CHECKLIST FOR OVERSEAS TRAINED DOCTORS

Once you have completed the Checklist and determined the specific steps that you will need to take, Direct Medics provides additional information to help you. For example, you can learn more about Australia's health system and working in Australia after obtaining registration as well as finding useful resources for making a life in Australia.

1. Previous Experience

Have you previously held AMC registration?

YES – Go to 2.
NO – Got to 3.

2. Work Opportunities

Are you willing to work in an Area of Need? As an Overseas Trained Doctor, you must apply for a position in a position/location in which there is a lack of specific medical practitioners, if you wish to work as a hospital non-specialist and do not have full medical registration in Australia.

YES – Go to 4
NO – Go to 5

3. Taking Thethe AMC Practice Exam

If you are a Hospital Non-specialist and have not worked in Australia, you can check the likelihood of you being able to work as a doctor in Australia by completing the Australian Medical Council's practice exam.

Go to 4.

4. Seeking Out A Position

Have you sought out a medical position in Australia?

YES – Go to 6
NO – Go to 7

5. Registering with the AMC

If you are not willing to work in an Area of Need you will need to obtain full medical registration in Australia or, complete the standard pathway for specialist assessment.

Go to 4.

6. Position Sought

What type of position have you found or would be interested in?

Specialist – Go to 8
Hospital Non-Specialist – Go to 9
General Practitioner – Go to 23
Not Sure – Go to 10

7. Finding A Suitable Position

If you would like help in locating a suitable job, please contact Direct Medics for assistance.

Go to 6

8. Specialist Positions

Have your specialist qualifications been reviewed by the related Australian Specialist Medical College?

YES – Go to 11
NO – Go to 12

9. AMC Registration

Have you gained AMC registration for this position?

YES – Go to 13
NO – Go 14

10. Unsure Of The Position Found or Interested In?

Please contact Direct Medics to determine the type of position found or for further assistance in finding you a suitable job.

Go to 19

11. Resident or Citizen Status

Are you intending to work as a permanent resident of Australia or an Australian citizen?

YES – Go to 15
NO – Got 15

12. Specialist Qualifications Review

In order to practise as a specialist in Australia you will need to have your specialist qualifications and experience assessed by the relevant Australian Specialist Medical College.

The assessment process can be via the 'area of need' and/or 'standard pathway'.

Further information on assessment pathways for specialists can be found here.

Go to 11

13. Visa Requirements

Have you been granted an Australian visa to work in the position?

YES – Go to 16
NO – Go to 17

14. Registering with the AMC

In order to practise as a doctor in Australia you must be registered with the relevant State or Territory Medical Registration Board.

Further information about medical registration can be found here.

Go to 19

15. Treating Private Patients

Will you be treating private patients in this position as a specialist?

YES – Go to 18
No – Go to 9

16. Medical Indemnity Cover

Have you obtained medical indemnity cover in Australia?

YES – Go to 19
NO – Go to 20

17. Visa Information

Doctors can enter Australia to work on either a temporary or permanent visa. If you intend to bring family members who will live, work or study in Australia, you will need to ensure that they are included on your visa application. Comprehensive information about visas and immigration issues can be found on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.

Further information on Permanent and Temporary Visas can be found here.

Go to 19

18. District of Workforce Shortage

In order to practise as a Medicare billing doctor as a permanent resident in Australia or Australian citizen, the position must be in approved District of Workforce Shortage in order for you to be eligible to work in that position.

A District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) is an area in which the general population’s need for healthcare has not been met.

Is the position you have applied for in a District of Workforce Shortage?

YES – Go to 9
NO – Go to 21
NOT SURE – Go to 22

19. Checklist Complete

You have now completed this Checklist. It should have provided you with some basic answers towards practising in Australia as an overseas trained doctor.

From the information you have provided, you have taken the initial steps towards finding employment opportunities as a doctor in Australia and the key processes involved.

There is more information on the Direct Medics website designed to assist your information needs.

20. Obtaining Medical Indemnity

Medical indemnity cover is the insurance doctors buy to cover themselves for claims made by patients against them for medical negligence or for assistance if doctors are involved in investigations such as coronial inquiries. Overseas trained doctors should seek further information from their Australian employer regarding what medical indemnity cover they need for a particular medical job.

Go to 19.

21. Specialist Treating Private Patients

If you are a specialist treating private patients and you have not worked as a doctor in Australia before 1 January 1897, you will need to work in a District of Workforce Shortage.

Go to 19

22. Determining District of Workforce Shortage

If you are not sure you should contact Direct Medics to determine if the position is in a District of Workforce Shortage.

Go to 18

23. GP Positions

Have your general practice (GP) qualifications and experience been assessed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)?

