Yes. You must have your overseas qualifications assessed if your primary medical qualifications are not recognised in Australia .
Two assessment pathways are available, standard specialist and specialist area of need.
The standard specialist pathway is for overseas-trained specialists who are seeking recognition for the purpose of obtaining conditional registration to practise unsupervised or independently in Australia. They must have satisfied all the training and examination requirements to practise in their recognised field of specialty in their country of training.
The specialist area of need assessment process is for overseas-trained specialists who have been selected by an employer as suitable for consideration for appointment to designated area of need specialist positions in Australia .
Conditional registration for area of need specialist positions is likely to include limitations on the location, nature and extent of practice.
Agents creating an account on the applicant's behalf (i.e. for area of need applicants) should note that only one email address (User ID) is accepted in the Online Application Wizard. Agents must therefore use the applicant's actual email address if they wish to represent other applicants.
No. The AMC cannot advise on your specialist qualifications, training or experience until you complete a formal assessment through the procedures outlined on this website.
Can the AMC advise me on my training and assessment choices?
No. The AMC cannot advise you on your training or assessment choices. Inquiries about training, examination or other requirements of the Australian or Australasian specialist medical colleges should be directed to the college concerned.
Can the AMC help me obtain employment in Australia?
No. The AMC does not process applications for employment in Australia. Information about employment is available from Australian state and territory health departments.
Can the AMC help me obtain a visa for entry to Australia?
No. The AMC does not handle visas. If you are outside Australia, you must contact an Australian embassy or high commission. For further information, visit the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.
Can the AMC help me obtain a Medicare provider number?
No. The AMC does not have information about Medicare provider numbers. Information about Medicare provider numbers is available from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Can the AMC help me if I want to undertake further specialist training in Australia and then return to my home country?
No. The AMC cannot help you as we are not involved in processing applications for postgraduate or specialist training in Australia .
If you intend to complete postgraduate or specialist training in Australia and then return to your home (or another) country, it is possible that you would be regarded as an 'occupational trainee'.
Further information about training programs is available from the specialist medical colleges. Information about registration during training is available from state and territory medical boards.
How do I begin the specialist assessment process?
To have your specialist qualifications assessed you may apply via the Online Application Wizard or you may apply through the AMC office for a paper Specialist Pack. Fees for these packs will vary depending on whether you have applied via the Online Application Wizard or by obtaining a pack through the AMC Secretariat/Office. Click here for the AMC Fee Structure.
The procedures for area of need specialists are different. You can download the User's Guide:Assessment Process for Area of Need Specialists and the relevant application information from this website.
What is the AMC's role in the assessment process?
The AMC:
acts as a central clearing house for information on the assessment process
undertakes the initial vetting of applications on behalf of the specialist medical colleges
reports the outcome of the assessment to the applicant and the state and territory medical boards.
The AMC has no direct role in the formal assessment of the overseas-trained specialist.
How long does it take for a specialist assessment application to be processed?
The AMC processes all applications strictly in the order they are received. Other than for Area of Need applications (see below), processing usually takes six to eight weeks, provided that applications are satisfactory and meet all the documentation and other requirements set out in the information Booklet for Applicants.
Note:Applicants who submit an incomplete application will incur an administration fee as per the AMC fee structure An application is incomplete if, for example, required documentation is not attached, signatures are missing, or documentation is incorrectly certified or illegible. The credentialing process will not continue until the AMC receives the correct documentation and payment of the fee. Therefore, it is in the interests of all applicants to ensure that they have submitted all the documentation required for the credentialing process.
The AMC tries to process specialist assessment applications that are completed correctly and that meet all the documentation requirements set out in the User's Guide:Assessment Process for Area of Need Specialists within approximately five working days, although this may vary. The AMC cannot comment on specialist medical college processing times.
How much does it cost to be assessed as a specialist?
Fees will differ depending on whether you have applied through the Online Application Wizard or by obtaining a pack through the AMC Secretariat/Office. Click here for the AMC fee structure. You must pay the fee when you lodge the application forms and other required documents or, in the case of an area of need specialist application, when you submit the application forms and supporting documentation to the AMC for processing. The AMC fee is non-refundable.
Only one AMC fee is payable if you seek assessment through the standard specialist pathway and later through the area of need pathway, or vice versa.
Information about specialist medical college interview and assessment fees for the standard specialist pathway is included in a leaflet enclosed with the Procedures and Requirements for Specialist Assessment.
Contact the relevant college for information about fees for area of need assessments.
What are the closing dates for specialist assessment applications?
There are no closing dates for specialist assessment applications.
What if I have questions?
Please read the information provided on this website about the specialist assessment process.
AMC Call centre staff are available 9am to 5pm AEST weekdays to answer telephone enquiries about the credentialing process. Alternatively, you can make email enquiries to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. How do I find out about the progress of my application?
The AMC processes applications following the agreed procedures set out in the Procedures and Requirements for the AMC Examination and the User's Guide:Assessment Process for Area of Need Specialists.
The AMC communicates with applicants at key points in the process and deals with applications as quickly as possible. You should not contact the AMC unnecessarily, for example, to ask whether we have received your documents.
International Medical Graduates 
