Specialist training and practice in Australia generally follow the model of postgraduate advanced clinical training and examinations developed in the United Kingdom. National specialist medical colleges set and administer programs of specialist medical training and examinations.

The Australian state and territory medical boards have agreed to accept overseas-trained specialists who are recognised by Australian or Australasian specialist medical colleges for registration to practise in their field of specialisation.

The purpose of the specialist assessment procedure is to determine the level of comparability of overseas-trained specialists' training and qualifications with those of Australian-trained specialists. The AMC administers the procedure, but the appropriate specialist medical college assesses the applicant's training and experience.

Special, fast-track procedures are available for overseas-trained specialists in defined 'areas of need'.

The specialist assessment procedure is a separate pathway from the AMC examinations. Applicants for specialist assessment can apply separately to the AMC to sit for the AMC examinations for non-specialist registration.

The following Guidelines on the Specialist Assessment Pathways (including specialist area of need and specialist training positions) are the result of a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) request that Health Ministers implement initiatives for a nationally consistent model for the assessment of international medical graduates (IMGs).

The new guidelines for specialist assessment have been endorsed by a COAG IMG Technical Committee at its meeting on 10 June 2008 and are being phased in across all jurisdictions.

Please see links to the guidelines here. Further information and application forms for specified training are available from the relevant State or Terrirtory medical board.