For many international medical graduates (IMGs) the pathway to being registered as a doctor involves the Australian Medical Council exams. But for doctors who have worked in more than one country already there are sometimes other options,
Doctors sometimes ask whether the Professional Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB) is accepted or recognized in Australia. The simple answer to this question is yes. The PLAB will be recognized by the Medical Board of Australia and this will mean that you are not required to sit the AMC exams. You will be able to apply for registration via the competent authority pathway. As a bonus, you will also be exempt having to prove your English language proficiency. However, it is important to check the full requirements. In particular, doctors who complete the PLAB must also complete 12 months of supervised training in the United Kingdom. If you have not completed this training your PLAB will not be accepted.
Lets dive a little deeper into the requirements of the PLAB. Why it is that the PLAB is accepted in Australia. As well as the other options for not having to undertake the AMC examinations.
What is the Purpose of the AMC Examination?
The AMC Examinations are the main route by which doctors from most other countries can apply to become registered as a doctor in Australia. Without medical registration in Australia it is illegal to work as a doctor.
The AMC exams consist of a written (multiple choice) examination and clinical examination and are set at the equivalent standard as what would be expected of an Australian medical school graduate commencing their first working year in Australia, which is called an internship.
Australia sets high standards for medical practice and therefore, with a few exceptions, we do not directly recognize the output of medical schools from many countries. So the AMC Examinations have been established as a process for testing the capability of IMGs.
So Who Needs to Sit AMC Examinations?
If you have graduated from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Canada or the United States you are not able to sit the AMC exams. Because you are not required to do so.
If you are from any other country you are able to sit the AMC examinations. However, if you have specialist qualifications you probably want to try the specialist pathway instead.
Also, if you are not from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Canada or the United States. But have worked in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada or the United States. You may also be able to avoid the AMC Exam process and can apply via Competent Authority.
Notice though we did not say “Republic of Ireland”. If you are an IMG who has worked in the Republic of Ireland before this does not help you avoid the AMC exams.
Read on.
The Competent Authority Pathway.
The Medical Board of Australia recognizes the medical school training systems of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United States of America and Canada as equivalent to the Australian medical system and therefore does not require medical graduates from these countries to sit additional examinations to prove that they are capable of working as a doctor in Australia.
New Zealand medical school graduates are treated as identical to Australian graduates. In fact New Zealand Medical Schools are accredited by the Australian Medical Council as well. New Zealand doctors can apply directly for general registration, so long as they have completed an intern year in either Australia or New Zealand.
Graduates of the UK, Rep Ireland, US and Canada can apply for registration in Australia so long as they have also completed the basic requirements for being registered as a doctor in their country. You will also need a job offer prior to applying for registration. So long as the Medical Board is satisfied that you will be provided with sufficient level of supervision for 12 months you can work under “provisional registration”. Once this period is complete and you have returned satisfactory supervisor reports you will be able to apply for general registration.
If You Are Not From the UK, US, Ireland, New Zelaand or Canada You Can Still Come Under the Competent Authority Pathway.
Some doctors work in a range of countries. Countries like the UK and Canada have similar systems to Australia for allowing IMGs to work in Australia.
So if you have completed any of the following:
- PLAB in the UK;
- NZREX in New Zealand;
- USMLE in US; or
- LMCC in Canada
You are also able to apply for registration via the competent authority pathway and can skip the AMC exams.
However, as mentioned earlier. You do need to do all the steps. One thing that can sometimes catch IMG doctors out is that they have completed all the examination steps of one of these processes BUT NOT completed the supervision steps. So, for example, have not completed a Foundation Year in the UK. Or have not completed 2 years of ACGME accredited training in the United States.
The Specialist Pathway.
The Specialist Pathway is for doctors from any country. Competent Authority or Standard Pathway. It enables a doctor to apply to be recognised as a specialist in Australia.
So its another pathway which avoids the AMC exams. Which in the case of many specialists may be quite daunting as it will have been some time since you have studied such a broad range of medicine.
Rather than going through the AMC examination process. The specialist pathway places you directly in contact with the specialist colleges. Who do a review of your training, qualifications, and experience to determine whether you are comparable or
Once again, you need a job offer to complete this process.
If you are not found to be comparable you will have to either sit the AMC examinations or apply for competent authority if that option is available to you.
I Really Don’t Want To Do The AMC Exams. Are There Any Other Options?
There is one final option but its not particularly popular as it is time limited, has certain restrictions and is not meant as a mechanism for making a permanent move to Australia.
This option is called the Short Term Training in a Medical Specialty Pathway. It is an option for gaining either provisional or limited registration for a period of up to 24-months to undertake additional specialty training in Australia. This registration category is generally made available to Advanced Trainees or Junior Consultants from other countries who are looking to augment their training experience.
And. Once again. You do need a job offer to apply for the registration.
Barring enrolling in medical school in Australia. There are no other options for not doing the AMC exams.
Related Questions.
Question: Do I Need to Do The Foundation Program to Complete the PLAB Requirements for Australia?
Answer.
It is generally a good idea if you can successfully complete the 1st Year of the Foundation Program in the UK. Note you only need to complete one year.
