The Medical Board of Australia requires international medical graduates to provide proof of English language proficiency for all registration categories unless it has granted an exemption. Therefore, all applicants are advised to make arrangements to obtain that proof before they apply under any of the assessment pathways.

Acceptable evidence of English language proficiency may be a certified copy of the original or the original of any one of the following:

• Occupational English Test (OET) results, with grades A or B
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Module results, with scores of 7 or higher in each of the 4 components
• a pass in the Professional Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) in the United Kingdom (PLAB pass letter)
• a pass in the New Zealand Registration Examination (NZREX) in New Zealand.

The results of the English language examinations must be obtained in one sitting and are valid for only two years from the date of issue.

Specialist and Area of Need Specialist applicants are encouraged to provide evidence of English language proficiency. Alternatively, they can provide reasons for not providing that evidence or state when they can provide it. If evidence of English language proficiency is the only application document outstanding, the AMC will not hold up the application. It will be up to the specialist medical college to decide whether to proceed with the college assessment.

English language proficiency is a requirement of the Medical Board of Australia, not of the AMC. Therefore, the Medical Board is the body responsible for granting exemptions from its requirement.

The Medical Board of Australia’s English language proficiency requirements, including its conditions for granting exemptions, are set out in detail in its English Language Skills Registration Standard available on its website.