Registration and Assessment Bodies
These are the key organisations involved in assessing your qualifications and granting you the right to practise medicine in Australia.
- AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) — The national body responsible for registering health practitioners, including doctors. All medical practitioners in Australia must be registered with AHPRA. Read our AHPRA guide
- AMC (Australian Medical Council) — Assesses international medical graduates and administers the AMC MCQ and clinical examinations. Read our AMC guide
- Medical Board of Australia — Works with AHPRA to set registration standards, policies, and guidelines for the medical profession.
- EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials) — Used for primary source verification of your medical qualifications. Learn about EPIC verification
Visa and Immigration
Official government resources for understanding and applying for visas to work in Australia as a doctor.
- Department of Home Affairs — The Australian government department responsible for immigration and visa processing. This is where you will apply for your visa.
- Visa Finder — The official tool to help identify which visa subclass is right for your situation.
- Skilled Occupation List — Check whether your medical specialty is on the current skilled occupation list for visa eligibility.
- Skills Assessment Authorities — Find out which authority assesses your occupation for migration purposes.
For a detailed breakdown of visa options for doctors, see our Visas section.
Specialist Colleges and Professional Bodies
If you are applying through the Specialist pathway, you will interact with one of Australia's specialist medical colleges. Below are some of the major ones.
- RACP (Royal Australasian College of Physicians) — Covers physician specialties including internal medicine, paediatrics, and more.
- RACS (Royal Australasian College of Surgeons) — The college for surgical specialties.
- RACGP (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners) — The main college for general practice in Australia.
- ACRRM (Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine) — Focused on rural and remote general practice.
- RANZCOG (Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) — For obstetrics and gynaecology specialists.
- ANZCA (Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists) — For anaesthesia specialists.
- RANZCP (Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists) — For psychiatry specialists.
Learn more about how specialist recognition works on our Specialist pathway page.
Our Guides and Further Reading
In addition to official resources, we have created detailed guides that walk you through each stage of the process in plain language.
All Guides
Browse our complete collection of in-depth guides covering registration, exams, visas, and jobs.
Start Here
New to the process? Our step-by-step overview will help you understand the journey from beginning to end.
Work as a Doctor in Australia
Our comprehensive pillar guide covering assessment, registration, visas, and jobs in one place.
Pathway Comparison
Not sure which pathway to take? Compare all the options side by side.
Important Planning Note
This page is designed as practical guidance for overseas doctors and should be used alongside official requirements published by AHPRA, the AMC, relevant specialist colleges, and the Department of Home Affairs.
Rules, fees, and processing times can change. Before lodging any application, verify current criteria directly with official sources listed on our Resources page.