Pathways to medical registration in Australia

The three main pathways

International medical graduates (IMGs) apply for registration with the Medical Board of Australia through Ahpra. Before that, most need the Australian Medical Council (AMC) to verify their qualifications. There are three main routes:

The Medical Board of Australia consulted on updated standards for all three pathways in 2026. Requirements can change, so confirm the current rules on the Medical Board of Australia and AMC websites before you apply.

The Standard pathway

The Standard pathway is the route most IMGs take. In outline:

1. Primary source verification. Create an AMC account and portfolio so your primary medical qualification can be verified.
2. AMC MCQ exam. A computer-adaptive exam of 150 multiple-choice questions over 3.5 hours, covering adult health, women's health, child health, mental health and population health in an Australian context.
3. Clinical assessment. Either the AMC Clinical Examination, a structured clinical exam of 16 assessed stations (2 minutes reading, 8 minutes per station), or an AMC-accredited workplace-based assessment program while you work.
4. Supervised practice. Work under supervision on provisional or limited registration, then apply for general registration once requirements are met.

You will also need to meet the Board's English language skills standard.

The Competent Authority pathway

This pathway is for doctors who have passed specified exams or training through recognised authorities: the General Medical Council (UK), the Medical Council of Ireland, the Medical Council of Canada, the ECFMG and NBOME (USA) and the Medical Council of New Zealand. You do not sit the AMC exams, but you do need AMC primary source verification, a Board-approved position and supervisor, and 12 months of supervised practice (at least 47 weeks full time equivalent) before general registration.

The Specialist pathway

Overseas-trained specialists are assessed for comparability with an Australian-trained specialist in the same field by the relevant specialist college, which advises the Medical Board. Depending on the outcome, you may need a period of supervised practice, further training or college exams.

Since late 2024, an expedited specialist pathway has allowed specialists with certain qualifications in some fields, including general practice, to apply for registration directly with the Medical Board without first going through a college comparability assessment. Check the Board website for the current list of eligible qualifications.

Preparing for the AMC MCQ

The AMC MCQ tests whether you can apply medical knowledge the way an Australian intern would. Candidates who fail usually know their medicine; they lose marks on the Australian approach: which test comes first, what the local guideline says, when to refer and how screening and immunisation work here.

1. Study discipline by discipline, with explanations that reference Australian sources such as Therapeutic Guidelines and the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
2. Give population health and ethics proper time; they are easy to neglect and appear throughout the exam.
3. Finish with several full 150-question mocks in 3.5 hours to build pace and stamina.

Preparing for the AMC Clinical exam

The AMC Clinical tests history taking, examination, diagnosis, management and counselling across the same disciplines. With only eight minutes per station, structure matters as much as knowledge.

1. Practise with a partner using real candidate instructions, a role-player brief and a marking sheet.
2. Use the two minutes of reading time to plan what you must cover and what you must not miss.
3. Practise counselling stations aloud: explaining a diagnosis, breaking bad news and obtaining consent in plain language.

Common questions