Orientation requirements for specialist registration

The Board’s Registration standard: Specialist registration sets out the requirements for specialist registration.

To be eligible for specialist registration from 21 October 2024, you need to have successfully completed a Board-approved orientation to the Australian healthcare system.

This supports your safe transition to Australian medical practice. It helps make sure you are familiar with the structure of the Australian healthcare system, Australia’s legislation and professional practice requirements, professional development, cultural diversity, social context of care, as well as local health service and employer policies and procedures.

Exemptions

Some exemptions apply. If you are currently registered, or you have previously been registered and have practised as a medical practitioner in Australia in the past three years, you do not need to meet this requirement. 

If you are not exempt from this requirement, the Board may grant you specialist registration with a condition that enables you to meet this requirement.

Evidence requirements 

The following documents outline the documentary evidence that you must submit with your application for specialist registration:

• Evidence guide: Eligibility for specialist registration (187 KB, PDF)
• Policy: Orientation requirements for specialist registration (128 KB, PDF)

Resources

Orientation programs are generally completed in the workplace in Australia over a period of time. They may be provided by employers, specialist medical colleges or other organisations and may include the use of online resources. 

Some examples of online resources and useful contacts are:

• Australian Government - Department of Health and Aged Care – Doctor Connect
• Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA)
• Australian Medical Association (AMA)
• Australian Medical Council (AMC)
• Rural Workforce Agencies Network

Specialist medical colleges

• Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD)
• Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM)
• Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)
• Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP)
• Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)
• College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (CICM)
• Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS)
• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
• Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA)
• Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)
• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA)

Medicare

• Medicare Australia
• MBS eLearning

State and territory health departments

• Australian Capital Territory – ACT Health
• New South Wales – NSW Health
• Northern Territory – NT Health
• Queensland – Queensland Health
• South Australia – SA Health
• Tasmania – Department of Health
• Victoria – Department of Health
• Western Australia – Department of Health
  • Information to assist international medical graduates