International Medical Graduates

International medical graduates (doctors who have gained their medical qualification outside of Australia or New Zealand) are able to practice medicine in Australia via a number of pathways. The specific requirements vary depending on the country in which you completed your primary medical degree, your postgraduate qualifications, and the area in which you intend to work.

The basic steps include:

Identifying a position you would like to apply for, and obtaining a job offer

There are a number of medical recruitment agencies that can help with this process. Initially, you may have to work in an officially recognised area of workforce shortage.

Obtaining appropriate medical registration

Most overseas-trained doctors have conditional registration when they begin working in Australia, and are generally required to work in an "area of need". This is a location with a lack of medical practitioners and/or where positions remain unfilled despite recruitment efforts. In order to obtain general registration, which allows you to work in any location, you may be required to sit the Australian Medical Council (AMC) examinations and undergo a period of supervised training. Graduates from some countries are exempt from the AMC examinations. Specialists must have their qualifications assessed by the AMC and the relevant Australian specialist college.

The State and Territory Medical Boards are the bodies responsible for medical registration in Australia. This process was previously regulated by separate legislation in every State and Territory, but a nationally consistent process for assessing IMGs has now been developed. It is being phased in from July 2007.

You can contact the relevant State or Territory Medical Board for more information:

New South Wales Medical Board
Queensland Medical Board (particularly helpful overview here)
Medical Board of Victoria
Medical Board of South Australia
Medical Board of Western Australia
Northern Territory Licensing Authority
Medical Council of Tasmania
Medical Board of the ACT

Applying for a visa

Your employer will assist with this process. Further information is available from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs website.

Obtaining a Medicare provider number

Your employer will be able to tell you which type of provider number you require for a given position. In order to obtain a provider number, you may be required to work in an area of workforce shortage.

Obtaining medical indemnity cover

Obtaining proof of English language proficiency (doctors educated in English speaking countries may be exempt)

Key resource for further reading:
DoctorConnect is an Australian Government initiative which aims to provide a starting point for international medical graduates considering working in Australia.

 

 

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