However, if you are unable to do this the Medical Board of Australia will accept alternative evidence that you have worked successfully in similar posts:
This is the direct quote from the Medical Board documents:
There are two ways in which you can demonstrate that you meet the ‘12 months supervised training (internship equivalent) in the UK’ component of the eligibility criteria for category A (as per guidance initially provided in August 2015):
1. Provide evidence of ‘12 months supervised practice/training in an Approved Practice Setting in the UK’. Acceptable evidence would include:
a. confirmation in writing from the hospital(s) and/or employer(s) that you have satisfactorily completed 12 months supervised practice/training in the UK, and
b. confirmation in writing from the hospital(s) and/or employer(s) that the practice setting is an ‘Approved Practice Setting’.OR
2. Provide evidence of ‘a minimum of 12 months practice in the UK’2
. Acceptable evidence would include:
a. confirmation in writing and/or certificate of service from the hospital(s) and/or employer(s)that you have had a minimum of 12 months practice in the UK.You will also need to provide evidence that you have ‘successfully completed the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test since 1975’.
Medical Board of Australia
Question: Will I Need to do an English Test?
Answer. This is a complex question. Its probably best to assume that you do. Even if you are coming from an English speaking country. Until you have established that you do not.
Generally speaking if you can prove that you have been high-schooled in English and studied Medicine in English you will be fine.
However, there are many circumstances where this has proven to not be the case. Even choosing to work for a small period in another country where English is not the first language can result in you having to sit an English test.
For doctors who have completed the PLAB and NZREX. The Medical Board will generally exempt you from the need for an English Test. This is because the PLAB and NZREX include an examination of English.
Question: Can I Count Part of My PLAB or USMLEs Towards the AMC Multiple Choice Examination?
Answer. No. The AMC will not recognize partial completion of any of these examinations as a proxy for the exam here.
Hi Anthony,
I am Malaysian and an Irish medical school graduate (2019). May i ask, would i be able to avoid the AMC exam if i graduated from medical school in Ireland however did my 2 year housemanship (internship) in Malaysia?
Thanks for your time.
Kind regards,
Rachel
Hello Rachel unfortunately you are probably going to have to do AMC. The information stated by the Medical Board is as follows: “Graduate of a Medical School in Ireland accredited by the Medical Council of Ireland, AND
Successful completion of an internship in Ireland (Certificate of experience) or another Board approved competent authority country”, Malaysia is not a competent authority country.
Hi Anthony,
Your efforts are really appreciated to ease IMGs.
I have a query, I am holding Australian PR and currently in the process of getting a job in the UK after PLAB examinations and GMC registration. Please advise, will I be able to get registered in AMC without AMC exam if I worked in the UK for 12+ months.
My plan is to finally settle down in Australia.
Regards,
Ayesha
Hi Ayesha
As the article indicates you would be able to go via competent authority if you have fully completed the PLAB.
Hi Anthony
I want to clear one thing if i cleared plab and complete 1 year internship in uk than I’ll be eligible to work in Australia and Canada without any exam?
I don’t know about Canada. But as long as that 1 year’s experience is signed off as some form of supervised placement it will generally count for Australia.
Hi Anthony,
Thank you for your efforts, really appreciated.
I am a Pakistani national and have completed the PLAB examination. My GMC registration is underway.
My husband and I have Australian PR. Please advise if I work for a period of 12+ months in the UK, would I still be required to pass the AMC exam to complete the AMC registration.
As our final plan is to settle down in Australia.
Thank you
Dr. Ayesha Shah
Hello Anthony,
I have the following situation: I am a romanian citizen, I graduated medical school in Romania 2 years ago. Since then I started in my country a residency in neurology (i will have completed 2 years out of 5 at the end of 2019).
I can register into GMC without having to take Plab exam after passing IELTS.
Can I try the competent authority pathway and avoid AMC exams if i register in GMC ?
Do these 2 years of residency in my country count as internship experience in Australia ?
In case not, what path is more straight for my position in order to do my training in Australia?
Thank you in advance,
Mihaela.
Hello Mihaela you need to complete the PLAB process to be able to apply for competent authority.
Your 2 years of residency will be acceptable for internship equivalence.
You are best off looking at the AMC / Standard Pathway process.
Thanks
Hi I have a GMC accredited UK primary medical qualification (PMQ), but obtained this at an international branch campus of an UK University (Similar set up to Monash Malaysia MBBS). I have now completed foundation year 1 and 2 in the UK. Am I eligible for the CA pathway B?
I would think the answer is yes. But if you want me to look into your situation in more depth let me know and we can sort out a coaching session.
Hi again Anthony,
In additon to the above questions, I have 2 more questions:
1) According to a statr at NZ medical council, an IMG is required to have taken AMC exams or workbased assessement even if a doctor has gotten full registration through the Competent Authority Pathway, which in this case is that possible? (cause they don’t actually require it)
2) My friend who is working in Australia mentioned about doctors having conditional offers, yet have not passed the AMC exams. How and what would this involve?
Thank you again for your time.