YES – Go to 11
NO – Go to 24

24. GP Assessment Process

Before commencing work as general practitioner (GP) in Australia you may wish to have your general practice qualifications and experience assessed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Go to 11

REQUIREMENTS TO WORK IN AUSTRALIA

An overseas trained doctor (OTD) wishing to work in Australia must meet the basic requirements listed below. Please note that the time required to complete each of these components will vary according to your situation. Some tasks may need to be undertaken simultaneously to speed up the process. Most of these can be commenced or completed before moving to Australia.

• Satisfy Australian Medical Council (AMC) English language proficiency requirements.
• Hospital non-specialists must meet the specific registration requirements of the relevant State or Territory Medical Board for an Area of Need position.
• Specialists must apply to the relevant Specialist Medical College for recognition as a specialist via the AMC.
• Apply for a visa and pass required character/police and medical checks.
• Identify an appropriate job. (Most OTDs will initially have to work in an Area of Need position).
• Apply to the relevant State/Territory Medical Board for medical registration.
• Obtain medical indemnity cover in Australia.

English language proficiency requirements

To apply for medical registration in Australia, an overseas trained doctor must first pass an English language proficiency test, or be granted an exemption for this requirement.

International Medical Graduates need to submit evidence to the relevant registration authority of competency in speaking and communicating in English, as demonstrated by having completed the IELTS examination (Academic module) to the following standard:

• The applicant must have achieved a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components.
• Alternative English proficiency tests that will be accepted are:
• Completed and obtained an overall pass in the Occupational English Test (OET) with grades A or B only in each of the four components; or
• A pass in the Professional Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) in the United Kingdom; or
• A pass in the New Zealand registration Examination (NZREX) in New Zealand.
• Results must have been obtained within 2 years prior to applying for registration.

In addition to Medical Registration Board requirements regarding English language proficiency, all applicants for the Australian Medical Council (AMC) examination or for specialist assessment (including for Area of Need specialist positions) are required to pass the language test at an acceptable level or be granted an exemption before being allowed to commence AMC examinations.

You can find out more about the test processes from:

International English Language Testing System
IELTS tests are administered at accredited testing centres throughout the world. The IELTS website provides all the information you need to prepare and undertake an examination.

Occupational English Test
OET tests are administered by Language Australia, a unit of the Centre for Adult Education. Their website provides information on testing procedures, preparation for examinations, cost, test dates, and so on.

Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board
The PLAB test is the main route by which International Medical Graduates (IMGs) demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to practise medicine in the UK.

The boards may grant exemption where the applicant provides evidence of secondary education in English in one of the countries, listed below, where English is the native or first Language:

• Canada
• Republic of Ireland
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
• United States of America
• South Africa

United States Medical Licensing Examination
The USMLE assesses a physician's ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles, and to demonstrate fundamental patient-centered skills, that are important in health and disease and that constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care.

Information for Non-Specialists

The public hospital system in Australia is excellent and provides many opportunities for overseas trained doctors (OTDs) wishing to work in Australia---particularly for those OTDs not yet able to gain full medical registration or specialist registration, as well as those who wish to work in Australia temporarily or who are seeking a postgraduate (occupational) training position.

The requirements for medical registration for hospital non-specialists in Australia may vary between Australian States and Territories and you should check the specific requirements with the appropriate State or Territory Medical Board.

The OTD must apply for a position in an Area of Need, if they wish to work as a hospital non-specialist and they do not have full medical registration in Australia. The employer (the hospital), will determine your suitability for the position. If they are satisfied you are suitable for the position (and you fulfil the English language proficiency requirements), the employer will sponsor you for immigration purposes and support your application for conditional medical registration for the position.

The Medical Board will notify the hospital of their decision, and the hospital or medical recruiter will advise the doctor of the outcome. Although the Medical Boards may accept an employer’s assessment of the suitability of an applicant, this is not automatic.

Successful application will result in conditional medical registration for the OTD. This registration is location and job specific and you may not change jobs without reapplying for medical registration and your visa.

Please note: some Medical Boards may require you to attend a formal interview as part of the application process. This can sometimes be conducted remotely if you are currently located overseas, but you should check this requirement first with your prospective employer.

The kind of public hospital positions that would be available to an overseas trained doctor (OTD) include:

• Internships (typically the one year of supervised training required by the Medical Registration Boards to achieve full medical registration);
• Resident medical officers/Hospital medical officers (RMOs/HMOs, generally doctors in their 2nd or 3rd year of prevocational training);
• Registrars (specialists-in-training); or
• Postgraduate trainee positions (occupational trainees).

Working in the public hospital system can provide an OTD with the opportunity to work in Australia while fulfilling any required further training or bridging courses to help pass the Australian Medical Council exams; to complete the 12 months of supervised clinical practice required as part of the Australian medical registration process; or even just provide training opportunities in various specialties.

