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Are you considering making the move to become a doctor in Australia? Australia has a lot to offer. Modern medical systems, career growth opportunities, and a wonderful lifestyle are just a few of the reasons.
At Medic Oncall we can provide full assistance in getting international medical graduates (IMGs) into their first medical job in Australia. Factors such as, where you obtained your primary medical degree, the countries in which you have clinical experience, and whether you are a specialist or junior doctor will need to be assessed and taken into consideration when applying to work as a doctor in Australia.
Your first step should be to determine your eligibility for medical registration, as this will determine the type of roles you are offered in Australia.
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Am I eligible to work as a doctor in Australia?
To work as a doctor in Australia, you must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). For international medical graduates there are a variety of pathways, the eligibility for which is determined by your clinical background. Let’s go through these pathway options for non-specialist and specialist doctors.
Non-Specialist doctors
The Competent Authority pathway
The Competent Authority pathway is the most common way for non-specialist doctors to gain registration to work as a doctor in Australia. You must have completed your primary medical degree in the United Kingdom or Ireland to be eligible for this pathway. You may also be eligible if you have passed the medical licencing exams in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, or New Zealand and have completed an internship equivalent in one of these countries.
Standard pathway
If you did not complete your primary medical degree in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, or New Zealand, but have a medical degree from a country listed in the WHO directory, you are eligible for registration through the Standard Pathway. This path requires you to pass the AMC exams, which include an MCQ and a clinical examination. You will be eligible for provisional registration after passing these exams; however, you must secure an internship-level role for the first 12 months.
Specialist doctors
If you hold a full specialist qualification you have more options to pursue registration in Australia.
Specialist Pathway
You are eligible to apply for registration through the Specialist Pathway as an internationally trained specialist. This path entails the relevant specialist college evaluating your qualifications and experience in comparison to that of an Australian-trained Specialist. The outcome of this assessment will determine your comparability and, as a result, what additional requirements you must meet before gaining full specialist registration (typically supervision and/or additional examinations). The results of this comparability assessment will determine the types of job opportunities available to you in order to accomplish this.
For doctors with specialist qualifications from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, the United States, or New Zealand, Medic Oncall can help you secure a position before your comparability assessment is completed. If you have a specialist qualification from another country, Medic Oncall can assist you once you have an assessment result.
Experience the Medic Oncall benefits first-hand.
With over 20 years of experience, we have the knowledge and expertise to help you find the perfect locum or permanent job in Australia. If you’re interested in finding out more about what we can offer you, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Start your journey as a doctor in Australia today!
