Thank you for your interest in working as a doctor in Australia facilitated through Latitudes Group International.

The following information is provided as a guide to the general requirements for working as a doctor in Australia and obtaining professional registration, and if required, a visa to work as a doctor in Australia. This is a guide only, and further information and guidance will be supplied to you when you have successfully obtained an offer of employment.

English Language Proficiency
Obtaining Professional Registration as a non specialist medical practitioner
Obtaining Professional Registration as a consultant specialist medical practitioner
Obtaining a Visa

English Language Proficiency

Australia has strict policy regarding English Language Proficiency for all doctors that work in Australia. Exemptions from this policy are not available.

If you are an international medical graduate from a country where English is NOT a native or first language (not the official language), then the registration authorities in Australia will require you to demonstrate your English language proficiency. This can be achieved by completing an examination, or by providing evidence of your secondary schooling in English.

IELTS - International English Language Testing System

Applicants unable to provide evidence of their secondary education in English (not tertiary education, such as your medical studies) must have completed and passed a designated test of English proficiency – namely, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination in the Academic module, within the two years preceding their intended registration date in their chosen destination.

Alternative tests are available, but not as easily accessible on an international basis. See the policy document for other acceptable tests.

Currently, in Australia, the requirement is a minimum overall score of 7.0, with a minimum score in each of the four components not less than 7.0. Failure to at least achieve this level will exclude you from being able to apply for professional registration.

There are no exemptions to this policy. Everybody is required to provide evidence of their proficiency in English in accordance with the current policy.

Further information about the IELTS examination, including locations and examination availability can be found on the IELTS website.

View the Australian National Policy

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Obtaining Professional Registration as a non specialist medical practitioner

New registration requirements are being implemented by all Australian state and territory medical boards as part of a national assessment process.

From 1 July 2008, all International Medical Graduate (IMG) applicants seeking registration will need to have:

This policy applies to all applications for registration made from 1 July 2008. It is also very important to note that applications for registration will only be considered after an offer of employment has been made.

Competent Authority Assessment Pathway

You should progress along the competent authority pathway if you are seeking registration for a non-specialist position and have completed and passed the examination process for registration in AMC-endorsed countries.

This pathway provides a streamlined registration assessment process for those IMGs applying for non-specialist positions who have completed and passed the training and examination process for registration through a ‘competent authority’. Competent authorities are those medical examining bodies whose assessment processes have been designated by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) as complying with assessment best practice principles and being consistent with the assessment processes implemented in Australia.  

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply under the competent authority pathway you must have undertaken the accredited process for registration in those countries endorsed by the AMC. The AMC’s website will help you determine if your qualifications and experience meet eligibility requirements. 

If you determine you are eligible, and are genuinely committed to working in Australia, you should then apply to the AMC for advanced standing toward the AMC Certificate as soon as possible. 

Upon satisfactorily completing 12 months supervised clinical practice (evidenced by satisfactory supervisor assessment reports), you can then apply to the AMC for the full AMC Certificate and be eligible to apply for full general registration in Australia.

Standard Assessment Pathway

This pathway allows international medical graduates who have obtained qualifications from authorities who are not presently on the Australian Medical Council (AMC) Competent Authority list, to apply for special purpose registration in Australia in a non-specialist position.

This pathway requires that you successfully pass the AMC Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) examination prior to being eligible to apply for professional registration.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for special purpose registration through the standard assessment pathway you must hold a primary medical qualification recognised by the World Health Organisation and International Medical Education Directory (IMED), which was obtained outside Australia or New Zealand.

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Obtaining Professional Registration as a specialist medical practitioner

Specialist Assessment Pathways

If you hold specialist qualifications from outside Australia or New Zealand and you are seeking registration to work as a specialist consultant in Australia, you will need to have your specialist qualifications assessed by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) before applying for registration.

About the Pathways to Recognition of Specialist Qualifications obtained internationally.

There are two pathways in Australia for recognition of specialist qualifications obtained internationally.

The Overseas Trained Specialist Pathway

This involves verification of your qualifications by the Australian Medical Council (AMC), before referring your application to the relevant specialist college for further assessment.

Your application to commence this process can be done easily and quickly via the AMC web site. It should be noted that the process can take quite some time, and the process is well explained on the AMC web site.

Application for assessment must be initiated by you via the AMC web site. The AMC charges a small fee for the initial verification process for specialist qualifications, and this must be paid prior to you obtaining the necessary forms again via the AMC web site. Assessment fees from the College vary from approximately AU$1,000 to over AU$7,000 depending on the College.

The Area of Need Pathway

Australia is a very large country with a relatively small population. The majority of the population is concentrated in the individual State capital cities and coastal communities. As a result, difficulties arise with access to medical facilities in regional areas.  To combat this, an "Area of Need" policy has been developed that allows overseas trained medical practitioners to work in Australia. This policy has been developed to address the maldistribution of access to medical services throughout Australia. The policy facilitates registration and immigration matters, but does restrict the areas in which you can work. To further complicate matters, this Area of Need policy varies slightly from State to State.

Latitudes Group International's core business activity concentrates on the provision of specialist medical practitioners to positions identified as areas of need. Although these areas do not normally include the capital cities, the majority are on the coast, and afford extremely pleasant lifestyles with access to everything that the large cities have to offer, including excellent educational facilities.  

Latitudes can assist you in securing a position for you in an "Area of Need". Area of Need status will afford you the opportunity to be recognised as an internationally trained specialist to fill a specific position which has not been filled by an Australian trained specialist.

Should an Area of Need position become available, then Latitudes Group International can instigate the process for specialist recognition in that specific position. This process is considerably faster than the normal pathway - usually taking a period of between 8-20 weeks. Fees for the AoN pathway are the same as the OTS pathway, however in the majority of cases, these fees are paid by the facility that has offered to employ you.

It is important to note that the Area of Need Pathway provides recognition as a specialist only in that specific position that you are accepting. Recognition of your qualifications Australia-wide will still require the OTS pathway to be completed. The advantage of the Area of Need Pathway is that you can be in Australia, working, and the relevant College has far better access to undertake an assessment toward Fellowship and Australia-wide recognition.

It is also very important to note that recognition under the Area of Need Pathway does not guarantee recognition through the OTS Pathway, as the assessment process of the latter is far more involved, and may require further training and examination processes.

Information relevant to internationally trained specialists is contained in the Area Of Need User's Guide .

Obtaining a Visa to work in Australia

Once eligibility for professional registration has been confirmed, the employer that has offered you a position is able to sponsor you for a visa which grants work rights to you. If you will be travelling with family members, then in the majority of cases, they will be included in your visa application.

For more information regarding Australian visas, please visit our Australian Visa Information page.