What Is the Competent Authority Pathway?
The Competent Authority Pathway is a streamlined route to Australian medical registration for doctors who trained and hold current registration in a country whose medical regulatory body is formally recognised by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) as a "competent authority." The underlying principle is that these countries maintain medical training and licensing standards that are sufficiently comparable to Australian standards that the AMC does not need to re-examine doctors from those jurisdictions.
In practical terms, this means that eligible doctors are exempt from sitting the AMC MCQ examination and the AMC Clinical examination — the two examinations that all Standard Pathway applicants must pass. Instead, the AMC verifies your credentials directly with your home country regulator, confirms your good standing, and makes a formal recommendation to AHPRA. AHPRA then processes your registration application in the normal way.
This pathway is consistently the fastest route to general registration in Australia, typically taking between three and six months from application to registration being granted. By comparison, the Standard Pathway can take 12–24 months due to examination preparation and scheduling. For doctors from recognised countries, the Competent Authority Pathway should be the default option unless specific circumstances make another pathway more appropriate.
It is important to understand that being from a recognised country is not in itself sufficient — you must also meet a number of additional eligibility requirements, including holding current or recent registration in that country, demonstrating recency of practice, and in most cases meeting English language requirements. These are set out in full in the Eligibility Requirements section below.
Recognised Countries and Authorities
As of the time of writing, the AMC recognises the following countries and their respective regulatory bodies as competent authorities. Regulations and recognised authorities can change, so always verify the current list with the AMC directly.
United Kingdom — General Medical Council (GMC)
Doctors who hold a primary medical qualification from a UK medical school and who hold (or have held) a full GMC licence to practise are eligible. A provisional GMC registration alone is generally not sufficient — you typically need to have held or currently hold a full GMC licence to practise. The GMC's role as a competent authority applies to doctors who completed their primary qualification in the UK, not to those who obtained registration through the GMC's own overseas routes (for example, doctors who obtained European Economic Area registration in the UK via the EU Directive are assessed differently). If you completed your medical degree outside the UK but later obtained GMC registration via an alternative route, the AMC will assess your circumstances individually.
Ireland — Irish Medical Council (IMC)
Doctors with a primary medical qualification from an Irish medical school (such as UCD, UCC, TCD, RCSI, NUIG, or UL) who hold full registration with the Irish Medical Council are eligible. As with the UK, the IMC registration must be in good standing and must not be subject to any conditions, undertakings, or unresolved fitness-to-practise proceedings. Ireland's medical training system is closely aligned with the UK system, and Irish-trained doctors are among those most commonly using the Competent Authority Pathway.
United States of America — USMLE / NBME / ECFMG
For the USA, the competent authority assessment is based on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) and the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). Specifically, doctors must have passed USMLE Steps 1, 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge), and Step 3 to be considered for the Competent Authority Pathway. Passing only Steps 1 and 2 CK is generally not sufficient for competent authority purposes, as Step 3 is required to hold a full, unrestricted US medical licence. You must also hold (or have held) a full, unrestricted state medical licence in the USA. State-level "limited" or "training" licences alone do not typically qualify.
Canada — Medical Council of Canada (MCC) / MCCQE
Canadian-trained doctors who have passed the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Parts I and II and who hold (or have held) a full licence to practise in a Canadian province or territory are eligible. The MCCQE Part I is a computer-based examination and Part II is a clinical skills assessment. Doctors who hold Canadian registration through alternative routes should confirm their eligibility with the AMC. As with the USA, registration through training or provisional licences may not satisfy all requirements.
New Zealand — Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ)
Doctors who trained at a New Zealand medical school (University of Auckland or University of Otago) and hold general registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand are eligible. New Zealand's medical training system is closely aligned with Australia's, and trans-Tasman recognition arrangements exist between the two countries. Doctors from New Zealand can often move between the two countries' systems with relative ease, and the Competent Authority Pathway formalises this recognition for the purpose of Australian registration.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Competent Authority Pathway, you must satisfy all of the following requirements. Each requirement is assessed by the AMC as part of your application.
Primary Medical Qualification
Your primary medical qualification (the degree that gave you the right to practise medicine) must have been awarded by a recognised medical school in one of the competent authority countries listed above. If you obtained your primary qualification in a different country but later completed training or obtained registration in a recognised country, your situation will be assessed individually by the AMC — you should not assume automatic eligibility.
