Registration Pathways for Overseas Doctors

Why Pathway Selection Matters

Australia has a rigorous, multi-stage process for recognising overseas medical qualifications. The pathway you choose determines whether you need to sit examinations, how long the process will take, how much it will cost, and what type of registration you will ultimately hold. Choosing the wrong pathway — or starting down one pathway before realising another is more appropriate — can cost you months of preparation and thousands of dollars.

Australia has five main registration pathways for international medical graduates (IMGs), administered jointly by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Each suits a different profile of doctor:

• The Competent Authority Pathway is for doctors trained in the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, or New Zealand — countries whose medical regulators are recognised by the AMC. These doctors are exempt from AMC examinations.
• The Standard Pathway is the most widely used route, open to doctors from all other countries. It requires passing both the AMC MCQ and AMC Clinical examinations.
• The Specialist Pathway is for doctors who already hold a recognised overseas specialist qualification and wish to have it assessed by the relevant Australian medical college.
• The GP Pathway is for doctors whose primary practice is general medicine, seeking fellowship with RACGP or ACRRM.
• The Limited Registration pathway allows doctors who have not yet completed all requirements to work under supervision in designated areas of need, often in regional and rural Australia.

Each pathway is described in full detail on its own page. The sections below provide a comprehensive guide to choosing the right one.

The Five Registration Pathways

Use the cards below to navigate to the detailed guide for each pathway.

How to Choose Your Pathway

Working through the following questions in order will point you towards the most appropriate pathway for your situation. These are the same questions that the AMC and AHPRA will effectively be asking when they assess your application.

1. Where did you obtain your primary medical degree?

This is the most important question. If your primary medical qualification was awarded by a recognised institution in the United Kingdom, Ireland, United States of America, Canada, or New Zealand, you are likely eligible for the Competent Authority Pathway, provided you also hold or have held current registration with the relevant national regulator (GMC, IMC, USMLE/NBME, MCCQE, or MCNZ). If you trained in any other country, you will be directed toward the Standard Pathway or, if you are a specialist, the Specialist Pathway.

2. Are you a specialist, or are you a generalist / non-specialist?

If you have completed a formal specialist training programme in your home country and hold a specialist fellowship, diploma, or board certification (such as MRCP, FRCS, ABIM, FCPS, DM, or equivalent), you may be eligible for the Specialist Pathway — even if you trained in a country not covered by the Competent Authority pathway. The relevant Australian medical college will assess whether your overseas specialist qualification is comparable to the Australian standard.

If you work primarily as a general practitioner and have substantial GP experience, the GP Pathway through RACGP or ACRRM may be a better fit than the Standard Pathway.

3. Do you need to start working in Australia quickly?

If you need to generate income before completing the full registration process, Limited Registration may be the right short-term strategy. Many doctors on the Standard Pathway also take up limited registration positions in areas of need, allowing them to work under supervision while preparing for AMC examinations. Limited registration is granted relatively quickly (often within 2–4 months) and can be renewed annually.

4. What kind of medicine do you want to practise in Australia?

If you ultimately want to work as a GP, the GP Pathway via RACGP or ACRRM is the most direct route to becoming a recognised general practitioner. Completing the Standard Pathway grants general registration, which allows you to work in hospitals and salaried GP roles, but you will not hold GP fellowship unless you complete the RACGP or ACRRM assessment. Fellowship is required to hold a Medicare provider number as a GP without restriction to Distribution Priority Areas.

If you want to work as a consultant specialist, the Specialist Pathway will allow you to hold specialist registration, which commands higher specialist Medicare rebates and enables practice as a consultant.

5. How much time and financial resources do you have?

The Standard Pathway involves two examination fees totalling approximately AUD $6,500–7,000, plus study time, travel to Melbourne for the clinical examination, and up to 24 months of preparation. The Competent Authority Pathway requires no exam fees. The Specialist Pathway involves college assessment fees but no AMC exams. Consider your timeline, finances, and support structure when planning your pathway.

