Medical Registration in
Australia
The medical registration systems in Australia are
quite complex and vary from state-to-state. Here is a summary of
the registration requirements for doctors:
Requirements for Registration Without
Conditions (Fully portable across states)
1. Graduates of Australian or New Zealand Medical
Schools who have completed an approved period of intern training
2. Overseas Qualified doctors who have passed the
AMC examination completed a period of approved supervised
training
Registration With Conditions - aka Limited,
Specific, Temporary or Conditional registration
Can be obtained for doctors trained overseas who
have not completed the AMC examination requirements but who want
to work temporarily in Australia for up to 5 years. Obtained at
a specific hospital for a specific job for a specified
period of time. After this job finishes, then registration
must be applied for again. This type of registration is
available under one of the following categories:
Postgraduate Training (commonly used for
SHOs and Registrars)
Supervised Training (usually for overseas doctors who
have completed their AMC exams and are doing a supervised
attachment to complete the requirements for general registration
Teaching or Research - usually for visiting professors or
lecturers or academics
Public Interest/Areas of Need - commonly used for
overseas trained specialists and registrars
Conditional (disciplinary or health conditions) (used for
doctors who have health or disciplinary issues)
Overseas Trained Specialist (following assessment by the
relevant Specialist College)
The registration category you need will be
advised by the hospital/ agency you work with - it really
depends on the State you work in and whether the location you
are working in qualifies as an Area of Need.
1. Doctors can work for a period of up to 5
years in most states without having to complete the AMC
examinations. This is why almost all doctors who go for a 1 - 2
year working holiday in Australia don't need to sit any exams..
2. Most registration boards meet once a month so
if you do not have your paperwork for the day when they assess
new applications, you will have to wait until the following
month.
3. All doctors will have to provide proof of
satisfactory English (if you grew up in an English speaking
country, bring a letter from your school and your birth
certificate). Otherwise bring a copy of your secondary school
qualifications if in an English speaking country or IELTS test
results. IELTS test results must be the academic module with a n
average of 7.5 and a minimum of 7 in any one specific module.
4. All doctors will need to be of good character
so you will need to request a 'Letter of Good Standing' from
your registration board back home e.g. GMC in the UK.
5. You will need to find a job before you can
apply for conditional/ specific registration. Your hospital or
recruitment agency will tell you which type of specific
registration you need for that particulr state and hospital.