Current or Recent Registration in Good Standing
You must hold current registration (or have held registration within a recent period, typically the past 2–3 years) with the recognised regulatory authority in your country of training. Your registration must be in good standing — meaning it must not be subject to any conditions, restrictions, undertakings, suspension, or unresolved fitness-to-practise or disciplinary proceedings. You will need to provide a Certificate of Good Standing from your home regulator, dated within the past 12 months. If your registration has lapsed, you may need to reinstate it before applying.
Recency of Practice
You must demonstrate that you have been actively practising medicine within the past 2–3 years. AHPRA's recency of practice requirements specify that you must have undertaken at least 150 hours of clinical practice in the 12 months preceding your application, or at least 150 hours in the three years preceding your application with at least some practice in the preceding 12 months. If you have taken a career break, been on parental leave, or been working in a non-clinical role, you should discuss your circumstances with the AMC and AHPRA before applying, as you may need to complete a period of supervised practice first.
English Language Proficiency
Doctors who trained and have practised for at least five years in a specified English-speaking country (which includes the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, and New Zealand) are typically exempt from AHPRA's English language testing requirements. This means that most Competent Authority Pathway applicants from these countries will not need to sit IELTS, OET, PTE, or TOEFL. However, you should confirm your specific exemption status with AHPRA, as the rules can be nuanced — for example, if you trained in an English-speaking country but then spent several years practising in a non-English-speaking country, you may not qualify for exemption. See the English Language Requirements page for full details.
No Unresolved Disciplinary or Criminal Matters
You must disclose any past or current disciplinary actions, fitness-to-practise proceedings, criminal convictions, or other matters that may be relevant to your suitability to practise medicine. AHPRA conducts criminal history checks as part of all registration applications. Having a past disciplinary matter does not automatically disqualify you, but it must be disclosed fully and AHPRA will consider it as part of their assessment of your suitability.
EPIC Credential Verification
The AMC requires that your primary medical qualification be verified through the ECFMG's International Credentials Services (EPIC) system. EPIC contacts your medical school directly to confirm the authenticity of your degree. This process typically takes 2–4 months and must be completed before the AMC can finalise your assessment. You should initiate the EPIC process as soon as you decide to apply — it is often the longest single step in the pathway and cannot be accelerated significantly.
Step-by-Step Application Process
The following steps describe the typical journey through the Competent Authority Pathway from initial eligibility check to registration being granted. The total process normally takes between three and six months, with EPIC verification often determining the lower bound of the timeline.
- Confirm eligibility — Visit the AMC website and verify that your country of training and regulatory authority are recognised as a competent authority. Check that your registration is current, in good standing, and that you meet the recency of practice requirements. If you have any doubts, contact the AMC directly before proceeding.
- Gather your documents — Assemble the documents you will need for both the AMC application and the subsequent AHPRA application. Key documents include: your primary medical degree certificate and academic transcripts; your current Certificate of Good Standing from your home regulator (dated within 12 months); proof of identity (passport); evidence of recency of practice (employment contracts, reference letters, payslips, or a letter from your employer confirming your clinical role and hours); proof of name change if applicable; and passport-style photographs. Start gathering these now, as some documents (particularly the Certificate of Good Standing from overseas regulators) can take several weeks to arrive.
- Submit AMC application and initiate EPIC — Apply online through the AMC's website under the Competent Authority Pathway. Pay the AMC application fee (currently approximately AUD $1,700–2,000; check the AMC website for the current fee schedule). As part of your AMC application, initiate the EPIC verification process. The AMC will provide instructions on how to set up your EPIC account and which documents to submit for verification. EPIC will contact your medical school to verify your degree — this is the step that typically takes the longest (2–4 months).
- AMC verifies your credentials — While EPIC is underway, the AMC will also verify your registration and good standing directly with your home country regulatory authority (the GMC, IMC, NBME/ECFMG, MCC, or MCNZ). They will confirm that your registration is genuine, that it is in good standing, and that there are no disciplinary matters outstanding. The AMC may contact you if they require additional documentation or clarification during this stage.
- AMC issues recommendation — Once all verifications are complete and your eligibility has been confirmed, the AMC will issue a formal recommendation to AHPRA stating that you are suitable for registration under the Competent Authority Pathway. This recommendation is a critical document — it effectively replaces the AMC Certificate of Completion that Standard Pathway applicants receive after passing their examinations.
- Apply to AHPRA — With the AMC recommendation in hand, you can now submit your application for registration to AHPRA via the online application portal. Your application must include the AMC recommendation, your identity documents, your English language evidence (or exemption basis), your criminal history declaration, your recency of practice evidence, and all other documents required by AHPRA. The AHPRA processing fee is currently approximately AUD $885 (check the AHPRA website for current fees). AHPRA's processing time is typically 4–12 weeks, though straightforward applications with complete documentation can sometimes be processed more quickly.