Information for Specialists

For an overseas trained specialist (OTS) to be able to work in their specialty in Australia, registration must be obtained from the Medical Board of the State or Territory in which they wish to work. To achieve this, their specialist qualifications must be formally recognised by the relevant Australian Specialist Medical College.

To work in private practice, you also need to be recognised as a specialist by Medicare Australia in order to have the right to deliver services that attract specialist rebates under Medicare. Please read the guidelines for Recognition as a specialist under the Medicare section for more information.

Doctors who will be working in a hospital in any capacity (including visiting specialists) must submit their credentials which includes formal qualifications, evidence of training, experience and clinical competence.

There are 2 pathways for assessment for overseas trained specialists---the Standard pathway and the Area of Need pathway. An OTS may apply for assessment through either pathway or both.

The Standard Pathway

This is for specialists who wish to work independently/unsupervised by gaining recognition from the relevant Australian Specialist College, and registration to practise in their field of specialisation. The AMC will make an assessment of your documentation and if deemed eligible for assessment, the AMC will forward the application to the appropriate Australian Specialist Medical College for assessment of your specialist qualifications.
Once an assessment has been made by the Australian College, they notify the AMC, which then informs the applicant regarding the outcome of the College's assessment.

If an applicant is assessed as ‘not equivalent’ an OTS may be assessed under the Area of Need pathway for work as a specialist in an Area of Need position or:

• work as a hospital non-specialist in the public hospital system (Please note: an OTS may not provide unsupervised specialist medical services in either the public hospital or private system without registration to practise in that specialty); or
• undertake postgraduate training; or
• theThe relevant Medical Board may grant restricted registration for an OTS to work under supervision in order to complete College requirements for specialist recognition.

The Area of Need Pathway

Sometimes called the Rural pathway, this is for specialists who have been selected as suitable for appointment to a designated Area of Need specialist position.

An Area of Need (AON) is any position/location in which there is a lack of specific medical practitioners or where there are medical positions that remain unfilled even after recruitment efforts have taken place over a period of time. Area of Need applies to both public and private sector positions.

The Area of Need pathway allows an overseas trained specialist (OTS) the opportunity to:

• practise in Australia while pursuing specialist recognition by the relevant Australian Specialist Medical College under the Standard pathway; or
• undertake any further training or fulfil other assessment activities that the Australian Specialist Medical College may require. To apply under this pathway, you must have identified an AON position for which an employer considers you suitable and has offered you employment.

Assessment of an OTS’s skills by the relevant Australian Specialist Medical College for an Area of Need position will be against the position requirements rather than against equivalence to an Australian trained specialist. Other conditions may also be imposed by the Medical Board, such as supervision and ongoing assessment requirements.

For this reason, an OTS seeking recognition by one of the Colleges, or wishing to eventually practise independently/unsupervised, should also apply for assessment under the Standard pathway.

Applicants under the Area of Need pathway are fast-tracked so that College assessments are typically completed in 6 to 8 weeks following the submission of a satisfactory application. Applicants should submit 2 applications simultaneously, one to the Australian Medical Council and one to the relevant Specialist College, in order to assist them in meeting this timeframe.

The Role of Specialist Medical Colleges

The Australian Medical Council (AMC) participates in the Standard/Area of Need assessment procedures with the Specialist Medical Colleges as below:

Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
Royal Australasian College of Physicians (including the Paediatrics and Child Health Division)
Australasian College of Dermatologists
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine
Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists 
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (Royal Australasian College of Physicians and Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists)
Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators
Australasian Faculty of Occupational Medicine
Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine

Because the specialist assessment process may take some time, it is advisable that you apply to the AMC for specialist assessment well in advance of relocating to Australia.

It is important to note that you may be required to attend one or more interviews in person in Australia, so you should check this with the relevant Specialist Medical College and Medical Board.

In all cases, decisions regarding registration of a medical practitioner rest with the State and Territory Medical Boards. However, the Boards usually act on Specialist Medical College recommendations.

Applicants should visit the Australian Medical Council’s website for full details of the assessment pathways and for answers to frequently asked questions about specialist assessment. Applicants should also visit the website of the relevant Specialist Medical College for further details about the requirements of individual colleges.

Specialists are employed primarily in hospitals and private practice. They may work in private practice on their own, in partnership with another specialist, or in a group practice.

Specialists who work in public hospitals are paid a salary by the government. They may also have the right to private practice, which allows them to treat private patients as part of their own practice.

An overseas trained specialist wishing to work in private practice must first obtain medical registration in their specialty, and then a Medicare Provider Number to allow delivery of services attracting a Medicare benefit. Patients will expect to be able to access Medicare benefits.

In most cases, specialists treat patients who have been referred to them by another doctor, usually a general practitioner (GP/family physician). Referral by another doctor is one of the requirements for specialist services to attract Medicare benefits at a specialist’s rate.

