Australia's Medical Board has established comprehensive guidelines for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) seeking registration to practice medicine within the country. These pathways ensure that IMGs meet the necessary standards to provide high-quality healthcare. Here’s a summary of the key elements and processes outlined by the Medical Board of Australia for IMGs.
IMGs are divided into different categories based on their qualifications and the type of registration they seek:
This pathway is streamlined for IMGs from countries recognized as having comparable health and medical education standards to Australia, such as the UK, Canada, and the US. It allows IMGs to obtain general registration without the need for additional exams, provided they meet the specified criteria.
IMGs following this pathway must:
This pathway is for:
This pathway is designed for IMGs seeking to undertake short-term training in Australia. It does not lead to general or specialist registration, and applicants must return to their home country after completing their training.
To help you decide which pathway may be relevant to you, an initial self-assessment check and an overview of the pathways is provided as a
guideSPECIALIST PATHWAY - FAST TRACK
There is a shortage of medical specialists in Australia, particularly in crucial areas such as General practice as well a other Medical doctors.
To address this issue, a new expedited registration process for Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) has been introduced. This process is designed to be quicker and less cumbersome than traditional methods, which are often lengthy and complicated, deterring skilled international medical specialists from relocating.
The AHPRA website indicates "GPs, anaesthetists, obstetricians and gynaecologists, and psychiatrists are the priority specialties, with the fast-track pathway targeted to start for GPs in October 2024, and December 2024 for other priority medical specialties." For more information, please visit the AHPRA website.