Working as a Doctor in Australia: IMG Pathways and AMC Guide 2026

Australia offers international medical graduates (IMGs) several clearly defined registration pathways. Which one fits you depends on where you trained, which exams you have already passed and whether you are a specialist.

Key facts

The Australian healthcare system

Australia combines a universal public insurance scheme (Medicare) with a large private sector. Public hospitals are run by the states and territories, while general practice is largely private and funded through Medicare rebates. Many IMGs start in public hospitals or in general practice in areas of workforce need. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing classifies Distribution Priority Areas, which identify locations with a shortage of medical practitioners and affect where some overseas-trained doctors can work.

Authorities

• Medical Board of Australia sets registration standards and decides applications. See /councils/medical-board-of-australia-ahpra/.
• Ahpra administers registration for all national boards and publishes the English language standard.
• Australian Medical Council (AMC) verifies qualifications and runs the MCQ and clinical exams. See /councils/australian-medical-council-amc/.
• Specialist medical colleges assess overseas specialists and run training programs.

Recognition: which pathway applies

Competent authority pathway. For doctors who passed a recognised exam or training in a competent authority country: the GMC (UK, PLAB), the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), ECFMG (USA), the Medical Council of New Zealand (NZREX), the Medical Council of Ireland (accredited course) and NBOME (COMLEX-USA). The AMC only performs primary source verification here; no AMC exam is needed.

Standard pathway. For non-specialists who do not qualify for the competent authority pathway. You pass the AMC CAT MCQ, then either the AMC clinical exam or workplace-based assessment (WBA).

Specialist pathways. Overseas-trained specialists are assessed by the relevant college for comparability; an expedited specialist pathway exists for selected qualifications.

Short-term training pathway. For IMGs coming to Australia for a limited period of training.

For a deeper comparison, see IMG doctor pathways in Australia.

Exam process step by step (standard pathway)

1. Create an AMC account and have your qualifications verified through primary source verification.
2. Sit the AMC CAT MCQ. 150 multiple choice questions, one best answer out of five, in a single 3.5-hour session, delivered by Pearson VUE worldwide. Results are released through your AMC account three weeks after the exam. See the AMC MCQ guide.
3. Find a position and apply for limited or provisional registration with the Medical Board.
4. Complete the clinical component. Either the AMC clinical exam (16 assessed stations of 10 minutes; pass with 9 or more of 14 scored stations), or WBA, which can only be done after registration is granted. See the AMC clinical exam guide.
5. Complete 12 months of supervised practice, at least 47 weeks full-time equivalent.
6. Apply for general registration.

On the competent authority pathway, steps 2 and 4 are replaced by the competent authority qualification, but you still need a job offer, supervised practice and registration.

Costs

Stand October 2026, AMC fees excluding GST:

Ahpra application and registration fees, English tests, visa and relocation costs come on top. Fees are reviewed regularly.

Timeline

Language requirements

All IMGs applying for registration for the first time must meet Ahpra's English language skills registration standard. It accepts IELTS Academic, OET, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT, as well as education-based pathways. Minimum scores have been revised over time.

Specialist training

Specialist training is delivered by the specialist medical colleges (for example RACP, RACS, RACGP, ACRRM). Entry is competitive and usually requires general registration and prior hospital experience. Overseas-trained specialists go through the specialist pathway and are assessed by the college as substantially comparable, partially comparable or not comparable.

Working conditions

Pay and conditions for public hospital doctors are set in state and territory enterprise agreements and differ by state and level. Jobs and Skills Australia rates shortages by occupation in an annual Occupation Shortage List. Distribution Priority Area rules affect where some IMGs may bill Medicare.

Document checklist

Gather these before opening your AMC portfolio:

• Primary medical degree and transcript, for primary source verification.
• Internship completion certificate.
• Certificates of good standing from every regulator you have been registered with.
• English test results meeting the Ahpra standard, or evidence for an education-based pathway.
• Detailed CV with exact dates and positions, which the Board and employers expect.
• For specialists, postgraduate qualifications and training records for the college assessment.

Keep names consistent across all documents; mismatches slow verification.

Preparation strategy for the AMC exams

The AMC CAT MCQ covers adult health, women's health, child health, mental health and population health in an Australian context. It is a computer adaptive test, so question difficulty adjusts to your performance. Effective preparation:

1. Learn Australian guidelines and common presentations in general practice and emergency medicine.
2. Practise questions by discipline, reviewing every explanation.
3. Train timing. 150 questions in 3.5 hours means about 84 seconds per question.
4. Use spaced review for weak topics; see spaced repetition for medical exams.

For the clinical exam, practise structured history, examination and counselling stations within the 8-minute assessment time.

Comparing the pathways

If you already have PLAB or USMLE plus ECFMG certification, check the competent authority pathway first; it can save the cost and time of the AMC exams.

Finding a position

On most pathways you need a job offer before registration. Public hospital jobs are advertised by state health services, and many IMG positions are in regional and rural areas. General practice posts for IMGs are often linked to Distribution Priority Area rules. Ask each employer whether the post is approved for your pathway and who will supervise you.

Visa basics

Most IMGs need an employer-sponsored visa. Visa rules are set by the Department of Home Affairs, not the Medical Board. Registration and visa applications usually run in parallel once you have an offer.

Typical mistakes

• Choosing the wrong pathway. Use the Board's pathway tool before paying any AMC fees.
• Assuming the MCQ alone gives registration. You still need a job, the clinical component and supervised practice.
• Using outdated English score summaries instead of the current Ahpra standard.
• Forgetting GST on AMC fees when budgeting.
• Ignoring location rules linked to Distribution Priority Areas.

Next steps

1. Check your pathway on the Medical Board website.
2. Read how to pass the AMC MCQ.
3. Practise with the MediFlow Australia medicine track, with free test questions, or in the MediFlow app.
4. Compare with New Zealand, where an AMC MCQ pass can count toward NZREX eligibility.