Information for General Practitioners

There are two assessment pathways for overseas trained doctors (OTDs) wishing to work as a general practitioner (GP) in Australia, the Standard pathway and the Area of Need pathway. As for all doctors, medical registration is obtained through the relevant State or Territory medical board.

The standard pathway is for OTDs who are eligible for full medical registration in Australia, or who have qualifications recognised as equivalent to either Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) or Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM).

The Area of Need pathway is for doctors who do not qualify for the standard pathway. OTDs who complete the Area of Need pathway for general practitioner assessment may be granted conditional medical registration.

The Standard Pathway

The standard pathway to practise as a general practitioner (GP) in Australia is available to overseas trained doctors (OTDs) who are eligible for full medical registration in Australia, or who possess qualifications deemed equivalent to either Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP), or Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM).

OTDs who hold one of the following qualifications may be eligible for either the FRACGP or FACRRM without further training, formal AMC examination or time requirements:

• Certificate in Family Practice from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), having also passed both parts of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination; or
• Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) and the Certificate of the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice (JCPTGP) UK; or
• Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP).

If you hold one of these categories of qualifications you may be able to obtain conditional medical registration to work independently/without supervision in the field of general practice.

Before pursuing either the FRACGP or FACRRM, it is important that you first check with the relevant Medical Board as not all Australian Medical Boards recognise general practice as a medical specialty. You will find more information about obtaining Fellowship from the RACGP and ACRRM websites.

Area of Need Pathway

The Area of Need pathway is for doctors who are not eligible for full (general) medical registration under the Standard pathway. It also gives overseas trained doctors (OTDs) who may be required to meet further training or other requirements for full medical registration or general practitioner recognition in Australia an opportunity to fulfil these requirements.

This pathway enables an OTD to obtain conditional medical registration to work in an AON position while completing the AMC examination and period of supervised clinical training or while pursuing Fellowship of either the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM) for recognition as a general practitioner (GP).

Immigration & Visas

Doctors can enter Australia to work on either a temporary or permanent visa. If you intend to bring family members who will live, work or study in Australia, you will need to ensure that they are included on your visa application. Comprehensive information about visas and immigration issues can be found on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.

Permanent Migration Visas

Permanent entry to Australia for overseas trained doctors (OTDs) is available through the General Skilled Migration Program, the Employer Nomination Scheme and the Regional Sponsored Migration Program.

In addition to the other requirements for permanent entry to Australia, a doctor needs to provide evidence of full (unconditional or general) medical registration or, evidence of completion of the standard pathway for specialist assessment or standard pathway for general practitioner assessment for independent/unsupervised specialist practice. Doctors may choose to initially enter Australia as a temporary resident and work with conditional medical registration before completing the requirements for full medical registration or specialist recognition.

Temporary Visas

If a doctor is not able to meet the requirements for permanent migration or prefers to enter Australia as a temporary resident, then entry on the Temporary Medical Practitioner visa or the Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa may be possible.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship suggests that the Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457) is the preferred temporary visa pathway for doctors entering Australia. It allows applicants to take advantage of streamlined visa processing arrangements, including the ability to lodge applications over the internet using a special online application form.

To obtain a temporary visa, a doctor must first find a position for which he or she is considered a suitable candidate by the employer or sponsor. Doctors applying for temporary visas must provide evidence from the relevant Australian Medical Board that they are eligible for medical registration in Australia. Doctors with such evidence may be eligible for a temporary visa for periods up to 4 years.

State and Territory Medical Boards

The State and Territory Medical Boards are responsible for medical registration in Australia. They protect the community by ensuring that only properly trained doctors are registered, and that registered doctors maintain proper standards of conduct and competence.

New South Wales Medical Board
Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria
Medical Board of Queensland
Medical Board of Western Australia
Medical Council of Tasmania
Medical Board of the Australian Capital Territory
Northern Territory Medical Board
Medical Board of South Australia

Medical Indemnity

Medical indemnity cover is the insurance doctors buy to cover themselves for claims made by patients against them for medical negligence or for assistance if doctors are involved in investigations such as coronial inquiries. Overseas trained doctors should seek further information from their Australian employer regarding what medical indemnity cover they need for a particular medical job.

Medicare Provider Numbers

To work as a doctor in Australia, you may need to have a Medicare Provider Number. There are different levels of Medicare access under the provider number scheme depending on medical board registration and satisfying the legislative requirements on accessing Medicare rebates.

A Medicare Provider Number may allow a doctor to undertake the following.

1. Raise referrals for specialist services
2. Make requests for pathology or diagnostic imaging services.

Where the doctor satisfies the legislative requirements, their provider number may also be used to draw Medicare rebates for professional services rendered whilst treating private patients.