Medical Board of Australia and Ahpra: Registration Guide 2026

Doctors in Australia are regulated by two closely linked bodies: the Medical Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). Together they decide who can be registered, on what terms, and how international medical graduates (IMGs) get there. A third organisation, the Australian Medical Council (AMC), runs the exams for one of the main IMG pathways.

This page explains who does what, which registration pathways exist for doctors trained overseas, what the English language standard requires, and where to find the current fees.

Key facts

What the Board and Ahpra do

The Medical Board of Australia is the national board for the medical profession. It:

• registers medical practitioners and medical students;
• develops standards, codes and guidelines for the profession;
• handles notifications (complaints) about doctors and, for serious matters, refers them to panels or tribunals;
• assesses international medical graduates who want to practise in Australia;
• approves accreditation standards and accredited courses of study.

State and territory boards support the national Board and have delegated powers to make individual registration and notification decisions, based on national policies and standards.

Ahpra is the agency that supports the Board day to day. It processes applications, maintains the public register, and supports the national boards for each regulated health profession; there are 15 national boards in total. When you apply for registration you will usually deal with Ahpra's online services, even though the decision is made under the Board's standards.

Registration in practice

Applications for registration are submitted to Ahpra and assessed against the Board's registration standards. For IMGs the main steps are:

1. Pick the right pathway using the Board's IMG pages and pathway tool.
2. Have your qualifications verified through the AMC where your pathway requires it.
3. Meet the English language skills standard.
4. Secure a suitable position and supervision arrangements where your pathway requires supervised practice.
5. Apply to Ahpra for the registration type that matches your situation.

Pathways for international medical graduates

The Board describes five pathways for doctors trained overseas:

Competent authority pathway

The Board recognises these authorities:

• General Medical Council, UK (PLAB);
• Medical Council of Canada (LMCC);
• ECFMG, USA;
• Medical Council of New Zealand (NZREX);
• Medical Council of Ireland (accredited course);
• NBOME, USA (COMLEX-USA).

On this pathway the AMC only performs primary source verification of your qualifications; you do not sit the AMC exams. You then complete 12 months of supervised practice, with a minimum of 47 weeks full-time equivalent, before you can apply for general registration.

Standard pathway

The standard pathway is for IMGs who are not eligible for the competent authority or specialist pathways. You need to pass the AMC assessments: the CAT MCQ, then either the AMC clinical examination or an accredited workplace-based assessment. As on the competent authority pathway, the Board requires 12 months of supervised practice with a minimum of 47 weeks full-time equivalent.

For exam details, see our AMC CAT MCQ guide and AMC clinical exam guide. The AMC itself is profiled on our Australian Medical Council page. If you are starting MCQ preparation, MediFlow's Australian medicine course has free practice questions.

English language requirements

All applicants for first-time registration must meet Ahpra's English language skills registration standard. The standard sets out several pathways, including:

• Combined education pathway: at least two years of secondary education taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country, together with qualifications taught and assessed in English in such a country.
• Test pathway: an accepted English test.

Accepted tests are IELTS Academic, OET, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency. For medicine, the Board also accepts successful completion of NZREX or PLAB.

Fees (stand October 2026)

Registration fees for medical practitioners are set by the Board and published on its website and on Ahpra's fee pages. They differ by registration type, are reviewed regularly and can depend on your principal place of practice. AMC exam fees are separate.

Checklist before you apply to Ahpra

• Pathway confirmed using the Board's IMG pages; competent authority, standard, specialist, expedited specialist or short-term training.
• Qualifications verified by the AMC where your pathway requires it.
• English evidence that meets the current registration standard, or NZREX/PLAB for medicine.
• Position and supervisor arranged if your pathway includes supervised practice.
• Exams done if you are on the standard pathway: the AMC CAT MCQ, then the clinical exam or WBA.
• Fees checked on the Board's and the AMC's official pages on the day you apply.

Moving between registration types

The English language standard is not only for first-time applicants. Ahpra applies it again in certain situations, for example when you move from provisional to general registration, or from general to specialist or non-practising registration, after a long period in which English was not your main language. If you have spent time working outside English-speaking settings, read the standard before applying for a change of registration type.

Typical mistakes

• Applying on the wrong pathway. Use the Board's pathway tool first; a competent authority applicant does not need the AMC exams.
• Underestimating supervised practice. Plan for 12 months (at least 47 weeks FTE) before general registration.
• Booking an English test without checking the rules. Accepted tests and validity periods are set in the current standard.
• Mixing up the Board and the AMC. The AMC assesses and accredits; the Board registers.

Next steps

1. Check your pathway on the Board's IMG page.
2. Arrange English evidence that meets the current standard.
3. If you are on the standard pathway, read the AMC CAT MCQ guide.
4. Compare conditions in Working as a doctor in Australia.

Contact and official links

• Medical Board of Australia: medicalboard.gov.au
• Ahpra: ahpra.gov.au
• IMG pathways: International medical graduates
• Information for international practitioners: Ahpra overseas practitioners
• English language standard: Ahpra English language skills