Key Factors That Affect Your Pathway

Regardless of which pathway you follow, there are several common requirements and considerations that will affect your registration journey.

AMC Examination Requirements

The Australian Medical Council (AMC) is the body responsible for assessing the medical qualifications of overseas-trained doctors. Depending on your pathway:

• Competent Authority Pathway: No AMC examinations required. The AMC verifies your credentials and makes a recommendation to AHPRA based on your existing registration and qualifications.
• Standard Pathway: Two examinations required — the AMC MCQ (computer-adaptive, multiple-choice) and the AMC Clinical Examination (16-station OSCE, held in Melbourne). Both must be passed before AHPRA will grant registration.
• Specialist Pathway: No AMC examinations required. Assessment is conducted by the relevant specialist college, not the AMC. However, some colleges may require specific assessments or bridging programmes.
• GP Pathway: AMC examinations are generally not required, as the RACGP and ACRRM conduct their own assessments. However, some doctors on the GP pathway may be directed to complete AMC assessments depending on circumstances.
• Limited Registration: No AMC examinations required to obtain limited registration, but doctors typically need to pass AMC exams to progress to general registration.

English Language Requirements

AHPRA requires all overseas-trained doctors to demonstrate English language proficiency unless they are exempt. The standard tests accepted are IELTS Academic (minimum 7.0 in each band), OET Medicine (minimum grade B in each sub-test), PTE Academic (minimum 65 in each communicative skill), and TOEFL iBT (minimum scores apply). Results must be no more than two years old at the time of application. Doctors who trained and practised for at least five years in specified English-speaking countries — including the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia — are typically exempt. See the English Language Requirements page for full details.

EPIC Credential Verification

Most pathways require that your primary medical qualification be verified through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) International Credentials Services (EPIC) system. EPIC contacts your medical school directly to confirm the authenticity of your degree. This process takes 2–4 months and should be initiated as early as possible, as it is often the rate-limiting step in the overall timeline. Do not wait until you have passed other exams before starting EPIC — begin it immediately.

Supervised Practice Requirements

Some pathways include a mandatory period of supervised clinical practice:

• Doctors on the Standard Pathway who are granted provisional registration must complete a period of supervised practice (typically one year in an approved hospital post) before applying for general registration.
• Doctors on the Specialist Pathway whose overseas qualifications are assessed as partially comparable may be required to undertake 6–24 months of supervised practice in their specialty.
• Doctors on Limited Registration work under supervision for the duration of their limited registration period.

Recency of Practice

AHPRA requires that all registered doctors demonstrate they have practised medicine in a recent period — typically within the last 3–5 years, with at least 150 hours of clinical practice in the preceding 12 months. If you have been out of clinical practice for an extended period (for example, due to parental leave, research, or administrative roles), you may be required to undertake further supervised practice before registration is granted or maintained.

Pathway Comparison Summary

The table below provides a high-level overview of all five pathways. For a more detailed comparison with cost breakdowns and a decision guide, visit the Pathway Comparison page.

Next Steps After Choosing Your Pathway

Once you have identified the pathway that best fits your background and goals, the next step is to begin the practical process of registration. The following resources will help you move forward:

Registration and Examination Guides

• Registration Overview — AHPRA, AMC and the full process
• AHPRA Registration Guide — step-by-step application guide
• English Language Requirements — IELTS, OET, PTE, TOEFL
• Registration Costs — full breakdown of all fees
• Registration Timeline — realistic planning guide

Visa and Employment

• Visa Options for Doctors — 482, 186, 494 and more
• Finding a Job in Australia — hospitals, GP clinics, recruitment
• How to Get a Job as an Overseas Doctor

Start-to-Finish Guides

• Start Here — the complete step-by-step overview
• AMC Examination Guide
• AHPRA Guide
• Visa Guide for Doctors