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Assessment of Overseas Medical Qualifications in Australia |
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The Australian Medical Council (AMC) administers national examinations of overseas-trained medical practitioners who want to practise medicine in Australia.
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) whose primary medical qualifications are not recognised in Australia can become eligible for general registration to practise medicine in Australia only if they pass the AMC Examinations, are awarded the AMC Certificate, and complete a period of supervised training approved by a state or territory medical board.
International Medical specialists whose primary medical qualifications are not recognised in Australia must have their training and qualifications assessed through a process administered by the AMC and the relevant Australian or Australasian specialist medical college. They must gain the college's recognition as a specialist practitioner before they can apply to a state or territory medical board for conditional registration to practise in their field of specialisation.
The AMC Examinations are designed to assess the medical knowledge and clinical skills of overseas-trained doctors trained in medical schools that have not been formally reviewed and accredited by the AMC.
The examinations are set at the level of attainment of medical knowledge, clinical skills and attitudes required of newly qualified graduates of Australian medical schools who are about to begin intern training.
The AMC Examinations consist of two sections: a multiple choice question (MCQ) examination and a clinical examination:
- The MCQ examination is a test of the principles and practice of medicine in the fields of general practice, internal medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and obstetrics and gynaecology. The examination is administered by computer and is in two parts (a morning session and an afternoon session held on the same day), each 3.5 hours long. Each part contains 150 questions.
The MCQ examination focuses on essential medical knowledge involving understanding of the disease process, clinical examination, diagnosis, investigation, therapy and management, as well as on the candidate's ability to exercise discrimination, judgement and reasoning in distinguishing between the correct diagnosis and plausible alternatives.
- The clinical examination evaluates clinical competence in medical knowledge, clinical skills and professional attitudes for the safe and effective clinical practice of medicine in the Australian community. The clinical examination is in the form of a multi-station structured clinical assessment of clinical skills. Disciplines covered include medicine and surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and psychiatry. Candidates are scheduled for a single morning or afternoon examination.
The clinical examination also assesses the candidate's capacity to communicate with patients, their families and other health workers.
The examinations are designed as a comprehensive test of medical knowledge, clinical competency and performance. Both are multidisciplinary and integrated.
The range of topics covered is based on the clinical curricula of Australian medical schools, with an emphasis on conditions that are common in the Australian community. The AMC's Board of Examiners ensures that the format and content of the examinations are consistent with undergraduate medical courses and the standard of examinations in Australian medical schools. Members of the Board have broad expertise over the full range of disciplines covered in the AMC and medical school examinations.
General Skilled Migration ProgramUnder Australia's General Skilled Migration Program, medical practitioners who satisfy Australian state or territory medical board requirements for general medical registration or conditional registration to practise as a specialist do not require a sponsor to migrate to Australia.
Further information about the program is available from the website of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
LinksApply online
Examination dates & venues
Summary of the examination process
Preliminary information for the AMC Examination
Preliminary information for specialist medical qualifications
Application for assessment as an area of need specialist
Examination forms
Preparing for the AMC multiple choice question and clinical examinations
MCQ examination: frequently asked questions
Clinical examination: frequently asked questions
Overseas-trained specialists: frequently asked questions
Useful contacts for examination candidates
Clinical examination results
MCQ examination results
People authorised to certify documentation for submission to the AMC |
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Last Updated on Monday, 22 February 2010 16:48 |
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