Left to right: Dr Shade McClymont, Dr Zhong Ren Ong, Sarah Boyd

Left to right: Dr Shade McClymont, Dr Zhong Ren Ong, Sarah Boyd

IMG Registration Pathway Details

On entry to the South Australian health care system, IMG’s must prove that they meet the requirements of the Medical Board, Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to hold medical registration.

The Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency issues international Medical Graduates with various types of registration dependant on their prior experience which include the following registration pathways:

  • Competent Authority pathway
  • Standard pathway, or
  • Specialist pathway

The assessment process assesses the knowledge and clinical skills of IMG’s seeking to qualify for medical registration in Australia.

More information can be found through

Medical Board of Australia and Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils

Competent Authority Pathway

The Competent Authority pathway is for overseas-trained non-specialists, but is also available to specialists, including general practitioners. This pathway leads to general registration.

Standard Pathway

The Standard pathway is for IMGs seeking general registration with the Board. This pathway applies to IMGs who are not eligible for the Competent Authority pathway or the Specialist pathway.

Specialist Pathway

The Specialist pathway is for overseas-trained specialists applying for assessment of comparability to the standard of a specialist trained in that speciality in Australia (specialist recognition), and overseas-trained specialists applying for an area of need specialist level position in Australia (area of need).

Left to right: Dr Yee Min Kong, Dr Yee Ching 'Olivia' Ong

Left to right: Dr Yee Min Kong, Dr Yee Ching 'Olivia' Ong

General Practice Experience Pathway

International Medical Graduates (IMG) can gain fellowship in Australia through the General Practice Experience pathway via Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and without the requirement of doing specialist general practice training (vocational training) in Australia.

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Sign up to the RGPSA

Sign up with us if you are interested in or need advice on rural training pathways or are already training in rural and would like to access a range of supports. We are here to support your training journey.

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Training providers and colleges

Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

ACRRM

If you are an overseas-trained doctor, have extensive experience as a GP, or hold recognised Canadian or New Zealand specialist qualifications, you could achieve Fellowship with ACRRM through Specialist Pathway, AEG or REEF, while for junior doctors and experienced overseas-trained doctors, MDRAP can offer a supported route to commencing ACRRM Fellowship.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

RACGP

The RACGPs Fellowship programs recognise the work international medical graduates have done overseas and in Australia. Applicants with a specialist qualification may be eligible for the Practice Experience Program Specialist Stream. Applicants without a recognised specialist qualification should apply through the Practice Experience Program Standard Stream.

Dr Geordie Beath, Clare Source: GPEx

GPEx

GPEx is South Australia’s regional training organisation for education and training of doctors who choose to specialise in General Practice (GP). GPEx delivers rural generalist training towards Fellowship of both the ACRRM and RACGP. GPEx delivers the AGPT (Australia General Practice Training) Program which is funded by the Australian Government, Department of Health. Training as an Rural Generalist with GPEx will give you the foundation to provide exceptional and holistic care to your community, rewarding you with a relationship based career.