IMG Doctor Pathways in Australia 2026: Registration Explained

Australia registers international medical graduates (IMGs) through several pathways set by the Medical Board of Australia, with registration administered by Ahpra and assessments run by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and the specialist colleges. Choosing the right pathway early saves months and thousands of dollars.

Who does what

The five pathways

There are five pathways for IMGs:

Competent authority pathway

This is usually the fastest route for non-specialists who qualify. The approved competent authorities are:

The AMC handles only primary source verification on this pathway, not an exam. You start on provisional registration and complete 12 months of supervised practice (minimum 47 weeks full-time equivalent) before applying for general registration. Further conditions apply, such as the amount and recency of practice in the competent authority country.

Standard pathway

The standard pathway is for most other non-specialist IMGs. The steps are:

1. Pass the AMC CAT MCQ. 150 questions in one 3.5-hour session, delivered by Pearson VUE worldwide. Details in our AMC CAT MCQ guide.
2. Pass the AMC clinical exam or complete workplace-based assessment (WBA). The clinical exam has 16 assessed stations and is passed with 9 or more of 14 scored stations; WBA can only start once you are registered. See the AMC clinical exam guide.
3. Register. With MCQ and clinical exam passed you apply for provisional registration; with the MCQ alone you apply for limited registration.
4. Supervised practice. 12 months (minimum 47 weeks FTE), with orientation and work performance reports after three months.
5. General registration near the end of supervised practice.

The Board also requires 50 hours of CPD each year through an AMC-accredited CPD home while you are registered.

Specialist pathway

Specialist IMGs apply to the relevant Australian specialist college, which assesses whether their training and experience are comparable to an Australian-trained specialist. Outcomes typically range from substantially comparable (with a period of supervised practice or assessment) to partially comparable (requiring more training or exams) to not comparable (in which case the standard or competent authority pathway may be the alternative). This pathway can also be used for an area-of-need specialist-level position.

Expedited specialist pathway

An option within the specialist pathway for specialists whose qualification appears on the Medical Board's Expedited Specialist pathway accepted qualifications list. It leads to specialist registration without the full college comparability assessment. Check the list on the Medical Board website, because qualifications and specialties are added over time.

Short-term training

For overseas-trained specialists and specialists in training who want up to 24 months of specialist or advanced training in Australia. It does not lead to specialist or ongoing registration.

Registration types along the way

The Medical Board grants different types of registration. Most IMGs move through several:

Each type has its own conditions, supervision requirements and renewal rules.

Costs to plan for

AMC fees (as of October 2026, AUD excluding GST):

Add Ahpra application and registration fees, English test fees if required, specialist college fees on the specialist pathway, plus relocation and visa costs.

Where you can work: DPA and workforce rules

Many overseas-trained doctors, especially in general practice, face location requirements tied to Medicare provider numbers. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing uses the Distribution Priority Area (DPA) classification to identify locations with a shortage of medical practitioners, and publishes a Health Workforce Locator to check whether a location is classified as DPA. Whether and how the DPA rules apply to you depends on your situation, so check with the Department and your prospective employer before accepting a role.

Are doctors in shortage?

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) publishes an annual Occupation Shortage List (OSL) rating each occupation as in shortage or not, nationally and by state. In the 2025 list, 29% of assessed occupations were in shortage, down from 36% in 2023 and 33% in 2024. Ratings are given per occupation code, for example individual medical specialties, general practitioners and resident medical officers, so look up your exact occupation. Shortage ratings inform migration settings but do not on their own guarantee a job or a visa.

A step-by-step example: standard pathway timeline

1. Create an AMC account and portfolio. Submit your primary medical qualification for verification (initial portfolio fee AUD 642, stand October 2026).
2. Apply for the CAT MCQ authorisation, valid for 12 months, and book with Pearson VUE.
3. Sit the MCQ. Results arrive at 4.00pm on the Friday three weeks after the exam.
4. Choose the next assessment. The AMC clinical exam, before or after registration, or WBA, after registration.
5. Find a supervised position that meets the Board's supervision requirements.
6. Apply to Ahpra for limited or provisional registration, at least three months before your intended start date.
7. Complete 12 months of supervised practice (minimum 47 weeks FTE), submitting reports after three months.
8. Apply for general registration near the end of supervised practice.

A step-by-step example: competent authority timeline

1. Confirm eligibility against the Medical Board's list of competent authorities and practice requirements.
2. Primary source verification through the AMC.
3. Secure a position with approved supervision.
4. Apply to Ahpra for provisional registration.
5. Complete 12 months of supervised practice (minimum 47 weeks FTE).
6. Apply for general registration.

Questions to ask a prospective employer

• Does the role meet the Medical Board's supervision requirements for my registration type?
• Who will be my principal supervisor, and how is supervision provided?
• Is the location classified as a Distribution Priority Area, and does that matter for my role?
• Will the employer support the orientation and work performance reports required after three months?
• Does the role allow time to prepare for the AMC clinical exam or does it host workplace-based assessment?

Choosing your pathway: a decision checklist

1. Do you hold a specialist qualification? Check the expedited specialist list first, then the specialist pathway.
2. Were you assessed by a listed competent authority? If you passed PLAB, LMCC, ECFMG certification, NZREX, an MCI-accredited course or COMLEX-USA, read the competent authority conditions.
3. Neither? The standard pathway applies: AMC MCQ, then clinical exam or WBA.
4. Considering New Zealand too? The AMC MCQ is one of the prerequisites accepted for NZREX Clinical. See Working as a doctor in New Zealand.
5. Check English language requirements on the Medical Board's registration standards page.
6. Budget for the whole route, not just the next exam.

Common mistakes

• Starting the AMC MCQ when you qualify for competent authority. It costs time and money you may not need to spend.
• Assuming a job offer equals registration. Registration is a separate decision by the Board.
• Ignoring supervision requirements. Provisional and limited registration require approved supervision; the role must offer it.
• Overlooking location rules. DPA classification can determine where you can bill Medicare.
• Letting documents lapse. Exam passes, English results and authorisations have validity periods.

Nurses and midwives

Internationally qualified nurses follow a separate process through the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. See our NMBA NCLEX-RN and OSCE guide for overseas nurses.

Prepare with MediFlow

If the standard pathway is your route, start with the study plan for the AMC MCQ and practise free sample questions on MediFlow's Australia medicine track or in the app.