Standard pathway

IMGs seeking general registration in Australia.

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 Standard pathway, IMGs must have passed the AMC CAT MCQ written examination.

The Standard pathway has two different processes leading to the award of the AMC Certificate:

• AMC examinations - assessment is by examination only - the AMC CAT MCQ Examination and the AMC Clinical Examination. The clinical exam can be completed before or after registration is granted. Most non-specialist IMGs will be assessed through this method.
• WBA - assessment is by examination and WBA - the AMC CAT MCQ Examination and WBA of clinical skills and knowledge by an AMC-accredited authority. There are a limited number of places for the WBA, and as a result, relatively few IMGs are assessed through this assessment method. See More information below for a list of AMC-accredited authorities for the WBA.

This pathway leads to general registration.

IMGs on the Standard pathway who have passed the AMC CAT MCQ need to apply for limited or provisional registration so they can complete a period of supervised practice.

• IMGs who have passed both the AMC CAT MCQ and the AMC Clinical Examinations need to apply for provisional registration.
• IMGs who have passed the AMC CAT MCQ need to apply for limited registration.
  The type of limited registration you need depends on the position you have secured:

• Limited registration for postgraduate training or supervised practice
• Limited registration for area of need – if you will be working in an area of need

When an IMG has satisfactorily completed 12 months of supervised practice (minimum of 47 weeks of full-time equivalent (FTE) practice) and either the clinical exam or WBA, they can apply for general registration.

• Apply to the AMC for primary source verification (PSV) of your primary medical qualification. The AMC use ECFMG verification services.
• Apply to the ECFMG to establish an EPIC/MyIntealth account for verification of your qualifications.
• Pass the AMC MCQ exam.

If you sit and pass both AMC exams before seeking registration in Australia:

• Pass the AMC clinical exam and receive the AMC Certificate.
• Secure a suitable position in a hospital or in general practice. This can be an ‘area of need’ position.
• If you will be working in general practice, you need to undertake a pre-employment structured clinical interview (PESCI). See the PESCI page for more information.
• Apply to the Medical Board for provisional registration.

• You can start practising when the Board has granted you provisional registration.
• Complete an orientation to the Australian health system.
• After three months practice, submit orientation and work performance reports (see below).
• Satisfactorily complete 12 months of supervised practice (47 weeks FTE).
• Apply to the Medical Board for general registration. (IMGs with provisional registration who are approaching the completion of their 12 months of supervised practice can apply for general registration early, online).

If you want to sit the AMC clinical exam after you seek registration in Australia:

• Secure a suitable position in a hospital or in general practice. This can be an ‘area of need’ position.
• If you will be working in general practice, you need to undertake a pre-employment structured clinical interview (PESCI). See the PESCI page for more information.
• Apply to the Medical Board for limited registration.

• You can start practising when the Board has granted you limited registration.
• Complete an orientation to the Australian health system.
• After three months practice, submit orientation and work performance reports (see below).
• Satisfactorily complete 12 months of supervised practice (47 weeks FTE).
• During your supervised practice - pass the AMC clinical exam and receive the AMC certificate
• Apply to the Medical Board for general registration.

If you want to complete the WBA program after you seek registration in Australia:

• Secure a suitable position with an AMC-accredited WBA provider (see More information below).
• Apply to the Medical Board for limited registration.

• You can start practising when the Board has granted you limited registration.
• Complete an orientation to the Australian health system.
• After three months practice, submit orientation and work performance reports (see below).
• Satisfactorily complete 12 months of supervised practice (47 weeks FTE).
• During your supervised practice – complete WBA program and receive the AMC certificate.
• Apply to the Medical Board for general 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 primary source verification (PSV) of your qualifications. Contact the AMC for PSV fee information.
• ECFMG charge a fee for the EPIC PSV service. Contact the ECFMG for more information about fees.
• The AMC charges fees for the AMC MCQ and clinical exams and WBAs. Contact the AMC for information about exam fees.
• Ahpra and the Medical Board charge an application fee and a registration fee for limited or 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.

Provisional registration

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

Limited registration

• Application for limited registration for an area of need - AANG-30

OR

• Application for limited registration postgraduate training or supervised practice as a medical practitioner - ALPS-30

General registration

• Application for general registration – IMGs with current provisional registration can apply online

OR

• Application for general registration as a medical practitioner - AGEN-30

To support your application for general registration, you must demonstrate that you have achieved the expected learning outcomes – either during completion of core rotations or through other learning experiences. The Board has developed guidance on the documentary evidence you need to provide.

Evidence of supervised practice to support applications for general registration from AMC certificate holders (101 KB, PDF) Word version (82.3 KB, DOCX)

IMGs on the Standard pathway must complete 12 months of specified supervised practice.

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

IMGs will 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 provisional or limited registration and are working towards general registration, 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 postgraduate training or supervised practice registration standard
• Limited registration for area of need registration standard

For limited and provisional registrants:

• Registration standard: Granting general registration to medical practitioners who hold an Australian Medical Council certificate

See also the mandatory registration standards for English language, criminal history, CPD, professional indemnity insurance and recency of practice on the Board’s registration standards page

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

You 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.

More information about the AMC exams is available on the AMC website.

The AMC-accredited authorities for WBA are: