The Specialist Pathway of the Australian Medical Board Explained

Obtaining registration to practice medicine in Australia is probably the most confusing out of all of the options IMGs have. To make some sense of the chaos and to understand the various pathways to obtaining medical registration it’s best to start by understanding the various players in the skills assessment and registration processes.

There are 6 you should know about:

1. Australian Medical Board (AMB) – Registers all medical practitioners and students;

2. Australian Medical Council (AMC) – is the Australian verifications authority for all medical qualifications and also conducts the Standard Pathway assessment examinations;

3. Approved Competent Authorities are international authorities who are approved by the Australian Medical Board to assess applied medical knowledge and basic clinical skills – only needed for the Competent Authority Pathway;

4. Australian Specialist Medical Colleges – conduct the Specialist Pathway assessments.

5. Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) – provide verification of medical qualifications through their Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC) service;

6. Last but not least, you, the applicant.

The Specialist Pathway is for specialists who fall into one of the following categories:

a. overseas-trained specialists applying for assessment of comparability to the standard of a specialist trained in that specialty in Australia

b. overseas-trained specialists applying for an area of need specialist level position in Australia

The assessment process for specialists varies by specialization and is carried out by the College relevant to that specialization (primary qualification in medicine and surgery should be awarded by a training institution recognized by BOTH the Australian Medical Council and the World Directory of Medical Schools).

We’ve included a flowchart made by the AMC regarding the specialist pathway below:

Overseas trained specialists applying for registration through the specialist pathway should apply directly to the relevant specialist medical college for assessment. The paperwork requirements and cost are quite substantial (generally ≈ $5,000 AUD and more). Specialist pathway applicants do not require a PESCI and the outcome of the assessment can lead to Limited Registration, Provisional Registration or Specialist Registration. This will depend on your qualifications and their comparability, as well whether your specialty position is in an Area of Need. An Area of Need is a location where there is a demonstrated shortage of suitably qualified medical practitioners. An Area of Need post is a position that is specifically established for an international doctor to work in Australia because it has been difficult to find an Australian doctor to work in that position. They are generally declared for specialist positions. The table below summarizes possible registration outcomes for applicants on the Specialty Pathway.

You can find out more about the Specialist Pathway here: http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Registration/International-Medical-Graduates/Specialist-Pathway.aspx