Matthew
Hi Anthony is Matthew again,
Just want to know some of the prospects or chances of getting a job in Aus after FY1 via the CA IMGs pathway, vs other applicants from say, Monash Malaysia who are accredited by the AMC and does not need any extra exams to work in Aus.
Does it come down to years of experience then? would one have a better chance of getting a job in Aus if they apply for rural health eg: rural gp?
Thanks again.
Matt
Hi Matthew so in both cases, a UK medical school graduate and a Monash Malaysia graduate. You don’t need to do any extra exams to be able to register in Australia. A Monash Malaysia graduate actually faces a tough task if they want to work in Australia as they need to apply for an internship and tend to be last on the list or near to last on the list for these. A UK graduate who has completed FY1 will generally find that they can find an RMO post somewhere in Australia. Hope this helps.
Thanks again Anthony for the quick reply.
I guess it means the CA IMGs will be better at securing a job. I heard rural health is always on demand thus was wondering if an applicant should apply for that area to increase the chance.
Oh yes one last question. As graduates from Monash Malaysia would find it hard to get internship in Australia, once they have finished the 2 years internship in Malaysia, can they apply for jobs and if accepted, need to have 12 months supervision right? Will those jobs be general and non-training positions?
In addition, graduates from Malaysian universities who have done 2 years internship in Malaysia will need to take the AMC MCQ and clinical exams to be the “same” level playing field as graduates from Monash Malaysia…is this correct?
Sorry for all these questions as I’m trying to work out a pathway that would be suitable for me in the long run.
Thanks so much for your replies!
Matt
Hi Anthony,
Thank you for unconditional help.
I want to settled in Australia by any how. So would you please suggest me which pathway will be more connivent for me.
Plab or Amc?
Which one will give me more priority or security in getting job.
I am doing my internship in Bangladesh.
Thank you again. Love.
Hi Bishal if your objective is Australia then the AMC is the direct route to achieving this. Thanks Anthony
Hi Anthony,
Thanks for detail explanation. I have done PLAB more then 3 years ago. Also done PRES Irish registration exam. And I have more then 2 years work experience in Ireland. Will I be eligible for exemption from AMC
THANKS
Do you have full GMC registration as part of your PLAB?
Hi Anthony,
Thank you very much for your posts and replies of the comments..i was reading halfway but decided to ask my question to make sure.
I may have the opportunity to apply for UKFPO as a IMG and after completing PLAB 1 and 2, would be expected to commence FY1.
So based on the competent authority pathway, I only need to complete FY1 before I can apply to Australia and avoid the AMC examinations. Of course like you say I need a job offer first..so what are the prospects for applicants for the competent authority pathway?
Is it better to complete FY2 too while waiting for jobs to be offered?
I am a bit confused about non-trained work. Is FY1 considered trained in this case.
Lastly, after being accepted to Australia and completing 12 months supervision, will we be considered to have full registration with AHPRA and does it mean we are registered to work in NZ too?
Thank you for your input and helping us understand this better.
Matthew
Hi Matthew. CA IMGs are generally preferred over SP IMGs, particularly IMGs who only have AMC Part 1. You could start applying in your FY2 but the more UK experience the more likely you are to land a job here. Once you complete your 12 months supervision you are recommended for general registration. So yes. You could also then work in New Zealand. Again if you can find a job.
Alright thanks a lot for the quick reply! wished I saw this post earlier as the deadline to be absorbed for UK foundation programme is soon approaching..hope I have the time to do so.
Hi Anthony , I am now going to the UK as Registrar. Would I be able to come to Australia after one year completion here?
It would depend upon whether you are intending to go through the PLAB process.
Hi Anthony, I graduated and trained overseas before I moved to Australia 2008 on spouse visa. Tried the AMC MCQ test once with no success. I was then advised by a friend that it would be better to wait to attain an Australian permanent residency or Citizenship before proceeding with the registration process and that things will get a lot easier then in terms of passing the test and getting a job! Story short, I started my family and got really busy with life and family over the years. Iam now preparing to sit the AMC/MCQ test again and was just wondering how good are my chances of going back on track given my history of several years of dormancy? And which of the Australian states do you recommend to have better opportunities in my case? I currently reside in Melbourne.
Your support would be very much appreciated.
Hello, Seetha if you have your registration in another country and are able to pass the MCQ you should have a better chance with being a permanent resident. A lack of recency of practice will be a strong issue for you, however. I’d recommend that you look into options for regaining some experience.
Hey.
I’m in the process of writing PLAB. As you said after a year of training, I’ll be exempt from the AMC exam to practise in Australia and the competent pathway is the way to go. My question is, what’s the pathway after that to pursue post grad or specialisation ?
Hi there is no “pathway” after this. At least in the sense that competent authority and standard pathways are pathways to registration. You gain your general registration after a year of successful working in a post and then you can apply for most college training programs.
Hi I am doing residency in Qatar in medicine, i am taking my mrcp side by side. after finishing the residency and completing 3 steps of mrcp, what pathway can i apply for. I have Australian PR . Thanks
Standard Pathway. The MRCP is only useful if you go on to complete Specialist training in the UK.