMG supervision page.

SIMGs need to submit a supervised practice plan with their application for registration and nominate a supervisor who the Board will need to approve.

• Supervised practice plan and supervisor's agreement for IMGs with limited or provisional registration - SPPA-30

While you hold limited or provisional registration and are practising in an area of need, you and your supervisor will need to complete these reports and provide them to the Board after three months’ practice:

• Orientation report for IMGs with limited or provisional registration - ORIG-30
• Work performance report for IMGs with limited or provisional registration - WRIG-30

See the Guidelines – Supervised practice for international medical graduates on the Board’s Supervision page for more detail.

Registration standards define the requirements to apply for registration and for ongoing registration.

For limited registrants - Limited registration for an area of need registration standard. 

See also the mandatory registration standards for English language, criminal history, CPD, PII, recency of practice on the Board’s Registration standards page.

If you are on the Specialist pathway – area of need and you have limited or provisional registration, you need to have a CPD home and do 50 hours of CPD each calendar year.

You can choose an AMC-accredited CPD home that is suitable for your scope of practice – either a college or non-college CPD home. The CPD homes are listed on the Board’s About CPD homes page.

General information about CPD is on the Board’s CPD page.

A list of the specialist medical colleges is available on the Board’s Useful contacts page.

The employer identifies a position that needs to be filled and contacts the relevant specialist medical college for assistance in preparing a detailed position description and key selection criteria.

It is in relation to this position description that the college will assess the suitability of an applicant under the Specialist pathway - area of need.

The position description should include the following information:

• the position title
• a comprehensive statement of duties
• qualifications and experience – identifying and distinguishing between selection criteria that are regarded as 'essential' or 'desirable'; and clarifying whether candidates must show either that they have practical experience or that they have aptitude in a particular aspect of clinical practice
• special requirements of the position, which may be due to the geographic location or specific nature of the medical services to be provided
• clinical practice privileges or appointments relating to the position
• any special conditions of employment, and
• the remuneration package for the position, including whether the applicant will be providing services that need to attract Medicare rebates.

The employer then contacts the state or territory health authority to have the position declared an area of need position. The employer is expected to demonstrate that advertising has failed to attract a suitably qualified local applicant and that, unless the position is filled, service delivery will be affected adversely. The employer must provide evidence of reasonable efforts to recruit locally.

If a position is approved as an area of need position, the employer matches applicants for area of need positions against the position description and selection criteria, and selects a suitable applicant.

The applicant and the employer complete the relevant documentation, including the visa application, where necessary.

If access to Medicare is required, the employer will need to contact the Australian Government Department of Health to confirm that the position identified as an area of need position is also in a district of workforce shortage. The employer should also ensure that the applicant for the area of need position will be eligible to apply to the Board for ‘limited registration for area of need’ or ‘provisional registration' via the Competent Authority pathway.