- Registration granted — AHPRA grants your registration. Most Competent Authority Pathway applicants receive general registration, though in some circumstances (for example, where recency of practice requirements need to be met through a supervised period) you may initially be granted provisional or limited registration. Once registered, your details are listed on the Australian Health Practitioner Register, which is publicly searchable. You are now legally authorised to practise medicine in Australia, subject to any conditions that may be attached to your registration.
What Happens After Registration Is Granted
Receiving your AHPRA registration is a major milestone, but there are several important next steps before you can begin working as a doctor in Australia.
Securing Employment
You will need to secure a position in an Australian hospital, clinic, or other healthcare setting. Most overseas doctors entering Australia join the public hospital system as non-training registrars, senior house officers, or service medical officers. Some join specialist private practice or GP clinics directly. The Jobs section of this site covers how to find positions, how to approach hospitals, and how to use medical recruitment agencies effectively. See also the guide on How to Get a Job as an Overseas Doctor.
Obtaining a Visa
Unless you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (who can work in Australia under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement), or you already hold Australian permanent residency or citizenship, you will need to obtain a work visa. The most common visas for overseas doctors are:
- Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa — employer-sponsored, allows you to work for a specific employer for 2–4 years. This is the most common visa for overseas doctors. See Visas section for full details.
- Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa — employer-sponsored permanent residency, available after working for an employer in an approved occupation. Requires at least 3 years of full-time work on a 482 visa in most cases.
- Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) visa — for doctors working in regional Australia. Leads to permanent residency after 3 years of regional work.
Most doctors arrange their visa through their employing hospital or clinic, which sponsors the visa application. The employer (or their migration agent) typically handles most of the paperwork, though you will need to provide significant documentation.
Applying for a Medicare Provider Number
To bill Medicare (Australia's publicly funded universal health insurance), you need a Medicare provider number. For doctors in salaried hospital positions, Medicare billing is handled by the hospital, so you do not personally need a provider number immediately. However, if you intend to work in private practice or as a GP (including in bulk-billing clinics), you will need your own provider number. Provider numbers are location-specific and are issued by Services Australia. If you are applying as a GP, be aware of the Distribution Priority Area (DPA) requirements that restrict where overseas-trained GPs can access a Medicare provider number — see the GP Pathway page for more detail.
Maintaining Your Registration
AHPRA registration must be renewed annually and is subject to ongoing professional obligations, including completion of continuing professional development (CPD), compliance with AHPRA's code of conduct, and mandatory notifications. You must maintain recency of practice requirements. If you hold general registration, you should aim to progress toward a stable, long-term employment arrangement in Australia, as sustained absence from clinical practice can affect your ability to renew registration.
Comparison to Other Pathways
The Competent Authority Pathway has clear advantages over other pathways for eligible doctors, but it is not universally the best option in every situation.
Compared to the Standard Pathway
The most significant advantage of the Competent Authority Pathway over the Standard Pathway is the absence of AMC examinations. Standard Pathway applicants must pass both the AMC MCQ (computer-adaptive, approximately AUD $2,880) and the AMC Clinical Examination (16-station OSCE in Melbourne, approximately AUD $3,700). Preparing for and sitting these examinations typically adds 12–18 months to the overall timeline. Doctors eligible for the Competent Authority Pathway avoid this entirely, saving both time and examination fees (though AMC application and AHPRA fees still apply).
Compared to the Specialist Pathway
If you are a specialist from a competent authority country — for example, a cardiologist from the UK with MRCP and CCT — you face a choice between the Competent Authority Pathway (which grants general registration) and the Specialist Pathway (which can grant specialist registration with the relevant Australian college). General registration allows you to work as a specialist registrar or service consultant, but specialist registration — obtained through college assessment — typically allows greater income, independent practice as a consultant, and access to specialist Medicare item numbers. Many UK-trained specialists choose to enter via the Competent Authority Pathway first (for speed) and then apply to the relevant college for specialist recognition subsequently. Discuss this strategy with your intended employer and the relevant college before deciding.
Pathway Availability
The Competent Authority Pathway is only available to doctors from the five recognised countries. If you trained in India, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, or any other country not on the recognised list, you cannot use this pathway regardless of your qualifications or experience. You will need to pursue the Standard Pathway or, if you are a specialist, the Specialist Pathway.
For a full side-by-side comparison, visit our Pathway Comparison page.